Keeping Painted Fabric nice

To keep your fabric painting as good as the day you painted it hand wash it. be gentle with it. I had a student who always wore handpainted windcheaters to class. they were immaculate, always clean and bright. I asked how she did that. How did she keep them nice. Her answer was that she handwashes them by first giving them a soak in warm water. Then a rinse in clean water. She ironed them too (more than I would do for a windcheater!) When it comes to my washing I always, (even if the label says handwash...´cos I forget to look) throw everything in the machine. My handpainted cushions don´t look as good as her clothes did...so I have learned the lesson once again. If it handpainted treat it with care. A hand wash in a mild laundry detergent should do the job.