How to Care For Silk Fabrics

With silks being used for various purposes these days from sheets to clothing to women's fashion accessories like silk belts, scarves, and wallets, there is the need to understand how to care for these delicate fabrics. Although silk products usually come with care instructions, here are some basic how to's in caring for silk.

Here are some methods on how to care for, clean and/or remove stains from silk.

Dry Cleaning:

For most types of silks, including the lighter and finer varieties, dry cleaning is the best option. Make sure that your dry cleaner is made aware that your garment or accessory is made of silk as silks are sensitive to the common types of cleaning detergents.

Hand Washing:

Though hand washing can eventually affect the texture and color of the fabric, silk tends to react well with warm water. As in dry cleaning, do not use strong detergents or cleaning solutions. Instead, use shampoo or soap dissolved in water. A small amount of soap is sufficient since silk has a natural resistance to stains and dirt. Don't soak the fabric for a long time as the dye may become dull. To enhance a slightly faded sheen in the silk or to remove an alkali blemish, spray the garment or accessory with white vinegar and dry it with a towel.

Do Not Machine Wash Silk:

Machine washing is not recommended for any type of silk belts or garments because the whirling motion can damage the fabric. However, there are washing machines that allow for washing of silk and other sensitive fabrics. If your machine specifically indicates that it can accommodate silk, make sure to put the garment in a mesh bag and to check for remnants of soap or dirt inside the machine. Spin cycles should be kept to a minimum.

Do Not Use Machine Dryers:

Never use machine dryers when drying your silk garment as the motion and friction of dryers wear out the fabric's shape and texture. And neither should they be wrung. Instead, press the remaining water out using plain white towels. When hanging them to dry, keep the fabric away from direct sunlight or any other source of heat. It is recommended that silk be dried at room temperature.

How to Press / Iron Silk:

When pressing, make sure the silk garment is turned inside out and not completely dry. To make sure, dampen it by spraying some water over it. Set the iron to the minimum temperature and do not steam. Another way to iron silk is to put a thin damp towel or cotton cloth over the silk and iron on top of it so that the iron does not touch the silk directly.

How to Remove Stains from Silk:

Lastly, when removing stains, remember that silk is not as strong as other fabrics and therefore cannot withstand chemicals. So bleach is not recommended. For most stains, a mixture of water and white vinegar would do the trick. Tougher stains may be removed using some ammonia diluted in water.

About the Author: Ash Moosa is founder of Outfit Additions, a women's fashion accessories retailer. View the collection of silk belts, silk wallets and a variety of silver, beaded, and gemstone necklaces at http://www.outfitadditions.com.