I listened to an experienced teacher talk about this last night at our guild meeting. She says any regular detergent will do with a couple color catchers, gentle agitation. The trick is to stand by your washer and not let it spin too much at one time. She said, count to 2 and lift the lid and again and again and again, until it stops spinning. The spinning will tear out the stitches, hand or machine. Then put in a pillow case and dry on gentle. Good wishes.