It is always best to keep your project clean while working.  However, project should always be laundered to remove any soil and body oils from handling.  We recommend soaking the stitched piece in cold water with a small amount of mild liquid soap.  Do not use detergents or soap flakes. 

Project should be folded in half and folded again and placed into the washbasin.  A few swishes should remove the soil.  We do not recommend using any abrasive action on spots such as rubbing or brushing fabric.  Just continue to soak fabric until soil is gone.

Rinse project thoroughly, handle gently, and change the water often if bleeding occurs.  Continue to rinse until all traces of color is gone from the water.

Roll project in a clean dry towel to remove excess water.  Lay face down on ironing board on which you have placed a piece of clean cotton fabric such as a pillowcase.  Iron piece dry using a medium high setting.  Do not use steam. 

When this procedure is followed your project will experience only slight shrinkage, which will make the cross stitches stand up and also reduce the holes in the fabric made larger by the needle.