How to care for silk textiles
Silk Swing vest
Silk is such a lovely fabric. It is amazing how from small cocoons hundreds of metres of silk thread are unravelled and then woven into luxurious fabrics.
I love working with silk in creating my one of kind scarves, wraps, tops, cushions for my Snowy Textile range. Why? Because silk cloth is beautiful and sensual to touch.
If you have silk garments and fashion accessories you have made an investment and want to have it for a long time.
Double Scarf Top
Do you need to dry clean silk?
Silk is quite easy to care for and there really is no need to have it dry cleaned. I have read in a number of places of silk bleeding when washed. That is because the dyes have not been properly set. That is the reason why you have the dry clean only label on commercially produced garments. If you have bought any of my pieces there should be no bleeding and no need for dry cleaning.
If you have read my blog about my art process you will have realised that it has been exposed to heat in the process of creating the piece and washed and ironed.
How to care for your silk?
The best way to clean any silk garment or fashion accessory you have is by hand washing it.
- Turn garment inside out. If it is a scarf or wrap wash from the wrong side.
- Wash it in lukewarm water.
Use a very gentle soap such as lux or a drop of cheap organic hair shampoo. - Rinse it well.
- You may want to use a drop of cheap organic hair conditioner to keep it feeling soft.
- Gently squeeze out all the moisture. Do not wring it.
- Lay it on a towel then roll it up and gentle squeeze the roll to get the rest of the moisture out.
- Lay it flat to dry out of direct sun.
- Iron it whilst it is a little damp.
A few don’ts to keep in mind
- Do not let it sit in water soaking.
- Do not use bleach.
- Do not use vinegar. Depending on how your piece was dyed using vinegar may change the look of your piece.
I hope this will help you look after those special pieces you own. Keep an eye on a future post on looking after wool.