Simple solutions for washing silk

When cleaning silk, you don't want to turn a silk purse into a sow's ear by using the wrong technique. Here are some tips for safely cleaning your silk items.

• Check the fabric care label instructions.
• Treat stains from spills and similar accidents before you wash silk clothing.
• On a hidden spot, apply a paste of powdered laundry starch and cold water to make sure the silk is colour-fast. If it is, apply the paste to the stain, let it dry and then brush it away.

• You can either do it by hand or use the delicate cycle and cool or warm water in your washing machine.
• A mild detergent works best.
• Carefully roll the garment in an absorbent white towel to blot up excess moisture.
• Then either lay it flat to dry or hang it on a padded coat hanger.

Use a low-heat setting and iron gently, on the inside of the garment only.

These stains can discolour and weaken silk. (The salt in perspiration, and aluminium chloride and other chemicals in deodorants and antiperspirants, can stain silk.) Dry-clean or wash perspiration-stained garments as soon as possible. To treat perspiration or deodorant stains on washable silk garments, try one of these remedies, but first test it on a hidden spot to see whether the fabric dye holds:

• Soak the perspiration stain in warm water and a paste of table salt and white vinegar.
• Make a paste of cream of tartar and warm water and apply it to the stain. Allow the paste to dry, brush it off and launder.
• Apply a mixture of warm water and water softener to the stained area and then rub with a bar of laundry soap. Brush it off and then wash as usual.
• Dissolve two aspirin tablets in 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) of warm water and apply it to the stain. Let it dry for a few hours, brush it off and launder.
• To avoid perspiration stains in the first place, apply deodorant and then use your hair dryer to dry your underarms before you dress.

When cleaning silk, keep these precautions in mind:

• Never use chlorine bleach; it can irreparably damage the fabric.
• Never dry silk garments in sunlight; it will fade and weaken the fabric.
• Never wash silk ties; both the silk and its lining are prone to shrinkage. (The lining will usually shrivel first.) Instead, take them to a drycleaner.
• When you're dressing, apply hair spray, make-up and other beauty products before putting on anything made of silk. The alcohol in them may cause dyes to bleed into the fabric.