a tip for washing your silk stuff
(I posted this in hip_domestics and I thought it might be useful for those who ready my journal, too)
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We have a lot of 100% silk items and silk blends that we use everyday. It doesn't seem right to spend a fortune at the dry cleaners when they don't come back all that great anyhow. Here's a tip we learned from a silk dealer -- it really works! and you can do it at home in your own washing machine. There is no need to shy away from buying or using silk.
-- Use shampoo. Not joking -- silk is a protein just like your hair and it will respond well to shampoo. Not only will it clean it, but it will strengthen it and revitalize old silks after a few washes.
-- Now before you get too many ideas, don't go buy fancy shampoo; the silk won't like it. Buy regular everyday shampoo (like VO5 or Suave or a store brand) with nothing funny or fancy extra in it and not baby shampoo. Be sure to get a scent you like (for a while my underwear smelled like berries and I didn't really care for it -- pick a scent you can live with).
-- Wash it in your washer on delicate and if you have an agitator invest in some of those mesh laundry bags; you won't be sorry. This works just as well for hand washing, too, if you don't want to use a washing machine.
-- Air dry it and it will be good to go and feel really nice. :)
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We have a lot of 100% silk items and silk blends that we use everyday. It doesn't seem right to spend a fortune at the dry cleaners when they don't come back all that great anyhow. Here's a tip we learned from a silk dealer -- it really works! and you can do it at home in your own washing machine. There is no need to shy away from buying or using silk.
-- Use shampoo. Not joking -- silk is a protein just like your hair and it will respond well to shampoo. Not only will it clean it, but it will strengthen it and revitalize old silks after a few washes.
-- Now before you get too many ideas, don't go buy fancy shampoo; the silk won't like it. Buy regular everyday shampoo (like VO5 or Suave or a store brand) with nothing funny or fancy extra in it and not baby shampoo. Be sure to get a scent you like (for a while my underwear smelled like berries and I didn't really care for it -- pick a scent you can live with).
-- Wash it in your washer on delicate and if you have an agitator invest in some of those mesh laundry bags; you won't be sorry. This works just as well for hand washing, too, if you don't want to use a washing machine.
-- Air dry it and it will be good to go and feel really nice. :)