Little care ensures that silk sarees remain a prized possession for many generations and maintains elegance and charm. Beauty of silk sarees lies in proper care. Washing silk saree can be daunting, because of their unique beauty, but it is possible with these simple steps. Here is the recommended sequence in which it is best to wash silk saree at home to preserve its shine and feel.
Silk sarees are a finer piece of clothing, and thus, require special attention and care if the shine, softness and colors have to be preserved. So no matter if it is your prized festive silk saree or a beloved family treasure, it is practical to follow some common sense techniques, measures, and steps to ensure its safe cleaning without inflicting any damages to the fabric. Here is a simple inexpensive guide on how to wash silk saree at home.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Read the Care Label
To start, it is important to understand the care instructions provided on the read of your silk saree. Some silk saree need dry cleaning, while some can simply be washed at home.
Step 2: Work With Cold Water
When caring for silk saree, submerge them in cold water. The slightest exposure to hot water will damage the saree and cause it to lose its vivid hues. To begin, take a bucket that has been thoroughly cleaned and fill it with cold water.
Step 3: Selecting a Liquid Soap
Always choose a mild liquid soap or detergent which is too made specially for silk or delicate fabrics. Never use detergent excessively because it would damage your silk saree at home.
Step 4: Soaking and Gentle Wash
For about 5 to 10 minutes, allow the silk saree to soak in the soapy water. Carefully swish the silk saree in the water without scrubbing or rubbing. This allows cleaning of the saree without harming the fabric fibers in the process.
Step 5: Rinsing the Silk Saree
Wash the saree with cold clean water at home for all soap to be completely removed. Keep rinsing in this manner until the water flows clear. Handle the silk saree gently to prevent stretching or wringing.
Step 6: Optional Vinegar Rinse
If additional shine is needed, one can add a tablespoon of white vinegar to final rinse water, which keeps the natural luster of silk and removes any remaining soap residue.
Step 7: Drying Silk Saree with Care
Do not wring the silk saree, instead roll it gently in a clean towel to absorb excess water. To dry, hang the saree at home in a shaded place away from the sun's light, as sunlight tends to make the colors of the silk saree dull.
Step 8: Use Low Heat to Iron
To remove any wrinkles on the silk saree, turn on the iron on low heat setting and iron the saree when it is completely dry. You can avoid direct hair contact, and keep a piece of cotton cloth between silk saree and iron.
Additional Tips for the Care of Silk Saree at Home
01 - Don’t Wash Too Often: Do not wash your silk saree too many times. Instead, use safe spot techniques to keep it fresh smelly, or remove dust and other particle from it.
02 – Use Cool Places For Storage: Always store silk saree in a cool area, dry for the best quality. To cloth, just cover it in breathable muslin, protecting it from dust and moisture. Block it in plastic, or else, too much humidity damages the fabric.
03- Protect from the Stains: Always be extra careful when you souaree in order not to get stains. Try to avoid applying so much oil or perfumes or making food that might spill or rub against the top as silk takes up.
Try following these tips if you want to keep your silk saree beautiful and drape forever.
Why Wash Silk Saree at Home?
For one, you will save money. Wash Silk Saree at Home | With cost-saving, washing silk sarees at home provides you with a complete control of the whole process. “We need to have a more gentle way of cleaning silk. These pointers will help you stay away from the harsh chemicals commonly used in dry cleaning that could also harm it. Also, home care gives a gentle touch which makes sure that your silk saree are least damaged.
Which is the Best detergent for Silk Saree?
It should be washed properly with great care for which the most suitable detergent should be used for the saree. Always use a gentle detergent for delicate woolen fabrics. These products might be labeled as pH-Neutral, Baby Safe, or Silk Friendly. Instead, popular Manual liquid cleaners like Ezee or Woolite are being used due to their silk-friendly formulations to ensure the saree’s silk fabric is protected. Aggressive powders or strong chemicals can weaken silk fibers, so these products must be avoided. Always wash a saree only after a patch test on hidden areas. Silk saree are delicate and from time to time they change it and turn out to be somewhat rough because of constant use thus a gentle mild detergent formulation will keep the saree soft and vibrant for numerous years.
Side Points:
01- No bleach Never ever try to bleach based products on silk sarees. It will just make Silk weaker and duller in color.
02- Use Cold Water Only: Always wash the silk sarees with cold me to keep the fabric quality & shine.
03- Mix the Detergent: It is better to mix the detergent with water, and then add it on specific saree, as this step allows an even cleaning process.
04- Soak in gentle hand wash, most of the silk fabric is embroidered and should never be loaded into the machine or even your fabric would be ruined.
05- Rinsing Gently: Make sure that no detergent is left as it will cause dullness in the glaze of the saree.
06- Out of direct sun; Air dry always in a shady area to prevent fading.
How to get stains out of silk saree
Learning how to get stains out of a silk saree is very helpful since it is a sensitive fabric that has to be treated with care. When treating your silk saree, keep in mind, “Every second counts”. To Start With, Take A Clean Cotton Cloth And Scrap Off The Stain From The Silk Saree. The further steps utilize cold water with a detergent or baby shampoo and blotting the stain. The steps given below cushions for multiple stains that you encounter on silk saree:
01- Oil Stains: Sprinkle some talcum powder gently on the oil stained silk saree to absorb and then lightly rub it off.
02- Sweat Stains: Mix 1:1 vinegar and water, rub it on the affected area of the silk saree, wash it off.
03- Food Stains: Apply mild lemon juice to the silk Saree and clap around the place so that the stain gets bloated.
04- Ink Stains: Use a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol and dab the ink stain on the top of silk saree.
Cold air would expedite the process. If necessary, however, you can get around now and use dirt cleaners on the kind of silk including in those areas in the saree where they won’t be visible in the very gentle shampoo. And if the birthmark remains, you could have turn to an expert. You can maintain the grace of silk saree for an extended period by implementing precautions and preventive measures.
Final Words:
After following these few steps, you should not face an issue on how to wash a silk saree at home and its sheen all remains even and wonderful just like before. When it comes to proper care of the material, you’ll always have an ideal dress to die for, at any kind of situations.
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Check out our blogs too for tips on how to style your saree, Different types of sarees, How to wear a silk saree and Easy ways to identify pure Kanjivaram silk sarees.