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Silk
Silk is a light, lustrous and strong natural fibre, but sensitive to heat, sun and alkaline detergents. Gentle care preserves its sheen and colour.
At a glance
- Washing
- Hand-wash or gentle cycle in a bag
- Temperature
- Cool, up to 30 °C
- Drying
- In shade, on a hanger or flat
- Ironing
- Cool 'silk' setting, inside-out
- Dry cleaning
- For vivid or structured pieces
Washing
- Check the label: some silk is dry-clean only, especially structured or brightly coloured pieces.
- Hand-wash in cool water with a drop of mild, pH-neutral detergent; don't soak longer than a few minutes.
- Machine-wash only if the label allows — gentle cycle, inside a mesh laundry bag.
- Never use bleach or ordinary powder detergent — alkaline products damage silk.
Drying
- Don't wring — press out water by rolling the item in a towel.
- Dry in the shade in a well-ventilated spot; direct sun yellows and weakens the fibre.
- Avoid radiators and the tumble dryer — heat dries out and embrittles silk.
Ironing
- Iron while still slightly damp, on a cool setting ('silk'), inside-out.
- Don't spray water onto dry silk — droplets leave marks; steam evenly through a cloth instead.
Stain removal
- Treat a stain immediately by dabbing with clean water; rubbing leaves a ring.
- Treat sweat and deodorant marks gently — they can change the colour permanently.
- When in doubt about a stain, see a professional rather than risk home remedies.
Sheen & colour
- A final rinse with a drop of white vinegar revives the sheen and removes detergent residue.
- Wash vivid or dark silk separately — it can bleed.
- Apply perfume and deodorant before dressing so they don't reach the fabric.
Common mistakes
- Hot water, bleach and hard wringing damage the fibre permanently.
- Long soaking and direct sun fade the colour.