The key is to use very gentle techniques and avoid heat.
Before getting started, read your garment’s label to ensure it is washable silk.
Use a soft touch when washing, and don’t scrub.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Turn your piece of clothing inside out and place it inside the bag before washing.
When washing, never wring or twist silk fabric because fragile silk fibers can break.
Dry cleaning usually doesn’t fade the color of silk clothing as fast as home washing.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Treating Stains on Silk Clothing
Never use a commercialstain removeron silk.
Spot treatment with stain removers can damage the color and finish.
Wash the entire garment and allow it more time to soak to remove food stains.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
For dark or heavy stains, take the piece to a dry cleaner.
Be sure to tell the dry cleaner what the stain is to treat it appropriately.
Remove perspiration stains on silk with equal parts white vinegar and water.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Gently rub it over the stain with a clean cloth, rinse with another clean cloth, and air-dry.
How to Repair Silk Clothing
Silk clothing may fray or rip at the seams.
Apply it to the stitched repair.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Remember that most repairs to silk are not invisible due to the fabric’s delicate nature.
Tofix a snagin silk, use a needle and thread matching the fabric’s color.
Fix it by pulling the snag back to the other side of the material.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Scorching or yellowing may occur as the fibers begin to burn.
Such fibers cannot be revived.
Never wet the silk when ironing orwater stainsmay develop.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
you might restore some of its original shine in a few steps.
Avoid folding silk or leaving it balled up.
Store silk items in a breathable fabric (not plastic) bag to keep the garments dry.
Hang or store them in a cool, dry, dark closet.
Tips for Washing Silk Clothing
Some silk may be washed in a machine but with care.
However, whenever possible, opt for gentle hand-washing rather than machine-washing for silk fabrics.
Darker colors sometimes bleed when washed in water and may be better suited to dry cleaning.
But with light, single-color silk garments, gentle washing at home is just as good as dry cleaning.
