Washing silk in a washing machine

Washing silk in a washing machine Silk is a rather delicate fabric, especially when it comes to natural fibers. To ensure your favorite item lasts a long time, you need to follow basic care guidelines for this delicate material. Hand cleaning is, of course, preferable in this situation. If you decide to machine wash silk, proceed with extreme caution and understand the potential risks. Let's explore the safest way to refresh silk underwear.

General requirements

When deciding to "refresh" a silk garment, it's important to find out what specific material it's made of. All this information is provided on the label. If it is natural silk, you will have to select special neutral cleaning products to clean it. PH. When washing synthetic fibers, regular soap or transparent white shampoo is acceptable. Silk items can retain their properties and appearance for a long time if washed according to the following guidelines:

First, be sure to soak the silk for 15-20 minutes in a soapy solution. This will remove the stains effortlessly;
Silk underwear should only be immersed in cool water, heated to no more than 40°C;
It is advisable to rinse silk in boiled and cooled water;
It is better to add an antistatic agent and softener to the water;
wringing out silk items is strictly prohibited;
Do not wash the fabric - the material may be damaged.

When washing silk, it's crucial to follow the correct temperature. The garment's care label usually indicates the appropriate temperature for cleaning. If there's no information on the label, it means the item should not be washed in water hotter than 40°C.

Bright silk items should be washed in water heated to no more than 30°C to prevent fading.

Silk should not be washed in hard water. It can be softened with baking soda, at a rate of 10 grams per 1 liter of water. Sodium bicarbonate can be added directly to the basin when hand washing or to the detergent compartment of an automatic washing machine.

Introducing silk to the machine gun

In fact, in most cases, both natural and synthetic silk can be washed in an automatic washing machine. It's just important to follow a few rules. If you follow these guidelines carefully, preserving your items' appearance won't be all that difficult.

Silk items should be washed in special mesh bags, which are available at any hardware store. You can also place the items in an old, light-colored pillowcase.
It's best to use gel-based cleaning products designed specifically for delicate fabrics. Make sure the gel doesn't contain bleach or other harsh ingredients.
You should select the "Silk" program. If this mode isn't stored in the smart device, you can run the "Delicate" cycle.
Maximum water heating to a temperature of 30-40°C.
Be sure to turn off the spin cycle. Otherwise, the silk item will lose its shape.
After the cycle is complete, remove the laundry from the drum immediately. The longer it sits in the washing machine, the deeper the creases will be.

Silk-filled duvets and pillows can also be washed in a washing machine. These items should not be soaked, as prolonged contact with water can damage the material.

Pillows and blankets should also be placed in a mesh bag before loading them into the drum. The program will be the same: "Silk" or "Delicate." In this case, a spin cycle of up to 400 rpm is acceptable. Afterward, you can place the silk-filled blanket in a vinegar solution (0.5 teaspoon of essence per 5 liters of water). This will restore the item's original elasticity.

Preventing shrinkage

Natural silk fabric may shrink by approximately 5% after washing. This is normal. Synthetic fabrics shrink even more. Therefore, it's important to maintain proper temperature control and avoid immersing such garments in water hotter than 40°C.

Therefore, if maintaining the garment's size is crucial to you, wash and rinse it exclusively in cold water. Dry silk properly, too: blot it with a cotton towel and lay it flat on the counter. Iron silk items while slightly damp.

Need to reduce the size of the item

If you need to shrink a silk garment, you can wash it in slightly warmer water, at 45°C. To do this, fill a basin with the appropriate amount of water and rinse the garment. Most washing machines don't have a program that allows for this heat, so you'll have to wash the item by hand. the silk thing sat down

Another way to shrink a blouse or dress is to hang it to dry in direct sunlight. This method isn't suitable for colored clothing, as it may fade.

Traditional way of care

Most housewives still prefer to hand-wash silk. This cleaning method is gentler. It's best to fill a basin with boiled water cooled to 30-40°C. Dissolve gel or soap in the liquid, and stir the solution thoroughly to prevent the detergent from settling at the bottom.

When cleaning silk, it is prohibited to use detergents containing aggressive components and bleaching agents.

Dissolve liquid soap or silk gel in water and immerse the items in it. Soak for 15-20 minutes to loosen the dirt from the fibers. When hand washing, do not rub or crush the fabric vigorously, and especially do not twist it when spinning.

You can remove excess water from the material by brushing it. You can also blot the silk with a cotton sheet. Lay the garment flat to dry. Here's a secret: colored silk is best washed in potato broth. Simply boil the peeled potatoes, then remove them from the pot and let the water cool to 30-40°C. Place the garment in the cool liquid and let it sit for a couple of hours.

Then, remove the silk from the pot, add 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to the solution, and re-immerse the items. After washing, rinse the items in cool water and lay them out to dry. Vinegar helps preserve the vibrant color of colored silk items. Add a spoonful of vinegar to the rinse water. This life hack helps preserve the fabric's original rich hue.

What powder should I use?

For silk linens, it's best to use liquid detergents. Avoid using washing powder, as the granules dissolve poorly in cool water and don't fully wash out of the fibers.

It is advisable to purchase a gel for cleaning silk fabrics that does not contain chlorine or other aggressive components.

Excellent results are achieved by using the following compositions:

"Laska. Wool and Silk" gel. Designed for cleaning delicate fabrics. Its special formula cares for items in three ways: removing dirt, preserving color, and preventing deformation.
"Eared Nanny" liquid. Suitable for washing children's clothes and items for allergy sufferers. The gel very gently cleans silk items without damaging the fibers;
Silk. Prevents fabric deformation, softens the material, and effectively removes stains even in cold water. Rinses completely from the fibers;
Prosept Crystal Conditioner for silk and wool. This phosphate-free, biodegradable conditioner preserves the shape of fabric fibers.

If you don't have a special detergent on hand, you can use regular clear soap or clear shampoo. It's important to use a non-alkaline formula. Do not use bleaches or stain removers when washing silk.