Silk is a very delicate material. Therefore, you should wash clothes made of silk with care. Before washing, check the clothing label for the manufacturer's recommended cleaning method. If the label says “Dry Clean Only”, you can still wash the clothes manually with cold water and mild soap. If the label recommends washing clothes with care, you can wash them manually or select the “Delicates” setting in the washing machine. Dry clothes naturally. If the label allows you to iron it, choose a low heat setting to remove stubborn creases.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Manually Washing Clothes
Step 1. Fill the tub with cold water
Most silk garments can be washed manually, even if the label recommends dry cleaning only. To start washing clothes, fill a tub or basin with enough warm water or cold water to soak them.
Step 2. Add a few drops of mild detergent
You simply add a few drops of detergent to a tub of water. Try to use a completely natural or very gentle brand of detergent to protect the delicate silk fibers. Then stir the water by hand to mix the detergent.
You can also use baby shampoo if you don't have a suitable detergent
Step 3. Soak the clothes for three minutes
Place the garment in the water and press it with your hands so that it is completely submerged. Then, let sit for 3 minutes to give the soap a chance to interact with the clothes.
Step 4. Rock the clothes in the water
Remove the clothes and gently dip them in the water several times so that the entire garment is exposed to the water and any dirt or residue can be removed. This motion stimulates the movement of the washing machine, but is gentler.
Step 5. Rinse the clothes in cold water
Remove the clothes from the water, then throw the soapy water into the sink. Open the cold water tap and rinse the silk garment to remove any soap residue.
Shake the clothes under the tap water to rinse the entire surface of the clothes. You can finish it if there is no more detergent foam on the clothes
Step 6. Absorb excess moisture with a towel
To start the silk drying process, spread a clean towel on a table or counter. Lay the silk garment on top of the towel, then roll the towel from one end to the other with the silk garment inside. After fully rolling the towel, unroll it again and remove the silk garment.
Do not wring or wring out a rolled-up towel as this can damage the silk
Step 7. Hang clothes to dry
Hang clothes on a rack and don't leave them out in the sun as this can fade or damage the silk fibers.
Method 2 of 3: Washing Silk Clothes in a Washing Machine
Step 1. Check the clothing label to see if the use of a washing machine is allowed
Before putting silk clothes in the washing machine, check the label to make sure you can wash them in the washing machine. Washing silk clothes that are not designed to be washed in a washing machine will fade the color or damage the composition of the silk.
Step 2. Put the clothes in the washing machine
Once you've made sure the silk garment is machine washable, put it in the machine. You can wash them separately or with other delicates. Use mesh pockets to protect clothes and prevent clothes from getting caught in something.
Don't wash silk clothes with heavy clothes like jeans. Also, avoid mixing clothes that have buttons or metal clasps as silk garments run the risk of snagging
Step 3. Start with a gentle wash cycle
Set the washing machine to use a gentle wash cycle and be sure to choose the shortest spin cycle so that the washing process is as gentle as possible.
Step 4. Add a mild detergent
When the washing machine starts to fill with water, add a mild detergent. Try to use natural detergents and avoid detergents that contain brightening agents or enzymes that can damage the silk.
Step 5. Absorb excess moisture from clothes after washing them
After the washing process is complete, remove the silk garment from the washing machine. Spread a clean towel on the table or counter and place the silk garment on it. Roll the towel with the silk garment in it from one end to the other. Then unroll the towel and remove the clothes.
Step 6. Hang clothes to dry
After absorbing excess water, spread the clothes out on a flat surface or on a rack to dry the clothes. Do not dry clothes in direct sunlight because it can fade the color of the clothes and damage the silk fibers.
Method 3 of 3: Removing Tangles on Silk Fabrics
Step 1. Hang clothes overnight
If you see creases, there are several ways to fix them without exposing your clothes to excessive heat. If the clothes are only slightly wrinkled, use plastic hangers to hang the clothes and make sure the clothes are straight and not folded. Hang the clothes overnight, then check to see if the creases are gone.
Step 2. Hang clothes in the bathroom while you shower
If the above methods don't work, try hanging clothes (use hangers or towel racks) in the bathroom while you shower. The indirect heat emanating from the shower cubicle can deal with tangles in a gentle way.
Step 3. Iron the garment on a low heat setting (or specifically for silk)
If you can't get over the stubborn creases, check the clothing label to see if you can iron it. If it's safe to iron, dampen the silk garment in the sink and turn it over so the inside is outside. Turn on the iron and choose a low heat setting or specifically for silk, and iron the clothes carefully.
Make sure you use a low heat setting as high heat can wrinkle or even burn the silk
Tips
- If you have very expensive or high-quality silk clothes, consider taking them to the laundromat for professional cleaning.
- If the clothes don't have labels or have been lost, you should choose to be careful and not machine wash them or iron them.
