Wash Burlap

Burlap is a versatile material, but it also tends to be stiff and smelly. Washing burlap can make it more pleasant to use, but you need to wash it carefully to prevent the fibers from unraveling.

Steps

Method One: Hand Washing

1. Remove stains with a wet sponge. Dip the sponge in cold water, then blot out any visible stains on the burlap.
   • Wring out any excess water before blotting out the stain.
   • Only blot or dab at the stain. Do not scrub or rub it since doing so could cause the stain to seep further into the fibers of the material.
   • If you only want to clean off the stain, blot up the water with a dry towel as soon as you get the stain out. If you want to wash the entire piece of burlap, though, continue on with the rest of these steps.
2. Fill a clean sink with cold water. Plug the sink and fill it halfway with cold water. Adjust the depth of the water as needed so that there will be enough for you to completely submerge the burlap.
   • Do not use warm or hot water. Warm water can cause the fabric to shrink.
   • Use a large bucket or tub if you do not have a clean enough or large enough sink.
   • For small amounts of burlap or finished burlap pieces, hand washing is recommended over machine washing. Burlap can start to unravel if handled too roughly.
3. Mix in a gentle detergent. Pour a quarter to a half cap of gentle liquid laundry detergent into the water. Use your hands to agitate the solution until the detergent disperses and suds begin to form.
4. Soak the burlap for five minutes. Submerge the burlap in the soapy water. Keep it underneath the water for no more than five minutes before removing it.
   • Simply leaving the burlap submerged in the water should be enough to clean it. If desired, though, you could also slowly stir the burlap using your hands to gently agitate the dirt off.
   • Do not leave the burlap in the water for much longer than five minutes. If you soak it for too long, the material can begin to fray and unravel.
5. Rinse well. Remove the burlap from the soapy water and rinse it under cold running water. Continue rinsing it until the water coming out from the bottom of the material runs clear.
6. Dry flat. Spread out a dry towel on a hard, flat surface. Place the wet burlap on top of it, then drape a second dry towel on top of that. Let the burlap dry flat in between both towels.
   • Do not wring out the water or otherwise squeeze or twist the damp material. Twisting the burlap fibers while the material is still wet can cause the fabric to become distorted and damaged.
   • Change the towels as needed until all of the moisture has been soaked up.

Method Two: Machine Washing

1. Wash the burlap in warm water. Toss your burlap into the washing machine and add half a cap of gentle liquid laundry detergent. Set the machine to a "delicate" or "hand wash" cycle using warm water and start the washer.
   • Machine washes are a little rougher, even if you use the delicate cycle, so the burlap will take more of a beating than it will if you hand wash it. As such, this method works well if you are pre-washing yards of burlap for a project or if you are washing burlap with hemmed or sealed edges, but it should be avoided if you are washing delicate bags or other pieces.
2. Consider adding bleach and fabric softener. If you want to brighten the burlap or remove any stains, add a splash of bleach to the bleach cup of your washing machine before starting the cycle. To make the material softer, add a standard amount of liquid fabric softener to the machine.
   • Note that you should not add bleach or fabric softener if you plan on painting the burlap. These treatments can make it more difficult for the paint to adhere to the material.
   • A little bleach can go a long way. Bleach is potent, and using too much can actually damage the burlap.
3. Repeat, if necessary. After your first washing cycle ends, smell and handle the burlap. If the odor and texture are still not to your liking, put it through another warm water delicate cycle.
   • You can repeat this once or twice, but putting it through too many washes can cause the material to weaken and unravel.
   • Add detergent to the additional washing cycles but do not add more bleach or fabric softener.
4. Dry the burlap in a machine. If you want to make the burlap softer, toss the damp material into a dryer and set the machine to a regular setting. Machine dry the fabric until it dries completely.
5. Alternatively, air dry the material. For a gentler approach, drape the wet burlap over two wooden or plastic chairs and allow it to dry by air for several hours.
   • Air drying is actually preferable to machine drying since it uses less force and causes no additional damage. If the burlap does not appear damaged after you pull it out of the washer, it's likely safe to machine dry it. If the material seems worn or frayed, however, air dry it.
6. Clean the washer and dryer when finished. Burlap leaves a lot of fuzz and lint behind after you wash it. Thoroughly wipe out the washer after you clean the burlap and clean all the lint out of your dryer's lint trap.
   • If you have a dryer snake, you should use that to make sure that no burlap fibers get into the dryer vent.
   • Failing to remove the lint and fibers from your machines can cause permanent damage.

Method Three: Removing Odors

1. Let the burlap air out. Minor odors can usually be dispersed simply by letting the burlap sit out in the sunlight and fresh air. Keep it there for a few hours.
   • Set the burlap out on a warm, sunny day, but avoid placing it in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the material to fade and dry out, and dried burlap can become brittle.
   • Partial sun is helpful, however, because it can help lighten or eliminate stains.
   • Bring the burlap inside if it starts to rain, snow, or hail.
   • Check the burlap after letting it air out. If the odor has decreased sufficiently, you can stop after this step. If not, continue with the remaining steps.
2. Sprinkle baking soda on the material. Spread the burlap out on a flat surface and sprinkle baking soda all over the surface. Let it sit that way for two to four days, then shake the baking soda off.
   • Baking soda can neutralize many odors.
   • If you are cleaning burlap bags, sprinkle the baking soda inside the bag and let it sit. For flat sheets of burlap, though, you'll simply sprinkle the baking soda onto the surface.
   • If the burlap no longer smells, you can stop after this step. If some odor still remains, repeat the baking soda procedure or move onto the next option.
3. Alternatively, soak the burlap in a vinegar solution. Mix a solution made with four parts cold water and one part white distilled vinegar. Soak the burlap in this mixture for two to three minutes.
   • Vinegar can deodorize and brighten burlap.
   • Do not use undiluted vinegar, however, since its acidic properties can damage the material.
   • Do not combine this method with the baking soda technique. The chemical reaction that occurs when baking soda and vinegar mix can cause damage to the burlap.
4. Rinse with plain water. After soaking the material in vinegar, make sure that you thoroughly rinse the vinegar out using cold running water.
   • If you cannot dust off the baking soda, you can rinse that off using cold water, as well.
5. Air dry. After rinsing the burlap, sandwich it between two clean, dry towels. Allow it to dry completely before handling it.

Things You'll Need

Hand Washing

• Sponge
• Sink, bucket, or tub
• Gentle laundry detergent
• Water
• Dry towels

Machine Washing

• Washing machine
• Gentle laundry detergent
• Bleach (optional)
• Fabric softener (optional)
• Dryer (optional)
• 2 wooden, plastic, or metal chairs (optional)

Removing Odors

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Water
• Bucket
• Dry towels

Sources and Citations

See also

• Clean Ink off the Inside of a Dryer
• Clean Nylon
• Clean Dress Pants
• Clean Dress Shirts
• Wash Acrylic Fibers
• Clean Jeans
• Wash Clothes without a Washing Machine
• Disinfect Laundry
• Remove Lint from Clothes
• Get Fluffy Towels

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