Silk is one of the most luxurious fabrics ever- everybody loves the look and feel of silk. Silk is what comes to mind when we bring up the issue of elegance in terms of apparel. The silk fabric also referred to as the “queen of fabrics” due to its soft and lustrous feel, is used to make a whole range of silk products ranging from silk sheets, silk dresses, and scarves, to silk shirts .

When you take
proper care of the silk, you're sure to keep your silk products for a really
long time without losing their quality. Unlike other synthetic fabrics in the
market, 100% silk fabric is quite delicate and requires one
to observe some very important rules to avoid damaging it.

Proper
maintenance tips for silk fabric

There are different types of silk that fall between either natural silk fabric or faux silk fabric. All
these need to be treated with particular care for proper maintenance. Here’s a
guide on how to wash any items that are made using silk fabric:

• Dry Clean the Silk Fabric

Always check the label to find out the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method. Dry cleaning your silk items helps to preserve the form and color. The best way to dissolve oil and grease from your silk after use is by dry cleaning rather than hand washing. Doing this imparts an almost new appearance.

• Hand Wash the Silk Fabric

You might be shocked to realize that dry cleaning is not the only available option for cleaning your silk fabric. Even though most of them have a “Dry Clean Only” label, it’s not a must to adhere to it; hand washing is an acceptable alternative. As contrary to popular opinion, you can wash silk items without damaging them since you do it gently. As you clean washable silk fabric, separate the colored silk from the white silk.

• Rinse the Silk Fabric using Cold Water

Always wash and
rinse your silk garment in cold water as opposed to hot water. Using cold water
extends the life of pure silk fabric which is quite delicate in nature.
It also helps the colors to last longer. On the other hand, warm or hot water
is harsh and damaging to the silk
fabric.

• Use The Right Detergents for Silk Fabrics

Read the
detergent label carefully to see which one is suitable and which one is
not.  Use mild detergents; avoid
bleaching the fabric at all costs.

• Don’t Wring the Silk Fabric

Stronger fabrics like cotton can withstand high-intensity wringing. However, wringing silk causes it to crease and eventually causes damage. You can use a towel or a dry piece of cloth to absorb the excess water.
Consequently, your items will appear to be as good as new.

• Iron Silk Fabrics Using Low-heat Setting

Do not iron your silk fabric too hot as extreme heat will damage it. Always remember to iron the fabric from the inside. Also, it would help to place a light piece of cloth between the silk and the iron.
Another way to smoothen out the wrinkles would be to steam them off the garment.

• Don’t Spot Clean the Silk Fabric

When you clean a
single spot on your silk fabric,
it might look faded after it dries out. Instead, clean the entire attire even
if you just spilled something on a small part of it. Cleaning the whole garment
helps it to maintain an even tone.

• Dry the Silk Fabric Under Shade

Avoid drying your silk items under the scorching sun. Direct sunlight fades the colors of the fabric. Drying your silk fabric in a well-protected area keeps it looking bright and lustrous.