How to Hand Wash Silk

This is the safest way to wash silk and once you know how - its really easy and quick!

Step 1: Treat stains with a safe stain remover. 

Step 2: Put 2 capfuls of a silk friendly delicate wash soap into a clean, cool basin of water and swish it around.

Step 3: Submerge the item and gently agitate it in the water so that the soap is distributed evenly. 

If it needs a really good clean, let it soak a little (5-10 minutes), otherwise you can rinse after a few minutes.

Step 4: Rinse well by cleaning out the basin so that it is free from soapy residue and filling it again with cool water. Add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the rinse water. This isn’t mandatory but will help neutralise any leftover soap, and keep the residue from damaging your garment. (soap residue can make white silks look more yellow over time). It will also help neutralise any odours that may have been in the clothing. Place your garment in the rinse water and gently stir it for 1-2 minutes. Again, be careful not to rub or wring the fabric as you swirl it in the water. 

Step 5: Remove the garment from the water and gently squeeze out any excess moisture, then run it under a cool tap until the water is no longer soapy. 

NB: I don’t always use white vinegar in my rinse but it really is the better thing to do when you can - especially with whiter silks. Make sure vinegar is always diluted in water and don’t substitute white vinegar with any other vinegar. 

Our recommendations are a guide only and results can vary with different fabrics, cleaning solutions, water PH levels etc. We cannot always guarantee success but these methods are all tried and tested by us. We never recommend using chlorine bleach or fabric softener. Do not iron or apply heat to stained items.