Apply a very mild detergent such as Woolite or Dr. Bronner’s Baby Soap (this soap will help preserve the garment’s natural oils)
Rinse the item in cold water until all soap residue has been removed
Add a few drops of hair conditioner to the rinse water to keep the silk soft and flexible
Press the water out of the fabric by rolling it in a towel. Do not twist or wring as this will damage the fabric
Hang the wet garment and allow it to air dry completely
Do not hang silk garments in the sun to dry
Iron only when absolutely necessary. Use a cool iron with a press cloth between the iron and the fabric
Additional Tips and Advice
Unless the tag on your silk fabric recommends dry cleaning, it should be avoided as dry cleaning will shrink certain types of silk
Use lemon juice or vinegar to spot clean, but test an inconspicuous area first to test for colorfastness
Be gentle – it’s the agitation from washing that causes this material to shrink, even the gentle cycle on the washer is too rough for this delicate fabric
To keep silk from yellowing, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water
Since silk is natural fiber, do not use bleach as it will damage the fibers
Be careful not to let hairspray and perfume get on the silk as the alcohol will damage the fabric
If you have hard water, you may want to add a tablespoon of Borax to the water prior to washing
