If you have no idea how to clean silk, then we have news you'll want to know: here are thetop-rated dos and don'ts to wash silk items without harming them.
A gentle wash
Gentleness is a must when deciding how to clean silk. It’s fragile to begin with, and loses a lot of its resistance when wet. If your silk clothes are machine washable, select the delicate setting. If they’re not machine washable, you can always wash them by hand.Here are some dos and don'ts for hand washing :
- Do run some water in the tub or in a large basin.
- Do use soap especially made for washing silk.
- Don't ever use a bleaching agent.
- Do make sure the water is no warmer than 30ºC before adding your clothes.
- Don't rub or crumple the fabric; do swish the clothes around in a back-and-forth motion.
- Don't let silk soak for too long; remove your clothing from the water after a maximum of five minutes.
- Do rinse the fabric with cold or warm water to which you’ve added a few drops of white vinegar; this solution will eliminate any soap residue.
Dry away from the sun
When you’re ready to dry your silk clothing, there are two very important things to remember: never wring out silk, and never expose it directly to sunlight for an extended period of time.
- To dry it properly, first roll the item up in a towel to remove excess water. Then lay it flat on a dry towel.
Damp ironing
If you want to iron your silk clothing, do so while it’s still slightly damp.
- Set your iron to the lowest setting and iron the item inside out until it’s dry. Never use steam when ironing silk.
Caring for silk
Taking the time to learn how to clean silk is a good way to preserve your expensive silk clothes. Here is some additional advice that will allow you to keep them in good shape for a long time.
- Don’t let silk come into contact with deodorant, hair colorant, or self-tanning products.
- Don’t spray perfume on the fabric.
- Do pin a brooch onto a blouse only after wiping the pin with rubbing alcohol.
- Don't allow your bracelets and necklaces to come into contact with the silk.
Read the labels
To avoid blunders when attempting to clean silk, always read the care labels inside the items. After all, knowing how to clean silk is an art in itself. Moreover, it can save you the grief of accidentally ruining your favorite silk blouse.
