I spilled a whole pot of wheat paste on my new linen bookcloth yesterday.

I was in my garage studio in Austin, and after I mopped it up with a damp rag, the cloth dried with a weird, stiff patch, so has anyone found a good way to fix a paste stain without ruining the grain?

4 comments

4 Comments

leewalker4mo ago

Steaming might set the stain permanently, you could just make it worse.

jakewhite4mo ago

Did you try steaming it out yet?

susan_adams4mo agoTop Commenter

Try a damp sponge, then gently brush the grain.

phoenix_bailey1mo ago

Holding a damp sponge against it first is actually a good move, but you gotta be careful not to rub too hard or it'll push the stain deeper into the fabric. Brushing the grain after it's damp makes sense for some materials like velvet, but on a lot of upholstery that can leave water marks or flatten the pile in a weird way. People always say "gently brush" but they never mention how to actually dry it afterward without making it worse. Let it air dry completely before you even think about brushing or steaming, or you'll just spread the stain around.

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