Silk, not only, a smooth fabric but it also has inherent luster
in it. Washing a silk fabric therefore requires bit more care than for any
other fabric. But its not difficult as silk has in built tendency to repel the
dirt and not always require the dry cleaning.
The below checks and process, if followed, can help
sustaining the delicacy of the silk fabric and increase its life.
First of all make sure to read the instructions given in
each fabric by the manufacturing group. If it says Dry Clean Only, then do not
compromise or idle and get it dry clean only. If it says handwash, it must be
washed by hand only, no machine wash. If the instructions permits the machine
wash, even then, always prefer hand-wash.
Sometimes the instructions may not be there. At that time,
you must check it on your own to confirm if you need to dry wash it or will the
hand-wash do. So our step by step clothing will start from here only.
Step 1: Check color fastness of the silk fabric.
Rub the hidden part of the silk with each other and
ascertain whether the color is transferring or not. If the color is transferring,
make sure to dry clean it. If no transfer, you should go ahead and hand clean
it.
Step 2: Shaking off
Shake off the silk fabric lightly to remove any dirt and
crumbs of pollutants. The bigger and lighter dirt will be removed upto an
extent and now you can go ahead and wash away more stubborn dirt.
Step 3: Choose the detergent
Go for a mild detergent. In India, you may wish to go for
Baby Soap from Johnson and Johnson or Ariel Oxyblu . Abroad you may choose to Woolite
or Dr Bronner’s baby soap. If none of them is available, you may choose any
mild shampoo or baby soap.
Step 4: Soaking:
Soak the silk fabric in lukewarm water for 5-7 minutes.
Avoid using hot water as it will brittle the fabric and may fade the luster,
silk fabric is known for. Sometime the extreme temperature water may also
stretch or shrink the fabric if the fabric, while manufacturing, was not
shrunk.
Step 5: Rubbing stains
Gently rub the stains after soaking the fabric for 5-7
minutes. Do not rub it too hard to avoid damage. Also rub the stains in
circular motions going inside from the circumference. This will likely to bring
all the dirt together at one place which then can be washed off easily.
Step 6: Rinse and rinse again
Rinse the fabric till the time all the soap is not removed
from the fabric. Rinse well so that no soap scum remains in the fabric to
damage it. One smart idea is to take ¼ cup of vinegar mixed water and rinse the
fabric. Vinegar will remove any soap-scum. Finally rinse with cold water.
Step 7: Do not wring or twist the fabric
Remember not to shake off the fabric to remove water. Do not
twist the fabric to rid water off. Instead take a cotton towel, spread the
fabric over it, and roll the towel up. The cotton towel will absorb the excess
water from the fabric. There will be delicate wringing but that’s alright.
Leave the fabric for sometime wrapped in towel. This will absorb good amount of
water.
Step 8: Dry and iron it
The final step is to dry the fabric in a clothing line under
shade. Do not expose it in sunlight as the sunlight makes the fabric fragile.
Sometimes it is a nice idea to keep the towel wrapped fabric inside the
refrigerator for 40-45 minutes. This will prevent the drying of the natural oil
of the fabric.
Iron it using the silk indicator or very lightly warm iron.
Its better not to connect the silk fabric directly with the iron. Use press
cloth instead.
Follow the above instructions to care your silk fabric. Don’t
forget that the silk is a natural fibre that requires your tender attention.
Never use chlorine bleach as the protein fibre (silk fibre) will be damaged by
this.
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