How should I clean my finished tufted piece?

February 19, 2026

Depending on the use of your tufted piece, you’ll need to clean it from time to time, especially if you’ve made a floor rug, tufted garment, or pillow. In general, it is not recommended that you machine-wash a tufted work, particularly because most adhesives are not washable. 

Instead, we suggest you: 

• Vacuum your work periodically using a hose attachment, or with the vacuum “beater bar” removed (which can suck up and damage fibers, especially on high-pile rugs).  
• Use an undyed cloth or towel to dab up any liquid spills immediately. 
• Spot-clean stains by hand using a damp cloth and a neutral soap, but never soak your rug in water (since this can break down or dissolve some adhesives). 
• Only machine wash or dry clean your piece if you have previously tested these cleaning methods with the materials used in your piece. 
• Have your rug professionally cleaned. 

Also in Finishing Tufted Pieces