Caring for Silk

Contrary to popular belief caring for your silk garments and silk bed linen is not very difficult. By following these simple steps you will prolong the life of your silk products and be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

• Hand wash — When you first purchase silk sheets, wash them by hand for the first few washings. Doing this helps to preserve the sheen of the silk and soften the silk fibers. Use only mild silk detergents. You may use Woolite, although the moisturizing components may dampen the silken sheen. Never use shampoo, as a washing agent for silk linen. The best method is to dissolve the mild detergent in a warm (never hot) water bath, into which the textiles are then gently agitated by plunging up and down. After hand washing for the first few times you can switch to machine washing.
• Machine Wash — Silk can safely be washed in the woollen/silk cycle of your washing machine (water temp. 30C or lower). Always separate your colours and wash silk separately from your other laundry. Place the silk linen in a protective bag to prevent the pulling action of your washing machine, which may harm your silk linen. A cotton pillowcase would be perfect. Never scrub or wring silk. To remove excess water roll the silk item up in a towel and gently press the water out.
• Vinegar rinse — A capful of white vinegar will protect your silk and its colour. A brittle texture and a matt finish are indicators of alkali damage, which can be minimized through rinsing with the vinegar solution.
• Drying — Avoid direct sunlight and avoid the clothes dryer, as your silk will suffer from the friction and the extreme lack of humidity. Spun silk is best hung to dry, or shaped and dried on a flat surface. It is especially important to keep dark colored silk sheets out of the sunlight because it will visibly fade them in a very short amount of time. Hang silk clothing to dry on a satin hanger
• Iron your linen when slightly damp using a cool silk setting. Your linen should be ironed on the inside at all times.
• Silk, while durable, can unwittingly be damaged by you. If the heels of your feet are dry and rough, it is like rubbing your sheets with sandpaper every time you get into bed. The same goes for sharp broken fingernails or toenails. They can pull the threads in your sheets, breaking them. So taking care of your skin and your nails is not only beneficial to you but also beneficial to your silk.