How to Wash Your Prayer Shawl

Prayer shawls should be given gentle care.

Several religious traditions call for the wearing of a shawl during prayer, worship or celebration. Beyond religious tradition, many people make prayer shawls for loved ones, to support them during illness, bereavement or celebration of a milestone. Because of the significance of all types of prayer shawls and the care that goes into making them, take equal care when laundering them.

Things You'll Need

• Prayer shawl
• Gentle cleanser
• Sink or tub
• Water
• Clean terry-cloth towels

Instructions

1. Fill a sink or tub with warm water (it should not be too hot, but pleasant to the touch). Add a gentle cleanser, such as Woolite or Ivory soap.

2. Insert the shawl, pushing it gently into the water. Allow it to soak for 10 to15 minutes. If it is very soiled, soak it for a longer period.

3. Remove the shawl and gently press to remove excess water.

4. Refill the sink or tub with lukewarm water and rinse the shawl so that no soap remains. Gently lift the shawl from the water with both hands. Press it but do not wring it to remove water. Wrap it in a terry-cloth towel and press, to remove any excess water.

5. Unroll and inspect the shawl to make sure stains have been removed. If stains are still present, rewash.

6. Spread dry towels and lay the shawl flat to dry. Hand-knit and crocheted shawls may be pinned back into their original shapes while drying.

Tips & Warnings

• If the shawl is part of your religious practice, check with your clergy to see if there are special washing instructions.

• Ask the person who made the shawl if there are special laundering instructions.

• If the shawl is wool, a no-rinse wool soak is an easy, gentle and effective cleanser.

• You can also dry-clean a shawl. Make sure the firm is familiar with any religious restrictions regarding prayer shawls.

• Do not put a prayer shawl with ceremonial fringe (such as a Jewish Tallit) in the washing machine as the fringe will tangle.

References

• Knitter's Review; Dirty Work: How to Clean your Handknits
• Chabad.org; How Does One Clean a Soiled Tallit; Chana Weisberg