Every piece of clothing in our wardrobe has its time, but premature destruction drives us crazy. We try to do everything to prevent it, but as everyone knows, stains and damage do themselves.
There are fabrics that need a little more attention. One of them is silk - a fabric that was created more than 4 thousand years ago. Silk is a fabric that is distinguished by its delicacy and soft touch. Its properties are particularly friendly to our body and hair. Once worn, the owner falls in love with it and becomes a favorite in the wardrobe. However, washing silk is more complicated than other fabrics are used to. In this guide, we will explain how to wash silk so that you can take care of it and enjoy it for as long as possible.
Before you start washing silk, take a deep breath, slow down. Calmness is something that is useful not only in such situations.
Silk and the washing machine?
Give it up! This is a risky and unpredictable method. You never know what condition you'll find your favorite silk item in. If you can, take the item to your trusted dry cleaner. It is a safe solution that will not damage the silk. Of course, it costs a lot, but there are things in the wardrobe that are worth spending a little more money on, and silk is definitely one of them.
Hand wash silk? - it can be done!
Hand washing silk is a process that is worth being better prepared for. At the beginning, take care of the cleanliness of the things that you will use during washing, e.g. a bowl or a sink. A gentle shampoo or mild soap is best for washing silk. Do not use any strong agents as they may damage the fabric. For the whole process of washing silk, you will also need a towel and white vinegar, which we will use when rinsing.
When washing silk, the water we use should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Try not to change the temperature abruptly, as this can negatively affect the structure of the fabric. Pour cool water into a bowl or sink (the darker the fabric, the colder the water should be). Pour the liquid with which you are going to wash silk and soak your clothes in it. When washing silk, do not twist or scrub it. Silk becomes more stretchy when exposed to water, so try not to wash it for more than 4 minutes.
Rinsing
After washing the silk, we move on to the rinsing process. It's best if you have a second bowl of water at the same temperature ready, but if you don't have one, just replace the water with clean water. The entire silk rinsing process should last until foam and suds stop forming. When working with light-colored fabric, you can add a little white vinegar to the water.
Drying
The last phase of the entire silk washing process is its drying. The most important thing is to treat silk with extreme care at all times. To dry silk properly and safely, wrap the fabric in a towel and gently drain the water. We suggest drying the fabric flat and not experimenting in any other way. Remember not to wring or squeeze the silk. Also, do not expose it to the sun while drying, as it may cause the silk to fade.
P.S
We know from secret information that instagramer Julia Ziółkowska (livebetter_pl) washes silk in a washing machine on a delicate program.