Silk’s longevity will be ensured by how you wash, dry, and care for Silk for many years.
Silk has been a sought-after fabric for centuries. It can be used in many ways, from scarves and clothing to home decor to silk scarfs, as well as being a great addition to your beauty sleep routine.
Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, but it can be delicate. It needs special care when cleaning, drying, and storing it to keep it in perfect condition.
How to Wash and Care for Silk: The Complete Guide
Does silk need to be dry cleaned?
Dry cleaning was believed to be the best way to care for silk. However, silk can be washed at your home. Although many silk products will require that they be dried cleaned, it is simply a preference of the manufacturer.
Only one type of washing is required on care labels. This is at the discretion of the manufacturer. Dry cleaning is the preferred method of washing silk because it reduces the risk of mishandling, and therefore, customers complaining about damaged products. It is important to remember that dry cleaning should only be done if the label clearly states so.
Can silk be washed by machine?
Although it is possible to machine wash silk it is not recommended. Silk is delicate and doesn’t like the constant turning of the machine drum. Silk should always be treated with care and shouldn’t be washed in the washing machine.
It is not recommended to wash silk with the same detergents as you use for cotton t-shirts. Silk should be washed with special silk detergent. Regular detergents and bleach can leave residue on silk, which can cause damage.
You can wash silk articles by following this program if you want to wash them in this manner. However, you should make sure that you wash your delicate silks separately before you throw them in the washer.
A. How to wash silk
There are some preparations and considerations to make before you put your silk in the washing machine.
- Is silk color fast?
Silk can withstand dying well but printed silks are susceptible to bleeding. It is important to check the colourfastness of silk before washing. This will ensure that your silk’s print doesn’t get damaged by the washing process.
It is easiest to use water to dampen a small section of fabric. Take a cotton bud and apply it to the area. You can check if the cotton bud has any colour residues by gently pressing it, not rubbing. If your silk has any colour residues, it will need to be sent to dry cleaners. If your test results were clean, you can hand wash your silk according to the following instructions.
- Treat any stain immediately
What are the best ways to stain silk? Before you wash your silk, it is important to check that everything is in order. To ensure the best possible removal, stain should be dealt with as soon as possible.
A 50/50 mix of silk detergent and water is the best way to remove silk stains. Use the solution to soak a cotton bud. Rub the solution onto the affected area. You’ve finished the pre-treatment.
Notice: Avoid all-purpose stain removers and always look for detergents that are specifically made for silk or delicate fabrics.
- Hand wash silk
After your silk is prepared, and it has dried completely, you can proceed. Make sure you have a clean sink/bowl. Fill it with cool water. You want it to be not too cold or not lukewarm, but somewhere in the middle.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to add your silk detergent and sumberge the silk. You shouldn’t leave your silk unattended.
For small silk lengths, you will need to keep moving your garment around in the water. Larger garments can be soaked for as long as 30 minutes.
- Rinsing silk
After washing your garment for the recommended time, take it out of the bowl immediately. Be careful not to squeeze out the water. Instead, drain the soapy water out of the bowl and fill it with cool, clean water.
For detergent residue to be removed, wash your garment in warm water for about one minute. If necessary, repeat the process.
B. How to dry silk
This one is not going to require a tumble dryer, as silk drying in this manner is highly discouraged. Silk should be dried in the air for best results.
First, lay the towel flat on top of a clean towel to absorb excess moisture. The silk will be inside the towel so roll it up and press down gently. Continue the process until the silk is dry.
After removing the towel from the silk garment, place it flat on a drying rack. Because silk can fade in direct sunlight, it should be dried in shade.
Silk is quick to dry, so you want your garment to be dry in between 30-60 minutes.
C. How to iron silk
Silk that has been air dried flat should not have wrinkles or creases. A quick ironing can make your silk look like new. While steaming is the best way to remove creases, silk can also be ironed.
Your silk will not be damaged or stained by water. Iron on the backside of your fabric and use a low heat. Use a special silk setting on your iron or heat the iron to around 148°C (300°F). Do not use the steam setting. We want to prevent water droplets from happening!
Top tip: Iron double-sided silk with a pressing cloth to prevent heat from being applied to either side.
D. How to store silk
You now know how to wash and dry silk properly. It is important to know how to store silk correctly so it can last between washes.
Silk should be kept in cool, dry and dark places with good air circulation. Silk is a natural fibre that needs to breathe. Avoid storing silk garments in plastic bags. To ensure silk garments are not wrinkled or creased, keep them in breathable cotton bags. This will help to preserve their shape so you can get on with your next outfit.
Silk should be cleaned before it is stored away. Hanging silk garments that are stained, dirty, or containing natural oils is not a good idea. This can cause damage over time.
You can invest in silk products that will last a lifetime, whether it’s a gorgeous silk dress for a special occasion, or silk bedding.
This is just a guideline for washing silk. Some qualities might vary. Before washing silk at home, always check the care label.
