Learn from my expensive mistake and save yourself plenty of heartache.
Back in my twenties when I started working in the city I bought a beautiful (and expensive) silk top from a lovely French boutique. I loved it so much I wore it almost every week. But I didn’t know about being careful with washing it, well I did, but I didn’t have the time to hand-wash it every week so I just chucked it in my normal wash and it came out fine so I didn’t worry. But over time the detergent did its damage, and it ate away at the proteins in the shirt. Slowly the fabric started to deteriorate - first it was the shoulder/ armhole seams, so I just repaired them. Then the fabric in the sleeves started to fall apart so I shortened them, and finally the main body of the fabric started to disintegrate. I was devastated (and have been ever since). Now I’m a hardcore advocate for washing your silk the right way!
I know silk care can be scary and seems overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.
Many silk garments are labeled dryclean only and this can be for a number of reasons - the fabric may shrink, the silk can loose its lustre or shine when washed, the colour may bleed, it may have permanent pleats that cannot be washed or it’s just the manufacturers preference to keep it simple for you. So to keep it seriously simple you can just take your silk garments to the dry cleaner and let them handle it - they will look after you and your special garments.
The way I care for my silk garments is very simple though. I put my machine on a delicate wash and put all my silk/ wool items in. I use a specialised wool & delicates detergent (this one here) and wash only on cold. Then I hang them outside to dry. Never, ever tumble dry! Then I steam or press them with a cool iron (you can use a pressing cloth) if necessary. Hang them up and they’re ready to wear again.
I avoid washing them when they aren’t dirty or don’t have marks - if I’ve worn them for a a short time and they don’t smell, then I put them outside in the sun for a couple of hours to aerate.
The reason silk needs a special detergent is because it is a protein based fibre, just like wool, cashmere or any animal based fibre. The enzymes in regular detergent attack proteins, fats and starches to make them decompose quicker and helps to clean your clothes. Unfortunately the enzymes cannot tell the difference between the dirt, sweat and stains on your clothes and the garments themselves. Many silk detergents don’t use enzymes at all, and rely solely on mild surfactants (a surface agent that helps to pull dirt off clothes) to provide an efficient but gentle clean.
Avoiding heat for silk care is also important because the heat can shrink the fabric as well as damage the sheen, the fibres and the strength of the fabric too. This will shorten the overall life span of your silk pieces too, and when investing in silk we want it to last.
In summary to keep silk cleaning extra simple - take it to your dry cleaner, if you want to clean it yourself it’s easy - cold water, gentle wash, delicate detergent and no heat just air dry!