How To Clean Burlap | Stop Shrinking Your Decor

Most people assume burlap is as tough as it looks. The coarse weave and earthy feel suggest a fabric that can handle a spin cycle without complaint. But that assumption gets a lot of burlap decor ruined in a single wash cycle.

The honest answer is the opposite. Burlap is made from jute fibers, which absorb moisture quickly and become fragile when agitated or heated. The key to keeping your burlap table runners, sacks, and craft projects intact lies in ignoring everything you know about machine laundry and adopting a gentler, slower approach.

What Makes Burlap So Delicate

Burlap’s vulnerability starts with its raw material. Jute fibers are hygroscopic — they readily pull moisture from the air and can absorb up to 230% of their own weight in water. That ability makes them useful for moisture-heavy applications, but it also means wet jute becomes extremely heavy and weak.

When waterlogged burlap is tumbled or spun, the fibers stretch, fray, and can tear. Heat compounds the problem. Warm or hot water causes jute fibers to contract unevenly, leading to noticeable shrinkage. The same goes for a machine dryer — the intense heat shrinks burlap significantly and can make it brittle.

Most fabric care guides recommend treating burlap more like hand-wash wool than cotton. Aggressive detergents, bleach, and fabric softeners further weaken the fibers, stripping natural oils and leaving the fabric rough and prone to shedding.

Why The “Toss It In The Wash” Urge Is Misguided

It’s natural to treat burlap like any other utility fabric. But the results speak for themselves — once you machine-wash burlap, it rarely looks the same. Here are the most common mistakes and what they do to the fibers:

• Machine agitation: The tumbling motion of a washer stretches and frays jute fibers, leaving burlap with a fuzzy, uneven surface and weak spots that can tear.
• Hot water: Warm or hot water causes uneven shrinkage, making burlap items smaller and distorting the weave. Even a single hot-water wash can ruin the fit of a table runner or pillow cover.
• Harsh detergents: Strong laundry detergents, especially those with enzymes or bleach, break down the natural structure of jute. The fabric becomes rough, brittle, and more likely to shed.
• Machine drying: The high heat of a dryer shrinks burlap dramatically and can make it stiff enough to crack or tear when folded.
• Bleach and fabric softeners: Bleach chemically damages jute fibers. Fabric softeners coat the fibers with oils that trap dirt and moisture, actually accelerating decay over time.

Avoiding these five mistakes is the difference between a burlap piece that lasts through multiple seasons and one that ends up in the trash after a single cleaning.

The Only Safe Way To Wash Burlap By Hand

Hand-washing is the single reliable method for cleaning burlap without wrecking it. Many guides recommend soaking burlap in cold water with a small amount of mild detergent, a process detailed in Commercialsupply’s clean burlap cold water guide. The idea is to let the water do the work — no scrubbing, no wringing, just gentle submersion and a brief soak.

Start with a clean sink or washtub filled with cold water. Add a tiny squirt of a mild, gentle detergent; dish soaps or delicate laundry blends work well. Submerge the burlap and let it soak for about five to ten minutes. Swish it gently with your hands — never scrub or twist the fabric, as that can fray the fibers.

After soaking, drain the soapy water and refill the sink with clean cold water for rinsing. Lift the burlap out and gently press the water out without wringing. Lay the item flat on a clean towel, roll it up to absorb excess moisture, then hang it or lay it flat to air dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

Once the burlap is completely dry, shake it out to remove loose lint and fibers. If the fabric feels stiff, you can lightly steam it with an iron on the lowest setting, but keep the iron moving and use a pressing cloth to avoid direct heat contact.

Step-By-Step: How To Clean A Burlap Decor Piece

Burlap items vary from small craft projects to large table runners. The steps are essentially the same, but the handling changes for larger pieces. Follow this sequence for consistently good results:

1. Fill a sink or tub with cold water. Use enough water to fully submerge the burlap item. For very large pieces like burlap tablecloths, a clean bathtub or utility sink works best.
2. Add a small amount of mild detergent. A teaspoon or two is enough. Avoid pouring detergent directly onto the fabric; mix it into the water first.
3. Submerge and soak for 5–10 minutes. Lightly press the burlap under the water to ensure it’s fully saturated. Let it sit without moving it around too much.
4. Drain and rinse with cold water. Lift the burlap out, drain the sink, and refill with clean cold water. Gently press the fabric to work the soap out. Repeat if the water looks sudsy.
5. Press out excess water and air dry. Roll the burlap in a towel to absorb moisture, then unroll and lay flat or hang. Never wring or twist. Allow to dry fully before storing or using.

For items with heavy dirt or dust, you can skip the soap entirely and just rinse with cold water. Sometimes a simple cold-water soak is enough to refresh the fabric without any detergent.

Stubborn Stains, Odors, And Everyday Maintenance

Not every burlap cleaning job is a full wash. Set-in stains and musty smells call for targeted treatments. Per Premiertablelinens’ mild detergent for burlap guide, harsh detergents can weaken the fibers and should be avoided even for spot cleaning. Instead, use a mixture of mild dish soap and water, dabbing the stain from the outside inward to prevent spreading.

For odor removal, baking soda is a safer alternative to chemical deodorizers. Sprinkle a generous amount over the burlap, let it sit for several hours or overnight, then shake it off thoroughly outdoors. This method works well for burlap sacks or decor that has been stored in a damp basement.

Storage is just as important as cleaning. Burlap draws moisture from the air and can develop mold quickly. Store burlap items in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Sunlight fades the color and makes the fibers brittle over time, so a dark closet or drawer is ideal. If you must fold burlap, place acid-free tissue paper in the folds to prevent crease damage.

If your burlap item has sentimental or antique value, consider taking it to a dry cleaner that specializes in natural fibers. Some older burlap sacks are more fragile than new ones, and professional cleaning can prevent accidental damage.

The Bottom Line

Cleaning burlap comes down to three rules: always cold water, never machine wash or dry, and use the gentlest detergent you own. Most burlap decor can last for years if you treat it with the same care you’d give a delicate wool sweater.

If a burlap piece is particularly old or valuable, a professional fabric cleaner or dry cleaner with experience handling natural fibers can offer the safest approach for your specific item without guessing.