Silk is a worthy investment, especially when it comes to your beauty routine. From smoother hair to healthier skin, the benefits are endless! There’s just one catch: As is true for most things in life, this beauty investment comes with great costs—and we’re not just talking about the checkout fee (which, to be fair, is also very hefty).
As a material, silk is notoriously high-maintenance to care for. Preserving the textile’s soft and luxurious glide takes a lot more effort than your regular detergent and laundry routine can offer, and one wrong move can wreck your precious accessories forever.
If you’re reading this, we’re just going to assume you’re at a loss for how to launder your silk accessories properly. No shame, really—we’ve all been there, and we’re actually here to help. So, if you’d like to learn the ins and outs of cleaning and caring for your silk accessories, read our guide below:
General tips for washing silk:
- Only wash when necessary Unless it’s significantly soiled, you really don’t have to be excessive with laundering your silk.
- Do not tumble dry This can shrink your silk and cause damage to the material. Instead, just lay your garment flat to dry.
- Use a silk-specific detergent A gentle pH-neutral detergent that has been specifically designed for silk will keep your accessories pristine for longer.
- Dry your silk accessories correctly Keep them away from direct sunlight and lay them flat to dry completely before storing or using them.
- Do not bleach your silk This can damage the fibres and discolour your silk pieces.
- Do not use fabric softener This can also damage your silk fabric.
- Iron or steam your silk accessories on warm This will help restore the softness of the textile and work out any creases in the fabric.
TIP: Place a towel over top your accessories while you iron to avoid burning them!
Hand washing your silk
While this may sound daunting, hand-washing is actually a very simple and relatively quick process. All you’ll need is a basin, some lukewarm water, your detergent, and your hands!
STEP 1: Fill the basin with some lukewarm water, and dissolve an appropriate amount of detergent into the solution (follow the instructions on the bottle).
STEP 2: Soak the accessory in the soapy solution for at least three minutes, ensuring that it has been completely submerged.
STEP 3: Agitate the item and spot clean any obvious patches of dirt.
STEP 4: Rinse the accessory out with cold water until the water runs clear.
STEP 5: Pat away excess water with a clean towel and lay the item flat to dry.
Machine-washing your silk
For those who are on the lazier side, machine washing your silk is definitely an option—as long as you take extra precautions. Here are a few tips to heed if you’d prefer to go this route:
- Use the “delicates” setting on your washing machine
- Use a mesh bag to protect the garment from the wear and tear of your washing machine drum
- Wash the item at 30ºC only—no hotter, as this can ruin the silk
- Wash your silk with other delicates—no heavy materials like denim as they can damage the silk
Dry cleaning your silk
This is, by far, the most convenient method on this list—so convenient that it doesn’t really warrant a how-to guide. We’re going to give you one anyway, though:
Step 1: Locate your nearest dry cleaners.
Step 2: Go to said cleaners.
Step 3: Hand them your laundry.
Step 4: Pick it up when it’s ready.
Wasn’t that fun? Obviously, this is the most costly option and, for just a handful of scrunchies and a pillowcase, it’s probably not worth it. Then again, if you’re hoping to keep your silk investments around for many, many years to come, it might pay off. Either way, you do you!
Good luck!
Find more beauty tips like this here.
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