How to Wash Hand Embroidered Fabric Tote Bags Safely
A few weeks ago, I spilled iced coffee on my favorite embroidered fabric tote bag. One of those soft, natural cotton ones with the hand-stitched sunflower patch right in the middle. I stared at the stain for a bit too long. Then I Googled something like “can I wash a bag with hand embroidery?”—which, yeah, led me into a spiral of conflicting advice.
So here’s what actually worked. Not perfect science. Just lived experience.
That particular bag is part of a small collection I picked up from a site that sells eco-friendly fabric bags with hand-stitched patchwork—really simple designs, natural material, but the embroidery is all done by hand. That’s what made me panic about tossing it in a washing machine.
I didn’t. And thank God.
What I Did (and What I Shouldn’t Have Tried First)
At first, I tried to spot clean with a regular soap bar. Rookie mistake. The stitching started to look fuzzy—probably too much rubbing. I switched to a cotton pad with diluted baby shampoo (unscented) and dabbed, not wiped. That worked much better. The sunflower lived to see another day.
So, yeah:
→ DO spot clean with a soft cloth and super mild soap.
→ DON’T rub embroidery threads like you’re scrubbing a pan. They’ll lose shape.
A friend told me to throw it in a pillowcase and do a “gentle cycle.”
I couldn’t. That felt like a betrayal.
Especially for something handmade.
If you’re wondering whether hand-embroidered tote bags can survive the washer—short answer? Not worth the risk. The stitching can pull, cotton can shrink, and even if it looks fine, it’ll never sit the same. And these fabric totes with embroidery details… they’ve got character. You want them to last, right?
The Hand Wash Moment
I ended up filling my sink with cold water, added a teaspoon of mild detergent (no fragrance, no brighteners), and just sort of… let the bag sit. Not long. Maybe 5–6 minutes. Swirled it gently, lifted it in and out of the water a few times like I was washing a baby sweater. Then laid it flat between two towels and pressed.
No twisting. No wringing.
Let it dry flat, away from the sun.
→ DO let your embroidered fabric bag air dry flat. Sunlight can fade threads—especially the colored ones.
I’ve washed two other natural cotton embroidered tote bags since then. Same method. No disasters so far. I also started keeping a small cloth bag in my purse for “just in case” moments (which, if you drink iced anything, happen more often than you’d expect).
I guess what I’m saying is—yes, you can wash embroidered bags, but gently. Thoughtfully. Like you’re handling someone’s art project. Which, in a way, you are.
And if you're looking for embroidered fabric totes that are both sustainable and worth caring for…
👉 check them out here: https://konlun.com/