Many girls have silk items in their closet. They help you look beautiful and irresistible at the right time. However, such things can add problems, because standard washing is not suitable for them. Silk requires special care. It is important to know the rules for washing and drying such items to avoid deformation and loss of visual appeal.
Washing silk correctly
Silk comes in various types and structures. Therefore, things made from it may feel different to the touch. Some do not wrinkle at all, and there are items of clothing on which wrinkles appear literally instantly. But most silk items are suitable for home care if you follow all the recommendations.
Basic Rules
There are rules that must be followed to take good care of silk. Among them:
- Fabrics that are transparent or too delicate should only be washed by hand. Do not allow strong friction or use aggressive detergents. For more durable and dense items, machine washable;
- Be sure to read the label carefully before starting. and all care recommendations from the manufacturer. The permissible temperature must not be exceeded. The greatest risk of spoiling a silk item is associated with high temperatures;
- Do not soak things in hot water;
- Not suitable for silks various powder products.
Important! Do not wring or twist things.
Preparing for washing
Washing silk items begins with the preparatory stage. It is as follows:
- Find out how durable fabric dyeing is. To check this, it is recommended to take a piece of cotton fabric. It must be clean and white. Wet this piece with water and run it along the seam of the silk garment from the inside out. You need to place the same material under the product and iron everything with a warm iron. If the white piece remains clean, it means the item will not fade during washing;
- All clothes should be sorted by shade. Clothes made from transparent, thin fabric should be washed separately. Be sure to check all pockets and fasten buttons;
- It has already been noted that silk items cannot be soaked. If there is heavy contamination, it is allowed to leave the product in water, but for no more than 3 minutes;
- Only mild, gentle detergents may be used. Most often they come in liquid form.
How to wash silk in a washing machine
It is allowed to wash silk items in a washing machine only if there is a corresponding mark on the tag. It has already been mentioned that it is better to replace powder with a delicate liquid product that will be gentle on the product.
If you want to use powder, you should first clarify its composition. It should not contain bleach.After this, you need to apply conditioner. It will completely rid the product of powder residues.
Silk clothes are first placed in a special bag. Choose manual mode, which does not spin the products. If you don't have a special bag, use a pillowcase. Just tie it to prevent the silk fabric from getting damaged in the wash.
Please ensure that the water temperature is the same when washing and rinsing. When the machine finishes its operations, you need to take out the products and squeeze them manually. To get rid of excess moisture, hang things on a rope above the bathtub or basin. You can also use a towel to dry the silk.
Important! Before you start washing, be sure to make sure that your machine model has a manual mode.
At what temperature should you wash silk?
Silk cannot withstand high temperatures. Therefore, the water used for washing should not be too hot. The temperature should be set to a maximum of 30 degrees.
Silk washing mode
It has already been noted that silk items require delicate washing. It allows you to wash even the most delicate fabrics without damaging them. The delicate mode is used when washing artificial silk. If the fabric is natural, it is better to do without using a washing machine. Because the risk of damaging the product still remains.
Reference! Many experts recommend washing silk products by hand. It won’t take much time, and the process is more gentle.
Detergent for wool and silk
To wash silk items, you should use only gentle detergents in liquid form. If it is not there, you can replace it with soap or powder. But they should not contain dyes.Baby soap, non-colored, works great.
How to wash items made of natural silk (blouses)
It has already been noted that to wash natural silk you should not use a machine, but do everything by hand. The product is first soaked for a couple of minutes in water, to which a special gentle detergent in liquid form is added.
Mix water with powder or soap. You will get a solution whose temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. It is worth using boiled water to wash silk. After the process is completed, the item must be rinsed in warm water. Then repeat the same thing, but in a cold one, to which you first need to add a tablespoon of vinegar. You can replace it with a softener with an antistatic agent.
Remember that the fabric is quite delicate. Do not rub or wash certain areas of the product too much. After washing, lightly wring out the items and mark them so that any remaining water drains away.
How to wash a silk blanket
The manufacturer must indicate all recommendations for washing a silk blanket on the label. These rules should be followed so that the product does not lose its shape and attractiveness. It is better to take the blanket to the dry cleaner and entrust this matter to professionals. But you can take care of a silk product at home.
First, make sure that the blanket is really dirty and needs cleaning. The fact is that silk has the property of self-cleaning. This allows products made from it to remain clean for a long time. Repeated washing will only ruin the fabric and the item will lose its visual appeal.
If there is a stain on the canvas, it can be wiped with a special solution. Mix 2/3 water and 1/3 ammonia. The mixture can be replaced with alcohol. Rub the dirty area gently. Then the blanket needs to be rinsed.You can also place the product in the washing machine. Be sure to use the delicate cycle and add a gentle detergent.
How to bleach a silk blouse at home
A silk blouse requires special care. This fabric is not suitable for aggressive washing methods and the use of bleaches. It is best to use some recipes:
- No less 5 tablespoons add salt to the required amount of water. Use sea salt, it works better than others. Place the blouse in the resulting solution and leave for several hours. You can add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide;
- If the blouse begins to take on a gray tint, you can use another recipe. You need to squeeze the juice of several lemons into a liter of water. Soak the product in the resulting lemon solution. Leave the blouse like this overnight. In the morning, the item should be rinsed.
Proper drying of silk items
To dry silk products, you do not need to leave them on the line, hanging them evenly. It is better to lay things out on a flat and hard surface. First place a clean white cotton sheet on it. This is where things are placed. This method allows you to dry silk items without losing their shape.
Products should not be dried in direct sunlight. On the contrary, you should avoid them. Sun rays can cause things to lose color. Silk products cannot withstand high temperatures. Therefore, you should not dry them on radiators and other heating devices.
In addition to drying, silk items also need to be ironed. This should only be done from the inside out. You must first set the iron mode correctly.
Let's summarize the basic rules
Silk does not tolerate high temperatures. Therefore, you should not wash with hot water.Maximum permissible temperature 30 degrees. Also, you should not dry products on various heating devices or in the sun.
Artificial silk is more suitable for machine washing. Products made from natural fabric are recommended to be washed by hand. Use a liquid and gentle detergent or powder or soap without dyes or bleaches.