Can I Wash a Silk Dress in a Front Loader?

General Silk Care

• Hand washing is always the safest method for washing a silk dress. Use lukewarm water and mild soap. Harsh detergents, bleaches and brighteners are too hard on silk. When washing a silk dress, avoid twisting the fabric. Loosely swishing the dress in water protects the fibers. If you need to extract water from the dress, roll the dress in a towel and gently press out the water.

Using the Front Loader

• While most silk dress manufacturers recommend hand washing, some garment tags specify that machine washing is acceptable. Use a delicate cycle, such as the hand washing cycle and a mild detergent, particularly one formulated for hand washing. Select a short spin cycle or no spin. Wash the silk dress with other similar-colored items or preferably by itself.

After Washing

• Silk clothing manufacturers do not typically recommend using a dryer to dry silk articles. The heat may change the color of the fabric and shrink it. Using direct sunlight to dry the fabric is also not recommended for similar reasons. It's best to hang a silk dress to dry so the garment can hold its shape. To iron a silk dress, use steam and the silk setting.

Other Suggestions and Warnings

• Follow the garment label washing instructions for the best results. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle to neutralize the detergent. Any soap left in the silk dulls or discolors it. Rinse the garment a second time to remove all the vinegar. Treat stains on your silk dress immediately with a stain treatment that specifies it's safe to use on silk fabrics. If your silk dress has embellishments, use extra care when washing the dress.