No matter how old, tapestries are a beautiful way to decorate your wall. They can add an extra layer of charm and beauty to any room, but they can also get a bit dusty over time. You may have inherited an antique tapestry from your grandmother or purchased one from a flea market, but it will need regular cleaning if you want it to look its best. Cleaning and maintaining tapestries is easy when you know the proper techniques, and here are five simple steps for keeping your tapestry clean and looking its best.
Step 1: Prepare the Tapestry for Cleaning
Before you start cleaning your tapestry, make sure that it is ready for cleaning by brushing off any surface dirt or dust with a soft brush or vacuum with a gentle attachment. This step is important because it helps to loosen any dirt particles that might be embedded in the fibers of the fabric. Once you’ve brushed off any surface dirt, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Spot Clean Small Stains on Your Tapestry
If there are small spots or stains on your tapestry, use a mild detergent such as dish soap mixed with water in equal parts to create a soapy solution. Then use a soft cloth dampened with this solution to spot clean small areas of the fabric where there are visible stains or marks such as food spills, pet accidents etc. For tough spots like oil-based stains, use rubbing alcohol instead of water and detergent mixture. Be sure not to scrub too hard on these spots as this could damage delicate fabrics like silk or woolen materials used in many tapestries.
Step 3: Hand Wash Your Tapestry
Fill up a bathtub or large basin with lukewarm water and add some mild laundry detergent into it (follow instructions written on package). Then submerge your tapestry into this soapy water and gently knead it for about 2-3 minutes before draining out all the soapy water from tub/basin completely. Refill bathtub/basin with fresh cold water and rinse out all excess soap by repeating same process of kneading fabric gently until no more suds appear in rinse water anymore (it usually takes two-three rinses). If there are still stubborn stains present on fabric then repeat this process again till they disappear completely (do not rub them hard) otherwise they may become permanent over time!
Step 4: Hang Your Tapestry Outdoors To Dry
Once you’ve washed your tapestry thoroughly in step three, hang it outdoors in shade area away from direct sunlight as UV rays can fade fabrics over time if exposed too much too often! Make sure that temperature outside is not too hot otherwise humidity will make drying process difficult for fabric which could lead towards mold growth eventually if left unchecked! Place hangers at least one foot apart from each other so air circulates evenly around entire piece while drying up naturally without leaving behind any wet patches which could cause discoloration later down line due improper drying technique adopted initially!
Step 5: Iron Your Tapesty For A Crisp Finish
If you want your newly cleaned tapesty look crisp then ironing is must after hanging outdoors for few hours because heat helps relax wrinkles & creases caused due folding/storing piece when not needed anymore! Before doing so make sure that fabric has cooled down completely (you should be able to touch comfortably without feeling heat) before ironing otherwise high temperature could cause damage instead rejuvenating original texture back again! Start ironing from middle portion & gradually move towards edges while keeping heat setting low at all times during entire process until desired finish achieved! You can also spray starch onto surface before pressing if desired crispness required which would help maintain stiffer look throughout day long even when humidity increases outside climate eventually making piece look wrinkle free & brand new looking once again just like day first purchased!!
Cleaning tapestsries doesn't have to be difficult – these five simple steps will help keep yours looking beautiful for years to come! Taking good care of them now will ensure their longevity so they remain beautiful pieces of art that bring joy into your home forever!
