How to Clean a Tapestry

With their intricate patterns and bold colors, tapestries add warmth and beauty to any room in your home. Many tapestry owners hang theirs on a wall for display, while others drape their tapestry over a bed or lay it flat on the floor. If you hang your tapestry on the wall, it usually will not get dirty enough to need a deep cleaning. Unless your tapestry gets soiled, an occasional dusting with your vacuum cleaner is enough to keep the item looking fresh.

Step 1

Remove the tapestry from the wall, if necessary.

Step 2

Lay the tapestry on a flat surface, such as on a clean floor or a table.

Step 3

Connect an upholstery attachment to your vacuum cleaner. This attachment has stiff bristles and an oval- or rectangular-shaped head.

Step 4

Turn on the vacuum cleaner. Run the upholstery attachment down the length of the tapestry, working from the top to the bottom. Vacuum the top side of the tapestry; this is where dust collects when it hangs on the wall.

Step 5

Flip the tapestry over and vacuum the back, if desired. The tapestry's backside is usually not as dirty as the front.

Step 6

Take your tapestry to a dry cleaner if it still looks dirty after vacuuming. You should not dry clean certain types of tapestries, such as hand-woven ones, Italian and French reproduction tapestries or those made of 100 percent wool. If you have a tapestry such as this, contact a rug cleaner who specializes in high-end carpets or antique textiles.