When there is so much time and energy spent stitching a tatreez piece, it falls upon us to gently care for it and preserve it for the many years to come, if not generations. If you've ever wondered what the best practices were to care for a tatreez piece, we have a few recommendations for you. This will apply to machine-stitched, but especially to hand-embroidered, items. Watch our step-by-step guide in this video below. Written instructions follow.
1) Submerge and Soak
First, fill a bowl with lukewarm water. Then, gently submerge the embroidered item, and let it soak for about 5 minutes to loosen any dirt or grime. You may soak for a few hours if more elaborate stains exist.
2) Clean Gently
You can add in some cleaning detergent, and if needed, gently scrub the item around any stained areas, being extra gentle around the embroidered thread.
3) Rinse
After this, rinse the tatreez piece in clean water to wash out the detergent. Do not wring fabric.
4) Towel Dry
It's not a good idea to wring or twist the fabric once it's washed. Instead, lay it flat on a towel and roll them both together while putting pressure on the towel to absorb the excess water.
5) Hang Dry
Lastly, to dry the piece, hang it up somewhere indoors without direct sunlight, allow it to air dry, and that's it!
6) Store
Once your tatreez piece is cleaned and dried, store it in a cool, dry place. Ideally, you can wrap it in a breathable piece of fabric (like cotton or linen) or a garment bag to protect it from sunlight and dust.
By following these guidelines, you will have aided in the preservation of your tatreez pieces for years to come. Thank you for helping in this collective effort!