Nothing compares to silk. The silky, lightweight fabric flows over the body and is made by insect larvae. It is, therefore, difficult to clean. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot simply toss it in the washer and call it a day.
Big news, folks: you can truly wash and clean silk yourself by washer or hand. You might not even know how to clean silk and may have always sent your silk pieces to the laundromat as per their instruction labels. However, it could be time to DIY if the specialists are not easily accessible. This raises the important question: How can silk be washed? Just adhere to our stupidly simple, easy-to-follow guide.
Things you need to know before you wash silk
Although silk items can be washed with the proper silk detergent, it is crucial to remember that this fabric frequently bleeds and may stain other laundry items. Additionally, while laundering silk for the first time, bleeding can happen if a particular silk piece has two or more colors. This is typical and would not cause color loss when the wash is finished. Find a little section of the fabric, such as a hem, and soak it in lukewarm water to check for color bleeding. You will be able to tell that washing would cause bleeding if the color escapes into the water. If you find something that bleeds during the test, take your silk item to the dry cleaners.
How frequently do silk items need to be washed?
Unless it requires freshening and stain removal, wash silk every few wears. Keep in mind that the color may fade if you wash your silk clothing at home too frequently. Silk clothing typically does not lose color as quickly after dry cleaning as it does after home washing.
How to wash silk by hand
Pretreat Stains
Apply stain-removing solution or the Stain Bar direct to stains and affected areas to get rid of stains in a matter of seconds. Juice and wine stains can be removed using Stain Solution, while oil-based stains can be cleaned with the Stain Bar.
Note: Pre-soak the item for half an hour in a mixture of half cup of scented vinegar and cool water.
The best method to wash and maintain the quality of silk is by hand washing.
- Turn It Inside Out: Prepare the item for washing by turning it inside out. Wash only with complementary or matching colors.
- Make A Bath: Fill the sink or washbasin with cool water, then add two teaspoonfuls or drops of any mild cleaning agent.
- Dive under: To properly disperse soap and water, soak your piece and gently move the water using your hand. Spend up to thirty minutes soaking.
- Rinse: Rinse goods in cool water until the water is free of soap. Avoid wringing. Instead, gently push the item on the sink or between your hands to remove any remaining water.
- Dry: It is time to finish drying your beautiful silk piece, so it is ready for use. Although you may be inclined to put the piece in the dryer, endurance will ultimately pay off. Lay the item “in its natural form on a clothing rack or a fresh, dry towel” to air dry it instead.
Note: If the water is colored, do not be concerned. This is common because the yarn is merely releasing dye. When you are done, you would not notice any color loss in the fabric.
How to wash silk in the washer
As you have been advised, washing silk at home is best done by hand because it is a fine fabric that a washing machine may easily ruin. However, if you use a high-quality clothing bag and only sometimes use the washing machine, you can go with this technique.
- Flip the fabric inside out and place it inside a mesh bag made specifically for washing fragile clothing.
- As previously mentioned, fill your washing machine with one capful of mild detergent.
- Use chilly water and a gentle cycle while running the washer (it is there for a purpose, pals).
- Take the clothing off and let it air dry on a clothing rack or a dry towel.
How to wash silk sheets and pillowcases
Read the care instructions the first time you unbox your sheets and abide by them. You will find that pure silk only needs a little extra care and is extremely easy to maintain.
- Before using, wash your brand-new linens. Silk can be washed by hand, in a washer with cold water, in a delicate silk cycle, or both.
- A silk-only load should always be used to wash silk separately. To prevent damage to the delicate fabric, flip your silk pillow covers inside out and put all of your silk clothing in good mesh laundry bags before machine-washing. For a balanced load, place the thin and padded sheets in different bags and put a pillow cover on each.
- Make use of a gentle detergent designed especially for silk. That will clean your pure silk bedding while safeguarding the fabric and comes highly recommended.
- Dry, silky sheets by hanging them indoors or outside, out of the way of the sun.
- We do not advise drying your bed linens in the dryer. If you must, utilize the “air” option for the shortest time.
- Silk sheets don’t always need to be ironed; any wrinkles that remain after laundering will gradually disappear. If you decide to iron your silky linens, do it safely.
How to wash silk dresses
There are a few basic guidelines for washing silk that you may go by in addition to always reading the instructions on your silk clothing items to look for washing instructions.
Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions about washing silk by hand or machine.
- Never use chlorine bleach to wash silk. It might harm natural fibers.
- Avoid using direct sunlight to dry silk. Prolonged exposure might lead to fading or damage.
- Avoid tumble-drying silk since the heat might harm it or cause it to shrink.
- Consider using Persil Silk & Wool, a gentle, non-biological detergent. For cleaning silk, a detergent made specifically for that purpose is recommended.
- Before washing, always make sure the item is colorfast. To check if any color flows off the silk, dab a discreet patch of it with a moist white towel. If color stains the cloth, we advise against hand-washing or machine-washing the garment; instead, send it to a reputable dry cleaner.
How to wash silk dresses by hand
If your item may be hand-washed at home, proceed as follows:
- Once you have confirmed if your item is colorfast, add the suggested amount of a gentle cleanser, such as Persil Silk & Wool, to a basin of lukewarm water. The directions are listed on the product’s label.
- The object should only be soaked for five minutes. Rinse with cool water after emptying the basin and refilling it with three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. White vinegar will assist in removing leftover soap and alkali residue.
- Give your item one last rinse in new water after draining the water. To your last rinse water, you might want to add a mild fabric conditioner and rinse with water. This will make your fabric super soft and silky.
- When finished, remove the object from the sink and place it flat on a fresh towel. To help the towel absorb extra moisture, wrap the silk and gently squeeze it. Avoid twisting or wringing silk because doing so can change the item’s form.
- Either spread the garment on a clean towel or hang it to dry naturally. Ensure to keep the garment away from direct sunlight and avoid tumble drying.
How to take care of your silk fabrics after washing
Although silk requires a lot of upkeep, the simple things you can do to maintain it at its best are well worth the effort. You can take further care of your silks in addition to washing and drying the item with care, such as handling creases and wrinkles and storing silk.
It is worthwhile to take some care of silk because it is a lovely, opulent fabric, but silk is not the sole delicate fabric that requires a little attention. Your other delicates, such as laces, wool, or sheepskin, will also require particular attention in the laundry room.
- Turn the clothing inside out and use the silk or low heat setting on the iron.
- Iron the silk when it is completely dry.
- Put a piece of fabric between the iron and the silk.
- Silk clothing should be hung in a moderate, dry place.
- If you intend to store silk for an extended period, place it in a permeable plastic bag.
- Avoid exposing silk to the sun.
- When keeping silk, use a moth repellent.
Avoid using extremely high ironing temperatures since they can burn silk and other protein-containing textiles. The fibers may scorch or turn yellow as they start to burn. Such fibers are irreparable.
Using a steam iron and hanging the item in a steamy bathtub removes the majority of creases in silk fabrics. Flip your silky garment inside out and press it while it is still moist if you decide to iron it. Use the minimum heating temperature on your iron and a pressing towel to avoid unwanted spots or heat damage to the silk. When ironing silk, avoid wetting it because this could cause water stains.
Conclusion:
We want to ensure that the sheen and texture of your silk clothing remain intact. For this reason, this blog offers guidelines and advice on what to remember when cleaning, drying and preserving your silk cloth. Whether it’s a silk dress, blouse, pants, scarves, your favorite silky sheets, or any other item, knowing how to care for silk clothing could make a huge difference in how long it lasts. To ensure that you may wear clean, silky clothing, we are constantly upgrading and exploring new methods for caring for silk fabrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes silk different from nylon?
A: While nylon comprises thermoplastic fibers obtained from petroleum, silk is made of natural protein fibers from caterpillars. The 1930s saw the introduction of nylon, first utilized in commercial items as a substitute for artificial silk. During the Second World War, when genuine silken from Asia became scarce, nylon became widely used. Military parachutes and clothes began to use nylon as a less expensive alternative fabric. Today, China or India once again produces the majority of natural silk sold commercially.
Q: Can baking soda be applied to silk clothing?
Avoid using baking soda on silk materials if possible. Although baking soda works well to deodorize and remove stains from various materials, it is an acidic substance that can harm fine silk garments.
Q: Is dry cleaning preferred for silk clothing?
An expert dry cleaner will frequently do a better job cleaning silk clothing with several vibrant colors or strong patterns, as they’ll use special chemicals to keep the colors from blending. Darker hues may be best suited for dry cleaning because they occasionally bleed when cleaned in water. However, gentle home washing is equally effective as dry cleaning regarding light, single-color silk clothing.
