I have found that 1/4 teaspoon of Johnson's Baby Shampoo in a dishpan of lukewarm water works very well, I haven't had any colors bleeding. It also leaves the work soft. I use this also for my crocheted pieces. If I am washing an all white crocheted piece, I add 1 teaspoon OxyClean and soak for an hour.

I just recently finished a project and found a "dirt" line on my unstitched background. I had the piece dry cleaned 2 times but the line still was there. I purchased "Shout" with the brush on the top of the cap. I gently rubbed the Shout on the aida cloth and blotted it with a damp cloth. The stain disappeared almost instantly. It was great!!

I have found that the best thing to use for cleaning stitched pieces is to soak them in warm water with Dawn dishwashing liquid. It removes the oil and dirt in a very short time. I usually put the Dawn right on the soiled areas then soak for 1/2 hour in warm water.

I find putting a little dish detergent in cold water and letting article soak for a bit works real well. I use Palmolive dish detergent, but any brand will do.

First may I begin my story with some advice, always use color fast thread and if you aren't sure wash first. In my daughter's first year of life I began stitching her a stocking. One month before Christmas I was in a car accident and didn't get back to my stocking till the following fall. When it was finished, I was sooo pleased with myself, at last and on time. Better late than never. When I washed the fabric in cold water to wash, all the color started to bleed from the red cotton thread. My project was ruined. All the white background that was not stitched turned pink. ARRRGGHH. Couldn't start again. I went and purchased some pearl white fabric paint and painstakingly painted all the fabric parts that were not stitched. It worked beautifully. The fabric paint added a durability to the stocking, and once lined and together, no one was the wiser. Whew. Merry Christmas to all.

I have always just thrown it in the washing machine after I am done stitching it. Hang it to dry and press it on the wrong side. I have had beautiful results. I have even done this with linen, however it does tend to unravel. Just regular laundry soap (Tide or Cheer), but a small amount. Floss is great as long as it is DMC.

Just thought you would like to know of a recent experience of mine. My husband bought me two old samplers at a car boot sale, but horror of horrors they were covered in mildew!! I have tried without success to get this type of stain out before. A challenge? I had bought some Oxyclean from QVC and thought I might as well try it on this fabric as it was a bit delicate. I soaked them in this over night and lo and behold it all just disappeared. I couldn't believe it. I don't think it is much good on greasy spots but anything else.............it works.

I made the mistake of steam pressing a piece stitched on linen with over-dyed threads. I know not to try to wash them, but I did not realize just how much steam from the iron would make them run! I kept the piece, but it was intended as a Christmas gift for a dear friend, and I had to find something else.

I inadvertantly got orange highlighter on stitches done with pale yellow thread, but a good spritzing with Oxyclean and blotting with a paper towel got it all off with no residue or staining.