You have invested a lot of your time and money in silk clothing, so it’s crucial to keep them clean and nice-looking. But how can you do that without ruining them? Here’s how you can wash silk like a pro!
Silk clothing is delicate and should be washed carefully. If you want to keep your silk clothes looking their best, it’s essential to take the necessary precautions when washing them.
Always check whether the fabric is colorfast
The first thing you need to do is to check whether the fabric of your silk clothing is colorfast. This is because silk can fade when it’s exposed to water (especially warm water) and detergent.
Luckily, many of the more expensive natural textiles are colorfast. However, there are still some costly fabrics that aren’t colorfast. So, you need to check what type of fabric your silk or artificial textiles are.
How to wash your silk clothes at home
Handwashing silk clothing at home is the easiest and fastest way to clean silk garments, but you need to follow essential instructions.
You should never use hot water when washing silk. Instead, you must use lukewarm water to wash your silk clothing. The reason is that hot water can melt the fibers of your silk clothing, reducing the quality of the material and causing irreversible damage.
You can use mild detergents or soap to wash your silk clothing. If you use fabric softener, it’s imperative to wash your silk clothing separately from other fabrics. Fabric softener is made of silicone, which can build up on the surface of your silk clothing and ruin them.
How to get rid of stains in your silk clothing
Many people run into problems when it comes to stains on their silk clothing. They try everything from washing to using commercial stain removers, but this doesn’t work.
There are many ways to treat stains, but the best way is to use some natural remedies that you can find at most home stores. Natural remedies can clean your silk clothing without risking the fabric.
You can use baking soda or vinegar to remove stains on silk clothing. You need to mix one cup of baking soda with two cups of water in a bowl and add a few drops of vinegar. Then, dip a sponge in this solution and gently rub the stained area. You can also use a soft brush to remove stains on silk clothing.
Another option is to mix two tablespoons of olive oil with two tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl. Then, apply this mixture to the stain, let it sit for about half an hour, and then wash the area with a sponge.
Always give the dry cleaners explicit instructions on how to clean your silk garments
Make sure to give your dry cleaner detailed instructions regarding how to clean your silk clothing. They might not know how to clean it properly, which can ruin your silk garments.
It’s crucial to make sure that you give them clear instructions on how to handle your clothes. You need to tell them if you only want the silk clothing machine-washed or hand-washed.
Sometimes, dry cleaners mix colored and white clothes, and they can get your silk clothing (especially silk blouses) ruined. So, it’s better to mention how you want your silk clothes handled when you give them to the clerk.
How to properly store your washed and dried silk clothes
If you want to keep your silk clothing looking its best, it’s essential to keep them in the right conditions. You need to store them away from strong light and moisture.
Silk clothing should be stored in a dark, cool place and away from any dust and fur. You can also use silica gel or gel packets to keep your silk clothing dry. To keep insects out of your silk clothing, you can use lavender or cedar. You need to place some lavender or cedar in a small sachet and put it in the drawer where you store your washed-silk clothing.