Problems With Silk Fabric

Discoloration

• Silk fabric is prone to discoloration and staining. Many beauty and hair products can alter the color of silk fabric when these products make contact with the silk. Products with alcohol, such as perfumes, colognes, hairspray and rubbing alcohol, will discolor and possibly deteriorate silk fabric. Wear a smock or wrap a towel around your shoulders if you're applying alcohol-based products to your hair or skin while wearing silk garments. Sunlight will discolor silk, and care should be taken to hang or store silk away from direct sun exposure.

Need for Delicate Washing

• Hand-washing silk is recommended by TexereSilk manufacturers, even when the care label specifies machine washing as an option. In a basin, combine warm water with baby shampoo, delicate laundry detergent (intended for lingerie), or a non-alkaline liquid soap. Immerse the silk and gently agitate the fabric in the suds to wash the silk, but do not allow the silk to remain in the water for longer than necessary. Rinse silk fabric in clean, warm water with a teaspoon of hair conditioner added to condition the silk fibers. Never expose silk to chlorine bleach or any detergent containing bleach. Bleach will dissolve silk fibers. If you choose to machine wash silk fabric, TexereSilk recommends placing the silk fabric into a mesh lingerie bag and using a delicate laundry detergent. Wash the silk on a delicate cycle, alone or with same colors to protect the silk from the dyes of other laundry items.

Take Care in Drying Silk Fabric

• Silk fabric is very delicate and should never be twisted to wring excess water from the fibers. Instead, press the silk between two towels, allowing the towels to absorb the water. Hang silk fabric on padded hangers away from direct sun exposure. Think twice before using a clothes dryer to dry silk fabric. Heat shrinks and damages silk fibers and can alter the dyes used in the fabric. If you choose to machine dry silk fabric, TexereSilk recommends fluffing the silk on a no-heat setting.

Moth Holes

• Moths eat silk and other natural fabric fibers during their larval stage. Hidden areas of silk garments are especially prone to moth damage: inside seams and hems, under collars and cuffs, and along zippers and buttons. Silk fabric damaged by moths is nearly impossible to mend and usually must be patched instead of hand sewn because the fabric deteriorates when thread is drawn through it near the damaged site. Severely damaged silk fabric should be disposed of to discourage further infestations. Store silk fabric in airtight or cedar-lined closets, boxes or chests to discourage moth infestations.