Siamese Style

Taking Care of Silk

The tips below were taken from the Ohio State University Extension Website. To read the complete document (which I recommend) click here.

Let me just add a couple of things. Personally, my family doesn't use detergent at all on silk. Instead, we use shampoo. Of course, if you prefer, you can dry clean the silk, but in my opinion it makes the fabric smell bad and after several times the silk doesn't seem particularly clean. Don't be afraid to wash your silk as outlined below.

Care Tips for Washable Silk
Use a mild soap and cool or warm water. Strong alkaline detergents weaken silk.
Wash each garment separately as dyes may bleed.

Handle silk garments gently. Don't wring or twist the garment because silk is weaker when wet. After thorough rinsing, roll the item in a clean bath towel to remove excess moisture.

Don't use presoak products or chlorine bleach; both will damage silk.
Air dry the garment away from sunlight until damp dry. Use a padded or plastic hanger to distribute the weight of the wet garment.

While damp, press the silk item from the wrong side with a dry iron at a warm (silk) setting. A steam iron at a low setting may be used, being sure the iron doesn't "spit," which would cause water spots. Iron the fabric dry. Use a press cloth when doing touchups on the right side of the garment.