How to wash and care for macramé
How to dust, treat stains, straighten fringes and where to hang a macramé wall hanging so it lasts for years.
Macramé is tougher than it looks. A well cared for cotton wall hanging lasts for many years and even looks better with time, as the fibres settle. Care needed is minimal, but there are three things to avoid: moisture, direct sun and the washing machine.
Day to day: dusting
Dust builds up most, especially in the knots. Once a month is enough:
- Go over it with the vacuum cleaner on low power, using the fabric brush, from top to bottom.
- Alternatively, use a hairdryer on cold air about 30 cm from the piece.
- Small pieces can be carefully shaken out, holding them by the branch.
Stains
Treat a stain as soon as you spot it, just on that area:
- Dampen a soft brush (an old toothbrush works) in cold water with a little neutral soap.
- Brush the stain with short strokes, without scrubbing hard so as not to loosen the fibre.
- Remove the soap with a damp cloth and leave to dry with the piece hanging, somewhere airy and away from direct sun.
Don't use bleach or chlorine-based stain removers: they yellow and weaken the raw cotton.
We don't wash whole pieces, and we recommend that you don't either. The branch shouldn't get wet, and a soaked wall hanging takes days to dry, which can leave damp marks inside the knots. The washing machine unravels the fringe and distorts the piece.
Uneven fringe
Over time, or after transport, the fringe can become tangled or uneven.
- To straighten, spritz the fringe with a little water and comb it with a wide-toothed comb, from top to bottom. Leave to dry while hanging.
- To trim, use sharp scissors and cut a little at a time, following the fringe's original shape. Cutting too much can't be undone.
Creases after arriving home
After transport, a piece may arrive with a crease. Hang it up and give it two or three days: the weight of the cotton itself smooths out most creases. If you want to speed things up, run a steam iron a few centimetres away from the piece, without ever touching it.
Where to hang it to last
- Away from direct sun. Over a long time, the sun can yellow the raw cotton and dry out the branch.
- Away from constant moisture, such as above a bathtub or a cooker. An airy bathroom is fine.
- Out of reach of cats, if you have them: the fringe is irresistible.
Plant hangers
With a plant hanger, the main risk is watering. Water the plant outside the hanger, or use a pot without drainage holes, and let it drain before hanging. In the guide which plants to put in a macramé plant hanger we explain which pot to choose.
Storing a piece
If you need to store a wall hanging, loosely roll it around its own branch and keep it inside a cloth bag or cotton pillowcase, somewhere dry. Avoid sealed plastic bags, as they trap moisture.
Quick questions
Can I wash macramé in the washing machine?
No. The machine ruins the fringes and deforms the piece. Dust it with a vacuum cleaner on low power and only treat stains on the affected area, using cold water and mild soap.
How do I dust a macramé wall hanging?
With a vacuum cleaner on low power and the fabric brush, working from top to bottom, or with a hairdryer on cold air at around 30 cm. Once a month is enough.
How do I straighten the fringes of a macramé piece?
Lightly spray them with water, comb them with a wide-tooth comb and let them dry with the piece hanging.
Can macramé be kept in a bathroom?
Yes, as long as the bathroom is well ventilated. Just avoid spots with constant humidity, such as above the bathtub.
