I do a lot of cross stitch and always wash my finished projects in vinegar and baking soda! it sets the colour of the thread and gently removes the oils the were left from handling the fabric as well as any stain or dirt. I inherited a beautiful needlepoint that my grandmother did and it had a huge stain in one corner. So I pulled it all apart and soaked it in vinegar and baking soda for 24 hours. Not only did it remove the stain but it cleaned the whole piece.