Denim
Silk is known for its beautiful feel and lustre and is the staple fabric of our most luxurious pyjamas and underwear. This silk care guide will help you take proper care of your beloved silk items, so they look and feel beautiful for years to come.
How to Wash your Silk
A lot of care labels on silk and delicate items, say 'dry clean only'. Manufacturers these days tend to put it on every garment care label without any real thought, a lazy way of protecting themselves rather that giving genuine helpful advice to their customers.
Most 'dry clean' only silk items, and many other delicate items, can be washed at home with little time and effort - and actually, it is better at retaining the fabric quality than regular dry cleaning. If the garment is free from padding, tailoring, or embellishments, then there's every chance that it will wash really well with a delicate hand wash product and the right technique.
When washing your silks, either choose a delicate cold cycle on your washing machine or follow the steps below for handwashing. For washing, always make sure you are using a specialist detergent that is designed to protect silk fabric. The Clothes Doctor Eco Wash Silk Detergent uses a gentle formula that cleanses silk while also scenting it with a delicate Bergamot and Sandalwood fragrance, making it the best laundry detergent for silk.
The Steps of Handwashing silk
The Steps of Handwashing silk
Fill a basin with cool water and add 2-3 caps of eco wash for silks and delicates.
Turn your item inside out and gently pop into the water, (It is normal for a little dye to be released from colored or dark items). Gently swish the item about in the water, gently rubbing areas such as collars and armpits.
Rinse with fresh cool water until the garment is free from soap and then gently press between your hands or against the sink.
Absorb excess water with a towel and leave it to dry flat on a towel. Alternatively, you can hang it to dry, making sure to position the item correctly on a hanger to prevent stretching.
Steam your Silks
Steaming your silk items will refresh your garment, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and remove the odour (as steaming will remove 96% of bacteria). The steam also causes the fibres and fabric to swell providing a fuller and more colourful look. The Blue Lily and Bergamot steamer water is great for this purpose.
Storing
Although moths are better known ruining cashmere and wool, they can ruin silk as well, so to protect your silk items, pop a Natural Fragrance Bag in the drawers. The fragrance they release may naturally deter moths, and it beautifully scents your clothes.