The 4 things to know about Silk

Hundreds of years ago, owning silk clothing or accessories was a sign of luxury reserved for a few fashion-oriented people who could afford it. Centuries later, silk still remains a coveted material (although a little more affordable) – and for good reason! Not only does silk look and feel fabulous, but it is lightweight, versatile and a surprisingly strong fiber.

Properly cared for, silk can add a striking and elegant element to any wardrobe. Your best bet for keeping your silk in good condition is to take it to a professional dry cleaner. However, it still helps to know the basics of caring for your silk clothes and scarves.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about silk:

1. Is silk more delicate than other materials?

Yes, silk is the most delicate type of material commonly used to make clothing or scarves. Unlike other materials such as cotton, which is much more forgiving when it comes to washing and fabric care, silk is particularly susceptible to stains and damage from heat and light.

Although each silk fiber is surprisingly strong, it is important to educate yourself on how to properly care for your silk clothing to avoid stains and damage.

2. Why do stains sometimes appear after cleaning silk clothing or scarves?

Even after the dry cleaning process, stains may appear on the silk. What sometimes happens is that when a garment is exposed to heat or light, stains that were not previously visible become visible, and they can actually change the color of the silk.

A classic example of this is sweat stains near the armpit region of a top. One solution to this problem would be to inform your cleaner what caused the stain on your garment to the best of your knowledge.

3. What can I do to keep my silk scarves looking good?

Despite your best efforts, accidents and stains happen to the best of us. If you find yourself having a slightly embarrassing eating incident, don’t worry! There are steps you can take to prevent the stain from settling further into the fibers and thus increase the chances of completely removing the stain.

When the incident occurs, do your best to treat the stain as quickly as possible, because the quicker you can take care of it, the more likely you are to preserve the fabric. Use a clean, damp cloth to gently wipe the stained area, taking care not to rub vigorously or apply excessive pressure. You should also try to avoid exposing your accessory or garment to excess light and heat, which will speed up the stain setting process.

4. What should I tell my cleaner about cleaning silk?

Silk lovers, take note! This is an important question. You may not have realized it before, but there is a science to removing stains. Dry cleaners use a wide variety of cleaners and solvents to remove even the toughest stains, so while you might think the ingredients in that delicious red sauce don’t really matter, they do.

Your dry cleaner will choose a different stain remover to remove leftovers from a creamy red sauce than they would to remove regular tomato sauce. Vegetable-based stains are chemically different from protein-based stains, and each stain requires a different treatment. When you go to your cleaner, you should try to be as specific as possible about the cause of the stain so that they know exactly how to treat it.