How To Properly Care For Silk
Did you receive a silk Hermès scarf as a gift? It will become a family heirloom and appreciate in value if properly cared for. There is no doubt you will look fabulous wearing it, whether with your Birkin bag, around your neck, or as a hair accessory. Four types of natural silk are produced around the world, Mulberry silk, Eri silk, Tasar silk, and Muga silk, while Mulberry silkworms contribute to approximately 90% of silk production. There are also 35 types of silk fabrics used to make garments and home furnishings, including Charmeuse, Dupion silk, chiffon, and silk satin.
How do you test if silk items are made from pure silk? Lightly scrunch it up in your hand, and when you hear a crunching noise, it is pure silk. Or you can try the ring test. Real silk glides smoothly through any jewelry ring, whereas synthetic fibers bunch up or get caught on the ring. What is the most appropriate way to care for your precious silk items?
How Do I Take Care Of Silk?
Always check the care label of your silk clothing before cleaning any article. Most manufacturers require that the items are dry-cleaned, and others state it is “dry clean only”. If you have a small item, such as a scarf you want to clean, and the care instructions indicate “dry-clean”, you can hand wash it. Washing machines will damage pure silk, even on the gentlest cycle. Use silk detergent when hand washing single items, swirl the article in the water and avoid excessive rubbing, as it might damage the delicate fibers.
Always clean silk clothes before storing them in a dark, cool, and dry place with sufficient air circulation. As a natural fiber, silk needs to breathe, so hang the items in breathable cotton bags. It maintains the clothing’s shape and limits creasing.
Should I Take Silk To A Dry Cleaner?
All silk items and garments can be taken for silk dry cleaning services, but when the care label state “dry clean only”, these are strict instructions. Manufacturers feel it restricts the chances of silk items being mishandled, with resulting complaints. Printed silks are prone to bleeding, so test any item for colour fastness before you hand wash any item. If there are any color residues, they must be dry-cleaned.
At Hometown Cleaners we are committed to sustainability and take special care with all silk clothing. Our state-of-the-art dry cleaning and washing machines use only hypoallergenic, biodegradable, organic solvents and detergents, making them gentle on your skin, garments, and the environment. The new systems we implemented also use less energy and generate less waste.
Did you know we offer our customers a free pick-up and delivery service? The Hometown Cleaners’ motto is “Let’s get you scheduled”. Complete the online form, and we will be in touch to schedule your free pick-up. We also have a contactless pick-up and delivery option for your convenience.
What To Do If My Silk Is Stained?
With more than 50 years of experience as a full-service laundry, we are experts at stain removal at Hometown Cleaners. Stains should be treated as soon as possible to increase the chance of removal, and we ask our clients not to try and remove the stains themselves, as it will set the mark. Through the years, we developed the skill to remove stubborn stains from almost any fabric and have access to specialists for advice. All silk stains, including those caused by perfume and makeup, should be pretreated before washing.
Friendly service and quality work has been the backbone of our business since 1960, and with convenient locations on the Treasure Coast and the Jupiter / Juno Beach area, we are in your Hometown. Do you have silk rugs or silk curtains? Bring all your silk items to Hometown Cleaners for dry cleaning. Contact us today.
