Washing silk: how to care for this delicate material properly

Washing silk is not as complicated as you might think, provided that you follow a few basic rules. Most importantly, silk is very sensitive to hot water, harsh cleaning agents and intense mechanical stress. As such, it is important to handle the material carefully. Learn how to wash your silk by hand and in the washing machine.

Hand washing is considered to be the best and safest method for washing silk, especially for very delicate garments. Follow these steps to clean your silk hygienically by hand without straining it too much:

1. Prepare the water: Use lukewarm water that is no hotter than 30°C. Water that is too hot can damage the sensitive fibres and strip the silk of its shine. Put the water in a washing up bowl.

2. Use silk detergent: A special silk detergent is particularly mild and protects the fibres. Conventional detergent can be too harsh and cause the silk to roughen or discolour. Add the right amount of silk detergent to the water depending on the degree of soiling.

3. Leave the garment to soak: Leave the silk garment to soak in the water for about three to five minutes. Avoid rubbing, twisting or wringing the fabric.

4. Gentle movement: Now gently move the garment around in the water to remove any dirt. Be very careful when doing this.

5. Rinse out the detergent: Rinse the silk thoroughly with cold water until there is no detergent residue left in the fabric.

6. Carefully squeeze out: Gently squeeze the water out of the silk without wringing the garment. It’s best to place the silk between two towels and gently squeeze them together.

Even though hand washing is the gentlest method, silk can usually also be washed in the washing machine. Always look at the care label on your clothes before machine washing them and observe the following points:

• Washing programme: Choose a special delicate or silk washing programme with a low spin rate and a maximum temperature of 30°C.

• Use silk detergent: Make sure to use a mild silk detergent. Normal colour and heavy-duty detergents or washing powders will damage the fibres.

• No fabric softener: Fabric softener damages the silk fibres and should be avoided at all costs. If you want to soften your garment, you can add a little vinegar to the rinsing water instead.

• Washing bag: For additional protection, you can place the silk garment in a washing bag. This prevents unnecessary friction against other textiles and the washing drum.

If you don’t have a special silk or mild detergent to hand, there are some tried-and-tested household remedies that provide a gentle alternative for washing silk. These remedies are mild yet effective and do not attack the sensitive silk fibres – unlike normal detergents, for example. Here are some options you can try:

PH-neutral shampoo or baby shampoo is a gentle alternative to silk detergents as it has been specially developed for sensitive skin and contains no harsh ingredients. To wash silk with baby shampoo, simply put a small amount in lukewarm water and gently move the silk garment around in it. Rinse it thoroughly afterwards to remove any residue. You can also put the shampoo directly in the washing machine.

Savon de Marseille may also be an option if you don’t have a silk detergent to hand. However, you should use this special soap sparingly, as it is not as mild as silk detergents. In addition to using it instead of detergent, you can also rub the soap directly onto the dirt, without too much pressure. Then rinse the garment thoroughly with cold water – and say goodbye to stains!

Vinegar is a real miracle cure in the home and is also suitable for caring for silk. Vinegar can help to keep the silk supple, especially as a substitute for fabric softeners. Use a tablespoon of white vinegar in the last rinse cycle to remove any residue from the detergent or shampoo while smoothing the fibres of the material. And don’t worry: the smell of vinegar disappears completely when it dries.

Washing soda is another detergent that is very popular in the home for its odour-neutralising and cleansing properties. To clean silk, you can put a teaspoon of soda in lukewarm washing water and soak the garment in it. After a short time, take it out again and rinse it with cold water: unpleasant smells should be gone!

Stubborn stains such as deodorant, red wine, coffee and grass stains can attack silk, especially if they are first washed out with water. To prevent the silk from swelling through the water and the stains from penetrating even deeper into the fibres, you should immediately counteract them with glycerine. You can buy this at the pharmacy and dab it directly on the stain – let it soak in briefly, rinse, and you’re done.

After washing silk, proper drying also plays a big role in keeping the fabric beautiful for a long time. Silk should never be tumble-dried, as the fibres can break due to the high temperatures – the shine will be lost and the fabric can lose its shape or even shrink.

As already mentioned, you should instead carefully place the silk between two towels and gently squeeze it out. This removes excess water without straining the material.

The remaining moisture should ideally seep out while lying on a towel. It is best not to hang silk on the clothesline, as the weight of the wet fabric could distort the garment. Direct sunlight is also harmful, as UV radiation can fade dyed silk and weaken the fibres.

Ironing silk also requires a degree of caution. Always iron silk using the iron’s lowest setting, as high temperatures can burn the sensitive fibres or cause marks. It’s best to iron the silk while it’s still slightly damp. If the fabric is already dry, you can put a cloth between the silk and the iron to protect the material. Always turn the fabric to the left to prevent the shiny spots often caused by ironing.

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