Part1 of a divine series
You know the saying ‘Smooth as Silk. Soft like Butter?’ There’s no better feeling than the touch of silk over wax and cleaned baby smooth skin. This soft and lustrous fabric is of often associated with luxury. And it doesn’t just feel good against your skin! Honey its versatile! It can be used in the comfy PJs you wear to bed, your favorite office blouse (you know the one that makes you feel like the sexy and confident boss that you are!), or the hot lingerie set your husband bought you for Valentine ’s Day. it’s breathable, and both cools and heats things up.
However, it’s also a delicate fabric which needs a lot more care than your favorite Friday t shirt. I mean, it’s not completely different but there are a few extra things you need to keep in mind if you want it to continue to look its best.
Dry Cleaning
Who doesn’t love the “Stress free” feeling of just dropping all your laundry off at the cleaners? But silk, they require a bit more TLC. Hand washing your silk is usually the best way to by go. There are a couple situations that make it okay to drop them off to the cleaners though. Here’s some examples:.
- Corsets: tricky thing here is, they shouldn’t be submerged in water unless the tag says different. Silk around corsets are usually pretty delicate and can’t take to much man handling. A real lady ain’t she.
- Multicolored: If different shades of silk have been used to make it. Believe me you don’t want to risk the colors bleeding into each other.
- Stains: if you happened to drop a spoonful of chocolate ice cream on your silk PJs while binge watching Netflix, that’s fine;
You get a pass to visit the cleaners. Although grease stains can be managed to some extent by
covering the stain with some good ‘ole baby powder, leaving it overnight and brushing the excess off. Just please be sure that the cleaners you choose know what they’re doing.
Machine Washing:
Washing machines are a bit rough on silk, so most advise against dropping them in there. But if you really have to, be sure to put them in a laundry bag and most importantly… SEPERATE BY COLOR. Your machine setting should be as gentle as possible, on the delicate setting and feel free to use your favorite scented detergent.
Color Separation:
It is VERY important to separate your silk laundry by color Because of the high risk of dye bleeding, especially with darker and red based shades. So, if you see you’re silk leaking color in the water next time you wash it, don’t be alarmed, this is perfectly normal. You should only be worried if you find that the color itself is fading from the garment during the washing process.
Water Temperature:
Always wash your silks in cool or lukewarm water. Avoid a hot wash as much as possible. Silk is a protein-based fiber and a hot wash risks ‘boiling’ the fibers, causing permanent damage. You may have noticed this when you accidentally put your favorite silk thong through a normal machine wash. Afterwards, they lose their shine, and the color can fade. And unfortunately, the damage to this is irreversible.
Detergent:
Stay away from anything harsh. This goes for soaps, brighteners, stain removers and of course bleach. All of these contain chemicals which will damage your silk irreparably. There are a number of different brands on the market now at a range of price points. Check your local supermarket for the best options.
Hand Washing:
Fill a basin with cool water and add your favorite detergent, dragging your hand through the water gently to get the suds going. Add your lingerie and gently swirl through the water like a human washing machine.
Take care not to scrub hard or agitate it too much, this can strain and damage the weave. If you have a particularly delicate garment to wash, leave this to soak. Any dirt or residue that has not lifted after a soak can be gently scrubbed with a soft bristled toothbrush. Rinse your garments until the water runs free of suds.
Drying:
How you dry your silk is almost as important as how you wash it. Do not squeeze or wring out your silks: this can cause permanent damage to the fabric weave. If a clothing item is extremely wet, you can lay it gently between two towels to remove some of the excess moisture.
It’s best to your garments to dry on a towel. Take care to reshape the garments gently before drying them, especially if they are structured pieces like padded bras.
Storage:
I know the struggle is real when it comes to storage. Especially for those with an addiction to clothes and lingerie (Let’s not even talk about shoes.), but your most special silk pieces should be stored in a safe and special space to avoid unnecessary damage. For larger robes and pieces, padded hangers can help prevent the silk from getting creased or causing unnecessary strain. Smaller pieces such as bralettes and undies can be kept flat in boxes or drawers.
What tricks do you use to keep your silk in tip top shape?