How to Care for Burlap

Wet sponge it. If something happens to spill on burlap or for a quick fix to remove a chunk of dust or dirt, simply blot the burlap with a damp sponge. Do not rub it, but blot gently and then blot dry with a towel.

Keep it out of direct sun. Burlap might seem like a good outdoor curtain, but it will fade, fray and fry quickly in direct sunlight. To best preserve it, don't use it where the sun will be baking it all day.

Wash it. For a full-fledged cleaning of a burlap item, you’re going to want to hand wash it in cold water. Fill a clean sink or bucket with cold water and a capful of gentle detergent. Swish the detergent into the water and add the burlap item.

Let it soak, very briefly. Let the burlap item soak in the cold water mixture for about five minutes. Don’t leave it too long or it likes to begin to disintegrate.

Rinse it. Let the water out of the sink or bucket and rinse the burlap item thoroughly in more cold water. Make sure to get in between all the tightly-woven crevices. Move the cold water spray from one edge to the other, methodically, to make sure all vestiges of detergent are removed.

Blot dry with a towel. Once your burlap item is fully rinsed, lay it flat on a towel and gently place another towel on top of it, blotting out excess moisture. Lay flat or hang to dry so the burlap does not buckle in weird places.