You Can Wash Silks at Home
 
If well cared for, silk garments can become heirlooms.  European women have grown up with a reverence for silk fabric and intimate knowledge of its care.  Our ‘wash and wear’ culture is misinformed on how to care for silk and thus harbors an unnecessary fear of this cloth.  Silk is a protein fiber, like hair.  You should not do anything to silk you could not do to your hair.

Two keys to determining if garments will wash well at home are color and construction.  Bright and brilliant colors, dark colors and patterned silks are better left to the dry cleaner.  Garments with complicated construction, lining and trim are also candidates for the dry cleaner.  If your garments passed these two tests, it is a good idea to dry clean the first two times.  The steaming part of the process may help to set the dye and if there is any shrinkage left, it will shrink at the cleaner.  

One of the advantages of sewing your own garment lies in the fact that you can prewash your fabric.  Bear in mind that shrinkage will occur.  Washable silks include Crepe de Chine, Charmeuse, Broadcloth, Fuji, Noil, Habotai, and of course the popular Sueded or Sand-Washed Silks.  Always dry clean crinkled or brocaded silks and hand-woven silks, also, dark or bright colors which have a high risk of fading.

1)      To help retain the silk’s true color, add ¼ cup of white vinegar to every two gallons of lukewarm/cold water.  Wash with a good soap compatible with silk finishes and squeeze to remove excess water.  Never twist or wring.

2)      Wash silk articles separately.  Rinse with cool water SEVERAL times.  Strong colors will appear to bleed.  This excess dye normally ceases after a few washings.  To help set dye, add a few shakes of salt to the final cold rinse.

3)      Non-Sueded/Plain Silks:  Roll in towel to absorb moisture, hang to dry in dark place.  Iron on low temperature on wrong side of fabric while still slightly damp.

IMPORTANT: For Sueded and Sand-Washed Silks a hot machine drying cycle is recommended to enhance the finish and softness.  Keep in mind that this will cause the fabric to shrink from 5% to 10%.  Some loose weaves will shrink from 15% to 20%.

What Not to Do   
*  Never expose silk articles to strong direct sunlight.  Silk will fade. 
*  Never spray perfume or deodorant on silk 
*  Never soak silk in water for a long period of time.