Our wonderful chenille bedspreads require very little care beyond the standard machine washing and drying. It is the agitation that casues excessive wear, so a gentle cycle works best. We suggest and extra 'normal' spin cycle, to get out as much water as possible. Once in the dryer, which will maintain the softness of the tufting, set the machine for low heat. These steps should keep your chenille spread in great shape for many years to come. STAINS Don't be afraid to add some bleach to your white chenilles once they are in the wash. It works well and keeps them bright. For stains and spots that are organic in nature, like food stains, we suggest an enzyme cleaner called BIZ. It isn't available everywhere, but it is worth the hunt. It is a very mild bleach, however, and we do not use it on reds and blues. OFF-WHITES Do not use bleach on your ecru chenilles. The former use of bleach is the main reason that vintage ecrus are so hard to find, over the years they have had the color bleached out of them. Avoid detergents which have a bleach additive as well. SHRINKAGE The chenille fabrics that we use here, at CoCo:Chenille, are vintage. They are usually 100% cotton, sometimes with a bit of rayon, occasionally with lurex, and they have all been washed many times. We spend a great deal of time making sure that all the fabrics we use are fresh and new for you as the day they were first made. Now, however, they are even better, because they are softer from wear and already broken-in. These fabrics have been washed so many times that there is never any danger of shrinkage. Sometimes we do use new chenille, but we always wash and preshrink it in advance. COLOR-FASTNESS Most of the bedspread fabrics we use are in their original colors, from the vibrant orange of our Squeaker Carrots to the lively yellow of our Rubber Duckies, and the color has remained stable for many years. Our Pine Tree Pillows are made from newly dyed fabric, as are some of our other products in bright hues, and these require a bit more care. As with anything special, one of our products or a unique bedspread, keeping it out of direct sunlight will preserve the life of the fabric. Our specially dyed fabrics will respond best to a quick hand washing, rather than a prolonged cycle in the machine. PILLOWS Our standard Decorative Pillows are made with seperate inserts which can be removed from the outer covering for easy washing. The cover of the pillow can be washed in the manner described for the type of chenille from which it is made. Pom Pom Pillows should be turned inside out to wash. This will protect the fringe from getting tangled in other items and breaking. Pillows that are one single unit should be washed in the same manner as the Animals listed below. If the outside is stitched closed, it qualifies. ANIMALS & SPECIAL SHAPES The stuffing inside our products is all new polyester fiber, just like our pillows. The combination of water and agitation is not healthy for the life of the little polyester fibers, and they tend to cling together for support when subjected to this type of treatment in a washing machine. The result is a pillow or special friend filled with lumps. To avoid this, we recommend a quick dip in a basin or scrubbing the surface with a sponge or wash cloth. If it is necessary to soak the item, if a liquid has penetrated for example, then agitate it as little as possible. Gently squeeze out as much water as you can, place the item in a pillow case, and put it in the washing machine for a quick 'spin' cycle. The spinning will remove excess water, and lessen drying time. Still in the pillow case, pop it in the dryer for a low heat cycle. This type of handling should insure longer life for your handmade chenille friend. |
| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Please feel free to email me. I check it daily and will make every effort to reply in a timely fashion. Call me directly, at 908-638-4426, alternate number if busy: 908-638-9066, to place your order. I am available 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. EST. Please call during those hours only. CoCo:Chenille, Inc. 76 Main Street High Bridge, New Jersey 08829 Telephone: (908)638-4426 or (908)638-9066 Email: christina@cocochenille.com. Use a subject line that includes the word "chenille". Emails with no subject or without the word "chenille," will be deleted as SPAM. Web: www.cocochenille.com I will not make your email address available to anyone else and will maintain your privacy. Copyright 2008 / CoCo:Chenille, Inc./Christina Lynn Whited |