Something has happened! You spilled something, there’s a mark, or even worse; you ripped a bit. Well, fear not, as its ALWAYS savable.
I would start by saying though, that if you wash and iron your work, and store it properly, most of the below issues are fixed by washing it again.
Brown marks
This is a common issue with cross stitch that’s not been washed correctly. The oils from your fingers discolor in sunlight, making brown spots.
If you haven’t ironed the piece, you can just wash it in cold slightly soapy water for about 6 hours and you’ll be golden.
If you have ironed your work, then I’m afraid you’ll have to pick the stitches and redo them. There’s a quick guide on this at the end of the post.
Rust marks
Fairly uncommon on cross stitch, however, if you’ve stored it in the frame somewhere you may get rust.
Get ready for science! You want to find some Oxalic acid. You can find it online (it’s used by Beekeepers) or specialist cleaning stores. In short, it bonds with the iron of rust and makes a water-soluble solution. Mix a small amount (10g) with a tablespoon of water, and rub in. Wash it out under a tap after 15 mins and it should be as good as new!
Scorch marks
Happens ALL the time. This is most common in old samplers as they had candles around all the time.
Straight from the Smithsonian museum, the best way to clean them is bicarbonate of soda and water. Just rub it on and it will remove the spot by removing the topmost layer of threads.
Or you would use white vinegar (very small amounts) which will remove the burn color from the stain.
Blood
This usually happens during the sewing, following nose bleeds, however, the key here is speed. You want to be cleaning it the SECOND it hits thread/aida. The longer you leave it, the harder it gets to clean.
Salt. I would use a 3:1 salt to water ratio, and just rub it in. Once the salt has gone brown, wash it off. If the stain is still there, repeat.
In rare cases, the blood will have dried into the aida and you either can’t access it, or it won’t come out. In this situation get a bowl of warm water and add salt until it doesn’t dissolve anymore. Sit the piece in the water and let it sit. I would suggest covering it with something non-transparent to stop evaporation too.
Pen
Yeh, we’ve been there…
Cut a lemon open and drip it onto the pen mark. It should wipe straight off.
But limit the lemon juice, and make sure to give it a good clean afterward, as over time the lemon will bleach the threads.
Tea
As a stern tea lover, I’ve had this issue more than a few times. Coldwater works well, but if you have soda water/carbonated water that works best. Just pour it over, letting it bubble on the surface until its all out.
Thread bleed
This is actually fairly rare, normally as a result of incorrect washing, or a cleaning fluid.
This will take time. Be prepared.
The first step is a big flat pan. Lay it down face up, and add ice on top. Let it melt, add more. Repeat for at least 3 days, if not a week. The colder you keep the project the better, so you can keep it in the fridge or freezer if you want too. After this, wash it in cold water only. Dry it so its touch dry, but not perfectly dry. You need to iron it, stopping any bleed happening in the future.
Too late to save?
Sometimes it’s just too late. Maybe you only noticed something weeks after it happened, or the above cleaning doesn’t work. It’s OK, as there are ways around it.
Remove a stitch
If the area affected is small enough, then you can remove the stitch and put a new one in. This is actually quite common, and even if you need to remove a whole row, the effort it takes is often less than cleaning.
If the piece has been out in the sun a while, the threads can be a little bleached, and so sit the new thread in lemon juice for a few hours and it should match better.
Happy stitching,
Lord Libidan
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the safest way to clean stains on cross stitch?
You should always wash your cross stitch as soon as any possible stain has occurred by washing it in warm water with a few drops of non-colored washing-up liquid. Let the cross stitch sit for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Further washing or specialist cleaning products may be needed if this does not remove the stain.
Can I use bleach on cross stitch fabric?
No, do not use bleach on aida or other cross stitch fabrics or threads. This will damage the color and can break apart the fibers of the fabric.
How do I deal with old or set-in stains?
Removing old or set-in stains on a cross stitch can be hard as you cannot aggravate the fabric the stain is on. The steps on this page should be followed regardless of the age of the stain, however, if this does not work, you may be required to replace parts of the design.
How can I get rid of pencil marks on my metallic cross stitch ?
Its it on metallic threads, or metallic aida?
I am working on a cross-stitch project. I had hand lotion on my hands and didn’t realize it wasn’t all rubbed in. I got some on my stitching. I am uncertain how to remove it. This is a half-done project. The fabric is Navy the threads are DMC cotton floss. There is a small area on the fabric and a small area on the stitching. I tried just blotting it but there is still residue. It was Burt Bees Shea Butter hand cream. Should I just finish the project then wash with Orvus, Restoration or Dawn soap? Its not terrible but I didn’t see I had done it immediately…it was the following day. I think it would be difficult to take off the frame now and wash.
Sorry, it would be better to get it off the frame now to wash it. The sooner you can remove it, the better!
Essentially though, you just need to wash it was dawn, and it should come out, then start stitching again!
I just finished my first cross stitch. At times I did not removed the wooden hoop that I used and therefore
I have stains. I hand washed it with dawn and lukewarm water, they still remain. Is there something else I
can do? It is my granddaughters baby blanket and I would like to give it to her for her graduation.
Yes, it took me 17 years to complete but I finally got it done. Thank God for retirement!! Could someone help me with this? Thanking you in advance, Weslee
Wow, so it could be 17 year old dirt? OK, that will take some work.
The good news, is that it should just come out, but you’d have to scrub it. Use a soft toothbrush to not damage the fabric.
Is it just dirt and grime, or has the hoop itself stained the fabric do you think?
My cross stitch sampler is satin lined with a metallic ribbon framing the whole piece. It’s stained. How do I clean it?
Do you know how old the piece is?
The satin lining isn’t an issue, but the metallic ribbon could be a problem. If you can remove this, that would be best, but if not, you may have to “spot clean” the piece to remove the stain.
As for how to clean, this 100% depends on what the stain is. Do you know, or can you describe it to me?
I am constructing a Christmas stocking for a client and ghostly faded blue satins are appearing on the white canvas as I block and attach piping. There are no blue yarns or fabric involved! I have used oxyclean, white vinegar, fabric cleaner and fels naphtha bar: nothing is helping please help meeee.
Hrm… It sounds like it could be something oil based. As its blue, could it be biro ink or something? Do you write with a blue pen or mark off a pattern?
If so, try using rubbing alcohol.