How to Wash Muslin Fabric Without Ruining It (Drying Tips)
Cleanliness is next to godliness. Or so they say and that old saying helps people work hard to keep their clothes and fabrics nice and clean. But fabrics do not all respond to the same cleaning tactics employed by people. You have to be careful when washing muslin fabrics.
How to wash muslin fabric: The best way to wash muslin cloth is by hand washing in cold water. Then the best way to dry the material is to lay it out flat and let the air handle the drying process. You can use the dryer on low heat but remove the muslin clothing before they are completely dry.
To learn how to handle muslin cloth correctly when cleaning it, just continue to read our article. It is filled with the information and tips you need to know about. Reading our article will only take a few minutes of your time and will help you make the right decisions when it is your turn to clean muslin fabrics.
Washing Muslin Fabric 101
Can You Wash Muslin Cloth?
Yes, you can but you have to be extra careful with the fabric. It comes with a loose weave and it is not heat friendly. When you wash muslin fabrics, whether by hand or machine, you need to use cold water.
Then you should use gentle laundry soap, one that is not filled with harsh chemicals. The trick to cleaning muslin materials correctly is to make sure you do not use a lot of heat at any point in the process.
Laying the items out flat, if you have the room, is the best way to protect your muslin cloth and keep it from shrinking or getting damaged. If you do not have space, then use your dryer but keep the temperatures low.
Do You Wash Muslin Cloth Before Use?
It would be a good idea to wash muslin clothing before using it. You never know where t it has been, who has touched it, and if they were healthy when they touched it.
Just follow the washing and drying procedures mentioned above to rid the clothing of any germs or bacteria that may have found their way to the items during their journey to your home.
If you are using muslin fabric for a sewing project then you should pre-wash it as the material does shrink some. How much is anyone’s guess and make sure you buy enough fabric to compensate for that shrinkage.
Should You Wash Muslin Before Sewing?
Yes, you should wash muslin fabric before you sew with it. Muslin is made of cotton and all kinds of cotton shrink somewhat. How much is not precisely known and your result may be different from someone else’s.
You should also dry the fabric after it has been pre-washed to make sure all the shrinkage is out of the material and it is ready to be used. This means you need to roughly calculate how much extra fabric you will need for your sewing project.
Even if you are making a quilt and are going to use stabilizing fabric as a backing, you should pre-wash to make sure there is no stress placed on the fabric.
Should You Wash Muslin Squares Before Use?
Again you should do this as a safety precaution. Products sold in stores and markets are not sold under the healthiest of conditions. That means you should get rid of any germs or bacteria that may be on the material when you buy it.
Also, this will remove any shrinkage that may still be a part of the fabric. The only time you really shouldn’t pre-wash is if the material has already been pre-washed at the factory. But even then you need to worry about germs and other nasty bacteria getting on the material before you use it.
What Temperature to Wash Muslin
This is not a hard question to answer. Since muslin is made from cotton you will always face that shrinkage problem. To avoid any shrinking taking place you need to use cold or cool water when washing the material.
Even if you are hand washing cool is about as warm as you want to get when it comes to cleaning muslin fabrics. The only time you should use any heat is when you dry it. When you use the dryer, make sure you do not go above low heat.
The dryer will shrink muslin quite easily when it is set on high or even medium heat.
How to Wash Muslin Blanket
When you go to washing a muslin blanket, you should wash it before you place it on your bed for the first time. Then wash it with similar colors to avoid bleeding on to other clothing or bedding items.
Then you can use chlorine-free bleach on the blankets but do not use fabric softener. After the washing is done, dry in your dryer on low heat or hang dry. Then do not iron the blanket or send them out to be dry cleaned.
That is about all you need to do when washing your muslin blankets. The wash before your first use helps the bedding to become softer.
Can I Wash a Muslin Backdrop?
It is possible and different muslin backdrops have different cleaning methods. For those that fit in your washer, you can follow the directions for washing a muslin blanket. Use cold water, and wash it by itself in case of those colors on the backdrop bleed.
You can tumble dry on low heat as well. Make sure to perform a wash test before tossing them in your washer. When you tumble dry don’t dry the backdrop all the way. Pull it out when still damp and let it hang dry the rest of the way.
Do not clean or wash a hand-painted backdrop. You will ruin it eventually.
How to Wash Muslin Backdrop
One thing you have to do when washing a muslin backdrop is to be careful. If you rub too hard during the method we are about to describe you may wash the black off and turn the backdrop a dark green color.
To get dirt stains, you just need a damp cloth and no soap. Blot the stained area and be gentle when you do it. Before you wipe it with a damp cloth use a dry cloth to wipe away all dust and loose dirt.
This is a technique you may have to use when the backdrop is too big to fit in your washing machine.
Can You Wash Muslin Curtains?
Yes, you can and if you are making your own curtains, make sure to do a pre-wash first. Even muslin material designed for curtains will shrink some. Also, you may want to do another wash before you finish the hems. This will help the curtains stay even at the bottom.
That will also allow you to take the curtains down and let you wash them again and again worry-free. All the shrinking ability should be removed from the fabric. It is possible to save some energy and hang the curtains back in place and let the air dry them.
How do You Wash Muslin Curtains?
Muslin fabric is muslin fabric. Its cleaning process does not change when the fabric is made into blankets, bedding, clothes, or even curtains. That means you need to machine or hand wash with cold water. Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric softener and dry on low heat.
As stated previously, you can hang them back in place to dry as long as there is no direct sunlight coming through the windows. You will want to avoid any fading of the colors in the curtains.
Washing muslin fabrics is easy. You just have to be wary of the different methods they require to be cleaned. It is easy to forget sometimes.
Washing Muslin Sheets
The positive aspect of using muslin sheets is that every wash helps make them softer. That means you can have a more comfortable sleep every time you place clean muslin sheets on your bed.
The trick to getting bed sheets clean is not to use chlorine bleach. This bleach does harm muslin fabric and can ruin them. The same goes for fabric softener. Avoid using that option when washing these sheets.
You can dry the sheets in your dryer but on low heat. Or you can hang dry them to make sure they do not shrink on you,. If you wash them in your machine or by hand, make sure to keep the water cool or cold.
How to Wash Dyed Muslin
The first step you need to take is to make a wash test. If you already know that the dye is colorfast and won’t bleed then wash the fabric normally according to the label on the fabric.
If the material does bleed then wash these items separately using cold water and a low water level. If the dyed items are delicate clothing, then hand wash them using Woolite or some other gentle laundry soap.
Let the items soak a bit before gently swishing them around. Rinse well when you are done. Rinse with cold water and it is normal for some of the dye to bleed out.
Can You Tumble Dry Muslin Cloths?
This is the preferred method of drying muslin clothing items and fabrics when you do not have the space to lay them out flat. What you need to do is use a low heat and tumble dry.
Then before the muslin fabrics are totally dry, remove them from the dryer and hang them up to go the rest of the way. This will help stop wrinkling from taking place.
Since muslin is a loose weave you may see some pilling take place on your muslin cloth. This is unavoidable unless you hang dry the clothing and bedding. When dry either fold the items up or hang them in your closet till you need them again.
How to Dry Muslin Blankets
The safest way to dry muslin blankets is to hang dry them. This avoids wrinkles and pilling and makes your laundry life a little easier. Or you can dry them in your dryer in low heat. Just do not put fabric sheets in with the blankets.
Pulling them out of the dryer before they are fully dry and hanging them up is the best way to get those blankets nice and dry. Once dry do not iron them as heat is not a friend to muslin fabrics including blankets.
Fold the blankets up and put them away until they are needed. You may get a crease or two doing this but that is better than ruining your blankets by ironing them.
Cleaning Muslin Cloth for Cooking
The first step is to rinse the muslin cloth in hot water right after using it. Then add about 1/2 cup of baking soda per gallon of water used. After that, the next step would be to add vinegar or lemon juice to the solution. 1/4 cup of either liquid per gallon of water will suffice.
Then boil the cloth for about 5 minutes before removing it from the water and letting it cool. Or you can place it in the washer and wash it on delicate using a laundry soap that is gentle and without perfumes or dyes.
Dry in the dryer or hang up to get it nice and dry. You can use the hot temperature when using your dryer.
How to Clean Muslin Wax Strips
To remove excess wax from muslin cloth, you need to scrape away with a dull knife. Something like a butter knife will do. The next step is to put some heavy-duty laundry pre-treatment to the cloth and let it sit. Make sure to follow the instructions on the cleaning label and the pre-treatment label. Then rinse with hot water.
Step three has you laundering the muslin strip in hot water using heavy-duty laundry soap. Go through the complete cycle and once that is done inspect the strip. If wax remains, repeat the process till the wax is gone.
Two things. First, if you see the wax dye still on the strip wash again using chlorine bleach and heavy-duty laundry soap this time. Second, do not dry the strips until the stain is gone. The reason for this is that your dryer can set the stain.
How to Clean Muslin Tea Bags
The process to get your muslin tea bags clean is not that hard to do. First, you need to turn the bag inside out and dump the tea leaves in your garbage bag or recycling bin or your compost pile.
After that, you rinse thoroughly and let it air dry. If you use milk with your tea then wash the bag after every use. Then if you just brew with water only you can wait until you have used the bag two or three times before washing it.
Once you have rinsed the bag, just toss it in with your regular muslin wash load. Use the same washing and drying instructions when you do the wash. Your muslin tea bag should come out nice and clean It should be ready to go for another round of tea after that.
How to Get Stains Out of Muslin
Step number one has you bleaching the stain out if the fabric is white. Don’t use chlorine bleach but use an oxygen bleach that is safe for muslin materials. For colors, you need to soak the fabric in non-chlorine bleach.
If that doesn’t do the trick make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply the paste to the stain. Let it sit overnight and then rinse in the morning. Or you can use a commercial stain remover agent. Apply the agent and again let it sit for the night in cold water. Rinse the next morning.
Another option would be to saturate the stain with either lemon juice or vinegar. Then use a toothbrush to rub in some table salt. Rinse and repeat if necessary. After those steps, hand wash the fabric in a gentle water and soap solution and hang dry.
Some Final Words
Washing muslin fabric is not as difficult as it seems. It just takes special care and to know the right steps to take throughout the washing and drying process. There are only two real drying methods you can use. One is to lay the muslin fabric flat or use your dryer.
The last option needs you to remove the muslin material from the dryer before the cloth becoming entirely dry. Once you have mastered the techniques, your washing and drying time for muslin cloth will go by quicker than ever.
