How to use and keep your silk looking new

Versatile, comfortable, and elegant, silk is a practical luxury with a place in any wardrobe. With today’s ”peace silk,” made without harming silk worms, even those concerned about the environment can enjoy this fabric.
Although relatively durable, silk is protein fiber similar to human hair and does require special care to stay looking good. By knowing the right way to clean, dry, press, and store silk, you can keep your silk garments in top condition for years.
Dry cleaning Care instructions for most for silk items, especially for pure silk, recommend dry cleaning. For dupioni silk, lighter silks like chiffon, and crepe de Chine, and multi-color or hand-dyed prints, dry-cleaning usually is the best option.
For other types of silk, though, while dry cleaning helps maintain the original texture of the fabric, it does carry some risks. Commonly used cleaning solutions aren’t suited to silk and silks can be damaged if placed in the same vat with rougher fabrics. To make sure your silk gets proper treatment, always tell the dry cleaner that your garment is made from silk and make sure they know how to clean silk.
Care Tips for Washable Silk
1. Use a mild soap and cool or warm water. Strong alkaline detergents weaken silk.
2. Wash each garment separately as dyes may bleed.
3. Handle silk garments gently. Don't wring or twist the garment because silk is weaker when wet. After thorough rinsing, roll the item in a clean bath towel to remove excess moisture.
4. Don't use presoak products or chlorine bleach; both will damage silk.
5. Air dry the garment away from sunlight until damp dry. Use a padded or plastic hanger to distribute the weight of the wet garment.
6. While damp, press the silk item from the wrong side with a dry iron at a warm (silk) setting. A steam iron at a low setting may be used, being sure the iron doesn't "spit," which would cause water spots. Iron the fabric dry. Use a press cloth when doing touchups on the right side of the garment.
Silk is special. The care you give your silk garments will repay you in prolonged garment life.
Storage For long-term storage, keep silk in a cotton pillowcase or other material that can breathe. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture and can cause yellowing and mildew. Silk, like other natural fibers, is a favorite with moths, so store cedar chips or balls with your silk to keep the bugs away. Silk may be considered a luxury, but caring for it properly doesn’t cost much in terms of either money or time. Gentle washing, drying away from a heat source, and storage in material that provides air circulation is all silk really needs to stay looking good. Care for your silk garments well and they’ll keep their original softness and sheen for years.
Pressing Silk should be pressed while still damp, never when completely dry. If the item has dried, dampen it with water from a spritzer bottle before ironing. To avoid damage, turn the item inside out and iron on the reverse side of the fabric on a cotton-covered ironing board. Use a low setting and don’t use steam, which can leave watermarks. Because many silk garments are hand sewn, take care not to apply pressure to the seams of the garment.

AVOID detergents, which often contain enzymes and brighteners which can attack silk and dyes. Instead, use a product designed especially for silk, or in a pinch, use woollies or shampoo - although the moisturizing components can dampen the silken sheen. The best method is to dissolve the detergents in a water bath, into which the textiles are then placed.
* Washing machine — Silk can safely be cleaned in the woolen-cycle of your washing machine (water temp. 30°C). Always separate your colors and use a very short spin cycle.
* Vinegar rinse — A capful of white vinegar will protect your silk and its color. A brittle texture and a matt finish are indicators of alkali damage, which can be minimized through rinsing with the vinegar solution.
* Drying — Wet silk may yellow on a radiator or in direct sunlight. In the clothes dryer, your silk will suffer from the friction and the extreme lack of humidity. Avoid both of these methods. Spun silk is best hung to dry, and bourette silk should be shaped and dried on a flat surface. Avoid direct sunlight.