Cotton Blend Duvets and Coverlets

We recommend professional cleaning and we do not recommend that you wash these at home. If you decide to wash them yourself, here are some general guidelines:

Wash them using sheeting instructions, but they must be air dried and blocked. Blocking means stretching it back into shape. You will need a large surface area - some people use a bed. You will still have some shrinkage, and taking this on is a big task. A wet coverlet is heavy and difficult to handle.

Wool Blend Duvets and Coverlets

We strongly recommend that wool blends and ornamented products be cleaned professionally. Some basic information on wool: Merino is wool of the smallest micron produced by sheep (only angora and cashmere are of smaller micron sizes) classifying them as "soft" wools. Soft wools have softly twisted yarns and surface nap. Because of the surface nap - fibers that stand above the surface of the woven/knit fabric - pilling can occur. This occurs from conditions of use but can also be exacerbated by they mechanical action of any care process. The pills can be removed with the use of several different devices on the market ranging from sweater stones to professional depillars. This is something to be discussed with your dry cleaning service.

Polyester Blend Duvets and Coverlets

We recommend professional cleaning and we do not recommend that you wash these at home. Some basic information on polyester: Polyester "pills," and will shed its pilling on natural fibers, diminishing the smoothness and softness of the fabric. This occurs from conditions of use but can also be exacerbated by they mechanical action of any care process. The pills can be removed with the use of several different devices on the market ranging from sweater stones to professional depillars. This is something to be discussed with your dry cleaning service.

Silk Blend Duvets and Coverlets

We strongly recommend professional cleaning for silk blend duvets and coverlets. Some basic information on silk: it is one of the most delicate fabrics and must be treated carefully to preserve its fine texture and softness. The weaving of the fabric may contain minor irregularities, these are characteristic of fine silk yarn, giving the fabric its beauty, luster and texture, and should be not be treated as defects. Silk should not be allowed to get too soiled before cleaning.

Table Runners

For general cleaning, we recommend professional dry cleaning. For spot cleaning stains, please refer to the Stain Removal section at the end of this care document.

Savoy Linens

Machine wash in warm (not hot) water on gentle cycle. You may use any mild detergent or soap. Use enzyme reactive stain removers only. Do not use chlorine bleach, stain removers or detergents with lighteners. Never pour detergent or soap directly on your textiles. Either pour it in when the tub is full or dilute it. Do not use fabric softeners. These only coat the fibers and make them "appear" to be soft. One cup of white vinegar in the rinse water removes all traces of soap and leaves fabrics smelling fresh.

The ideal way to dry linens is air only. A line or rod is perfect, but you can use a railing or shower rod as well. If you must use a dryer, use the lowest setting and never dry completely. During the last few minutes of a dryer cycle the fabric overheats and dries out, making it brittle and lifeless over time. Always remove them from the dryer while still damp.

Cleaning and General Care of Leather

Some Eastern Accents products incorporate the use of leather. While it is not involved in many of our collections, the following are some general guidelines for cleaning and care: Do not allow leather to become too soiled before cleaning. To keep leather supple and clean we suggest professional cleaning. For at-home care, gently clean with a wet soft cloth and a mild non-detergent soap. Lightly rinse off and pat dry. If not allowed to dry completely, mildew may occur.

Care of Down Comforters

If soiled or stained, down comforters and pillows can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap. For cleaning down duvets and pillows, we recommend laundering rather than dry cleaning. Laundering rejuvenates the lofting quality of down, making duvets and pillows full, fluffier, and fresh smelling. You may wash down items in a front-loading, extra capacity washer (the kind used by professional laundries) using a mild detergent in warm water. Do not use top loading washing machines or the agitation may damage the delicate cotton cover. Some modest shrinkage or wrinkling may result from washing, but will not be visible once the duvet is in a duvet cover. Down duvets and pillows dry best in the sun. Spread them out on a sheet on the grass or deck, and shake them vigorously from time to time while drying. Or you may tumble dry in a dryer set on medium heat. Remove every hour and fluff. Placing a few tennis balls in the dryer will facilitate the drying. Be certain your down comforters and pillows are thoroughly dry before returning to the bed or storage – this will prevent mildew. Always store in cotton bags, never in plastic.

Care of Poly Comforters

If soiled or stained, poly comforters and pillows can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap. For cleaning poly duvets and pillows, we recommend laundering rather than dry cleaning. You may wash poly items in a front-loading, extra capacity washer (the kind used by professional laundries) using a mild detergent in cold water. Tumble dry in a dryer set on low heat. Remove every hour and fluff. Placing a few tennis balls in the dryer will facilitate the drying. Do not over dry and remove promptly from dryer to prevent excessive wrinkling.

Stain Removal

BERRIES AND FRUIT: If the stain is still wet, sprinkle with salt and gentle liquid soap. Let sit for a couple of hours, and rinse well. If the stain is dry, a solution of borax (one part borax to six parts water) may remove the stain. Soak until it has disappeared.

BLOOD: Attend to bloodstains immediately. Rinse well in cold water (never hot—it will permanently set the stain), then try one of the following: a) sprinkle the stain with unflavored meat tenderizer; or b) blot on hydrogen peroxide with a damp cloth, allow to bubble, then wipe with a fresh cloth. Repeat if necessary. For dried bloodstain: soak overnight in cold water and two cups of salt. Wash as usual.

BUTTER OR MARGARINE: Mix one teaspoon of detergent with warm water. Apply to spot and blot. You may need to repeat a few times. Or mix one part white vinegar and two parts water. Saturate the stain and blot until dry. Wash as usual.

CANDLE WAX ON TABLE LINENS: Gently peel away the wax that can easily be removed with your fingernail. If the wax is soft, harden with an ice cube. Place the item between two sheets of brown paper, and press with a warm iron; the remaining wax will be absorbed by the paper. If the wax is colored, wash with a bleaching agent.

COFFEE OR TEA: Apply a borax solution (1 part borax to six parts water) directly to the stain, then wash in warm, soapy water.

GREASE: Do not allow grease stains to set! Sprinkle fresh grease stains with baking soda or cornstarch and leave for a couple of hours until the powder gets thick. Scrape away and repeat the process. Brush off the powder and launder as usual.

GRASS: Mix one-third cup vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply to stain and blot. Or pre-soak in hydrogen peroxide and launder as usual.

LIPSTICK: Scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife. Use a pre-wash spray and rub with a clean white towel. Wash as usual.

MILDEW: Apply white vinegar and lemon juice to kill the mildew. Let the item sit in the sun for a few hours. Wash as usual, but separately.

SCORCH MARKS: Treat the same way as mildew, but drying in the sun is not necessary.

WINE: White wine is easily removed with normal laundering. Red wine stains can be handled two ways: a) rub salt on the stain, and soak in cold water; if the stain is stubborn, rub the salt into it to remove; or b) saturate the stain with club soda until it disappears.

Cleaning methods and terminology

Dry Cleaningis by definition, cleaning with solvents and little or no water.

Spot Clean for solvents must be distilled to remove greases, oils, waxes and dyes. Poor solvent purity or quality can result in an objectionable odor in the garment and a "graying" of white clothing. Clean only with dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate. Do not use water. Pile fabric may require brushing to restore appearance.

Pressing after cleaning should also be considered. Linen can withstand higher heat when ironed, and should be pressed when damp. Silk requires a lower temperature iron and should be steam ironed, preferably with a press cloth. Wool should be pressed with steam and a moderate temperature.

Wet Cleaning is described as a new process by some cleaning establishments. They advertise that their process will replace dry cleaning and the environmentally dangerous solvents they use. Wet cleaning is accomplished by using water-based chemicals. Clean only with water based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean. File fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance.

Water Solvent should be cleaned with shampoo, foam or dry cleaning solvents as desired. Do not saturate with liquid. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance.