A silk dress or silk sheets are the most sumptuous fabrics available, whether you’re wearing one or covering yourself in them. Even though everyone likes silk for its silky smooth texture, shiny look, and a plethora of remarkable health advantages, it has a reputation for being difficult to clean. This buyer’s guide for silk will inform you of all you need to know about keeping silk clean, but clothes Frank & Eileen can help you do that effortlessly.
Is it possible to wash silk at home?
Here are two simple, fast tests you may do on your silk clothing before washing it to determine whether or not it can be washed at home.
- Take the dried silk garment in your palm and squeeze it for a few seconds before letting it go. If the cloth smooths out fast, it is likely to be high-quality silk that will stand up well to hand-washing and a variety of other uses. It would be best to get it dry cleaned instead or risk destroying the item.
- The second silk test is for colour fastness, which is the most important. Dampen the fabric on the inner seam of a garment. Let the place sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a white cloth or cotton swab. Take that clothing to the dry cleaner instead of the colour that has come out since the dye will run during the washing process.
Instructions on how to wash silk in a washing machine
- Check the fabric care label to determine whether it can be washed in a washing machine and how to do so. Some silk goods may lose their colour or get damaged when washed in the machine.
- It is not a good idea to wash silk or delicate fabrics with heavier clothes such as jeans.
- Put your silks in a delicate wash bag to keep them safe from abrasive damage while washing.
- Put it in the washing machine and make sure it isn’t overloaded; you should be able to get your hand inside the machine without any difficulty.
- Add a few drops of silk wash or a gentle detergent. Follow the directions on the label of the bottle for dosage.
- Your washing machine should offer a delicate wash option. You should also use the shortest spin cycle and wash at the temperature specified on the fabric care label for washing delicates.
- After you’ve finished washing your clothes, use a towel to absorb any extra water and moisture.
- Remove the clothing from the sun by hanging it or laying it flat to dry.
The best way to remove stains from silk
If you’ve noticed a stain on your formerly pure, glossy silk, don’t worry just yet; there are a few silk stain removal methods you may attempt to get the stain out, or you can opt-in for clothes from Frank & Eileen that are hard to stain in the first place.
- Treat it immediately as soon as the stain appears since a dried stain would be considerably more challenging to remove.
- Remove as much of the stain as you can from the specified area by gently blotting it with a paper towel or a piece of clean cotton wool.
- To gently remove silk stains, combine a couple of tablespoons, either white vinegar or lemon juice, with tepid water to create a mild silk stains remover.
- Test the solution on a tiny, inconspicuous part of the silk first, and then dab the stain with a clean, white cloth to see whether the solution works. If at all possible, avoid scrubbing the discolouration.
- Wash the silk as you usually would, following the care directions on the garment care label.
On silk, you should never use a professional stain remover. Spot treatment with stain removers might harm the colour and finish of the fabric. To remove food stains from a garment, wash it well and soak it for an extended period. A trip to the dry cleaners is generally warranted for stains that are very black or thick.
- Never use bleach on silk, whether made of oxygen or chlorine. In the presence of chlorine bleach, silk fibres will disintegrate, and even small chlorine bleach solutions will result in irreversible yellowing, colour loss, and a weakening of the silk fabric.
- Avoid wringing or twisting it when washing silk fabric since the delicate silk fibres might be damaged.
- Silk garments should not be dried in a tumble dryer, even on a low setting.
- If you don’t have an appropriate hanger, lay silk items flat or on a drying rack that is well-supported to dry
Learn how to iron silk.
If you use an iron at a very high temperature, it may cause the silk fibres to get scorched and damaged. As the fibres begin to burn, the scorching or yellowing of the fabric happens. The majority of creases in silk may be removed using steam iron or by hanging the garment in a steamy bathroom. If you decide to iron the clothing, be sure to flip the silk garment inside out and iron it while the garment is still somewhat moist. When ironing silk, use the lowest heat setting on your iron and a pressing cloth to avoid any water spots or heat from damaging the fabric. Never wet the silk before ironing it. Otherwise, water stains may appear on the fabric.
