Learning how to wash silk at home can save you frequent trips to the dry cleaners and keep your delicate silk clothing in pristine condition. Despite its delicate nature, you can effectively care for silk yourself with the right techniques and precautions.

how to wash silk

Unfortunately, colored silk can lose its color, so you should check if the color will run before washing it. Lightly press a wet clean cloth or Q-tip on a hidden part of the garment, like the inside seam. If the color comes off, it’s better to take it to the dry cleaners. Bright, dark, and patterned silks should also be professionally cleaned as they tend to fade more when washed at home compared to dry cleaning.

If you take your silk items to professionals, always mention any stains and tell them if you’ve tried any home cleaning methods, as this could impact the cleaning results. If you’ve noticed issues with the colors running, let them know about that as well.

DIY Silk Cleaning: How to Wash Silk at Home

Removing Stains from Silk: Natural Methods

You don’t need to buy a special stain remover for silk. Instead, you can make your own solution by mixing 2 cups of lukewarm water with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. This mixture works particularly well for removing deodorant and sweat stains.

After checking for colorfastness, fill a clean spray bottle with your mixture and spray it on the stain. Use a sponge or fold the fabric and gently dab the mixture into the stained area. It’s important to be gentle because rubbing can damage the fabric’s fibers.

Hand Washing Silk: Best Practices

While you can wash your silk items in a gentle cycle in the washing machine, it’s better to wash these velvety soft items one at a time in the sink. Use cool or cold water to help preserve the color, and add a gentle detergent that doesn’t contain harsh ingredients. A mild shampoo, such as Ivory, or a gentle detergent, like Woolite, is recommended.

Place the garment in the water, stir it gently, and let it soak for just a few minutes. Silk releases dirt quickly, so it doesn’t take long to clean. Then, drain the soapy water and rinse the garment under cool, running water.

Safely Drying Silk: Tips and Techniques

Never wring out your silk items or put them in the dryer. To remove excess water, lay the wet garment on a white cotton towel. Fold the towel over and gently press to blot the water. Then, hang the blouse or dress on a padded hanger and let it drip dry over the bathtub.

Avoid hanging silk items in direct sunlight, as this can cause the colors to fade faster. The drying process usually doesn’t take more than an hour.

Silk Care Guide: Maintaining Your Silk Garments

Silk items are delicate, so it’s important to handle them carefully not only when washing and drying but also in maintaining them. This includes carefully dealing with wrinkles and storing your pieces properly to keep them in good condition.

Wrinkle Removal for Silk: Effective Techniques

Steaming silk can be tricky, but it is often preferred over ironing, especially if your steamer is suitable for delicate fabrics. If you must use an iron, make sure the silk garment is slightly damp, turn it inside out, and set the iron to a low temperature. You can steam dry garments, but ensure the steamer isn’t too hot. If the steamer drips and causes a water stain, quickly submerge the item in cool water and let it dry; the stain should disappear.

Storing Silk Clothing: Long-Term Tips

For everyday storage, hang silk items on fuzzy hangers in your closet to prevent slipping. Use a wide bar to hang pants across the legs or clip hangers at the bottom hem to keep them in place. For long-term storage, remember that moths are attracted to natural fibers like silk and wool, so always clean silk clothes thoroughly before storing them for the season. This helps prevent moth damage.