Cleaning Lace and Delicates

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated June 6, 2022)

There are many different kinds of materials that people can use to help add a touch of elegance to any room in the home. Whether you are using a lace tablecloth, silk sheets, or even linen drapes you are going to need to clean them every once in a while. You could possibly pay someone an arm and leg to clean them for you, or you could do it yourself. Before you begin doing this though, you are going to need to know the right way to handle each of the different types of delicate fabrics.

  1. Choose a Cleaner. The first thing that you are going to need to do is select a fabric cleaner. You are going to want to use one that is specifically formulated to work with delicate fabrics. Otherwise you are going to end up using something that might just eat away at the delicate fabric fibers.
  2. Wash. When washing fabrics such as lace, the idea of using a washing machine should be thrown right out. This is not to say that a washing machine won't get it clean, but it may not be as careful as you might like, and could end up damaging the fabric. Begin washing your delicates by filling a sink, or your tub with cold water and the delicate fabric cleaner. Let the fabric soak for a few minutes. After soaking, begin agitating the water by moving the fabric around with your hands. Do this for a few minutes, being sure that you follow the manufacturer's directions if you happen to have them.
  3. Rinse. Empty out all of the soapy water from the tub or sink and begin refilling it with cold water. If you have the manufacturer's directions, be sure that you follow them as appropriate. If not, then simply repeat this step as needed until all the soap has been rinsed out.
  4. Dry. Always dry your delicate items by either spreading them out on a flat, even surface or on a clothes line outside. Either way you simply want to air dry them.
  5. Store. One of the integral parts of cleaning your delicate fabrics is how you store them. You want to ensure that you are going to store these fabrics in a well-ventilated area that offers protection. The linen closet would be the perfect place, and you want to avoid using such things as cedar chests (since the cedar seems to attract unwanted pests) and plastic bags (which only tend to dry out the fabrics and make them brittle).

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Removing a Scorch Mark on Fabric

Scorch marks just happen sometimes and you have the power to fix it! Here are a few tips to get those unsightly scorch ...

Discover More

Hairstyles and Facial Types

Hairstyles, like many other facets of accessorizing, is largely dependent on your face shape. Some facial types wear ...

Discover More

Building Home Equity

While you may know that high home equity is a good thing, you may not know how to go about building that high equity. The ...

Discover More

Tough Tools for Tough Cleaning Jobs O-Cel-O sponges and Scotch Brite scrubbers are truly a fashion-meets-function success story. The highly absorbent and durable sponges in this handy six-pack make quick work of tough cleaning problems in any kitchen, bathroom, or garage. Check out Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges today!

More Cleaning Tips

Dealing With a Musty Washer

Sometimes musty laundry can get that way, not because they weren't cleaned properly, but rather because of the equipment ...

Discover More

Washing Bulky, Heavy Items

Those bulky and down feather pillows and comforters of yours can sometimes be daunting to wash even though you definitely ...

Discover More

Get Your Laundry Whites Whiter than White

Maintaining the whiteness of your clothes can be tricky and one you always want to master. Fortunately making your whites ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 + 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.