Silk garments, from lingerie to loungewear, are made to be treasured. With their soft feeling on the skin, thermoregulating effect, and effortless fit, you’ll want to wear your favourite silks for years to come. Fortunately, you probably could wear your silks for many years due to silk’s strong natural fibres. A well-made silk garment can last decades, making it a must-have part of your wardrobe, especially if you adore classic statement pieces or vintage aesthetics. When you properly wash, dry and store your silks, they will maintain their high-quality feel and fit for a long time.
Luckily, taking good care of your silks is easy to do. Here are our easy tips that outline how to care for your silk garments so that they remain a staple in your wardrobe for years to come.
Keeping Your Silks Clean
One of the keys to keeping your silks in peak condition is keeping them clean. It is recommended that you wash your silks after 3 wears. An important thing to remember is that you should never spot clean your silks, as this can cause staining that cannot be reversed. Wash the entire garment every time to maintain the integrity of the colour and fabric.
Is Silk Washable?
Can silks be washed in the washing machine? Some silk is washable; however, it is important that you make sure that it is labelled as “washable” before putting it into the machine
Once you’re certain that your silks can go in the washing machine, you’ll want to make sure that you’re only cleaning them with other washable silks. Put each garment into a mesh bag to avoid tangling, wash it on a delicate cycle, and use a gentle detergent or pure soap flakes. It is also important that the water isn’t too warm.
NK IMODE has a collection of washable silks that are versatile enough to take you from relaxing at home to a business meeting to running errands. Explore our collection of alluring washable silk garments here.
Do You Have to Dry Clean Silk?
If your silks aren’t machine washable, you may wonder if it’s worth taking them to the dry cleaner. Much like washable silks, you should check to see if the brand says that the garment can be safely dry cleaned; however, most silks are dry cleaner safe.
The costs of dry cleaning can add up. You have to take your silks to the dry cleaners, wait for them to finish cleaning your silks, and pay the expenses involved with this service. NK IMODE’s silks are easily hand-washed at home, saving you time and money while maintaining their exquisite quality.
How to Hand-Wash Silk
Hand-washing your silks is the easiest way of making sure they stay wear-ready for as long as possible. To hand-wash your silks, you’ll need a mild soap; we recommend using a wool shampoo or pure soap flakes. We recommend the eco-friendly, plant-based soaps from The Laundress. You’ll also need pure white vinegar.
Start by filling your clean sink with cold water. Add your silk and gently wash, adding your gentle soap to the garment. Gently rinse the garment and wring any water out, then set it to the side. Refill the sink with cold water and add a teaspoon of white vinegar. The vinegar will help to remove any excess soap from your garment. Finally, rinse the garment once more under cold water. Make sure to gently rinse it instead of wringing it out.
For tough stains that a light scrub won’t get out, a soft-bristled toothbrush can help lift them from the fibres. Remember to be gentle and use cold water as warm or hot water will set the stain.
Watch a video that shows you the steps of cleaning and drying our silks here.
How to Dry Silk
Now that your silks are fresh and clean, you’ll want to make sure that they’re dried properly. The first thing you should do after you hand-wash them or, in the case of washable silks, remove them from the washer is wrap them with a towel to gently roll out moisture. This will help to remove a lot of the excess water that the garment has absorbed.
Next, you’ll want to iron out your silk to keep it as smooth as possible. Use the coolest temperature and iron the silk on the inside of the garment to make it smooth and shiny.
Hang it up in a dry, cool area or leave it over the bathtub to dry out. You can also lay it out flat on a clean surface. It is important to note that, even if you’ve washed the garment in the washing machine, you should not put it in the dryer.
To make sure that the colour is maintained during the drying process, you want to avoid hanging the silk up where it can be exposed to sunlight, which can cause the silk to fade. While this may not be what you’re used to, especially if you typically dry your laundry on a clothesline, silk dries quickly; your garment should be dry and ready to wear within an hour. This makes it the ideal fabric to take on holidays while travelling lightly.
Storing Your Silks
The final step to taking care of your silks properly is storing them. We wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to wear your silks every single day. However, when you do want to put them away, you’ll want to make sure that they’re treated carefully.
With NK IMODE’s silks, you can store them in the box that they arrive in. It is best to store your silks in a cool, dry place to keep them in the best possible condition; you’ll want to avoid hanging them in direct sunlight, as this can affect the colour. If you must hang your silk garments, use padded hangers to avoid creases or causing unnecessary strain on the item.
Taking care of your silks is easy and allows you to maintain comfortable, classic styles for years to come. Treat yourself to a silk garment that makes you feel like your best self today – explore NK IMODE’s newest styles of luxury silk lingerie and loungewear or begin with our best-selling Morgan Collection. We can’t wait to see what you choose!
