How to Remove the Smoke Stains from a Dreamcatcher

Dreamcatchers are made with a huge variety of materials, many of which, like wool, are not washable. As a result, cleaning them can be quite difficult, especially when it comes to stubborn stains. If a gentle cleaning with a toothbrush and mild detergent doesn’t take smoke and nicotine stains out of unwashable fabrics found on your dreamcatcher, give this heavier-duty method a try.

• Dry cleaning fluid
• Absorbent pads

1. Place an absorbent pad under the material to be cleaned. This will both catch the extra liquid as well as absorb any of the removed stain.
2. Pour a small quantity of dry cleaning solution over the stained fabric. For best results, saturate the stain.
3. Wet a second absorbent pad with dry cleaning solution.
4. Place it over the stained fabric. Allow it to sit so the cleaner can soak into the stain.
5. After five minutes, press firmly then remove the pads. If the stain has transferred to either pad, replace it.
6. Repeat until no more stain is transferred to the pad. You will probably not be able to remove any more stain from this point.
7. Flush the fabric with dry cleaning fluid again to “rinse.”
8. Allow the piece to air dry completely.

• Dry cleaning fluid can usually be found at a fabric store, such as Joann’s Fabrics. You can also find it in a Dryel home dry cleaning kit, which is usually available in the laundry aisle of supermarkets. You can also find various brands available online, such as ForceField, Guardsman, or Imperial Dry Cleaning Fluid.
• Feathers require special care, so this method is not recommended for cleaning them. For a variety of methods to clean feathers, see our guide How to Clean Feathers.
• For general cleaning of a dreamcatcher, see our guide How to Clean a Dreamcatcher. These methods can also work for removing minor smoke residue.