Dry clean only?

rinabean

It's cotton/silk, not unicorn fur and fairy's hair. Gently work at the stained area yourself, then either handwash the whole thing or stick it in the machine on the delicate cycle.

I've had one silk thing not like this treatment, and that was because it was from a high street shop and the stitching was awful so a seam came apart. Nothing happened to the silk itself.

Edit: actually, I lied. I washed it, as I do every item of clothing, on the ordinary cold cycle. So really don't worry!

zippychick

Hmmm we get asked this a lot - do check out this older thread. I would probably risk it on a delicate wash knowing it could all go horribly wrong! I'm not the kind to take something to get dry cleaned!

Ill merge this later. Let us know how you go

Zip

meritaten

I had a pure silk T-shirt (bought in a sale for a fiver when the ticket price was a whopping £45!!! and this was quite a few years ago) DRY CLEAN ONLY IT WARNED! rubbish! it washed like a dream in cool water and washing up liquid! as long as you hung it out to dry soppin wet it didnt need ironing either!
As your item is mostly cotton I would hand wash as above or in the delicate fabrics detergent then line dry without spinning or wringing out. good luck!

researcher

I have a silk skirt I bought from Hobbs (in the sale of course), and I love it apart form the fact it is dry clean only.

I've been wondering if I could wash it on a cold silk cycle in the washing machine, has anyone done this? Or do I have to bite the bullet and pay for dry cleaning?

BitterAndTwisted

100% silk can be hand-washed but should be done in cold water. I would never put any precious silk garment in a washing-machine myself, even on what is called a "silk-cycle". Perhaps the instructions for dry-cleaning only is due to colourfastness rather than the fabric-content?

caitybabes

I've got a silk dress I was thinking the same thing... do you use regular washing powder when you hand wash, or something softer?

Cait

MrsAtobe

I put my silk stuff inside a laundry bag in the machine, and wash them on a wool wash with ecover delicate and my normal fabric conditioner (I know, not very old style:) ). Only one of my items has ever lost colour, and that is a dark brown dressing gown, which now looks a bit sand washed.

HTH.

zippychick

these threads should help

Dry clean only

can i handwash a silk skirt

let us know what works and ill merge this later

Zip

meritaten

I would hand wash in slightly warm water with soap rather than detergent. then rinse thoroughly and line dry, shaking it out well to remove creases. iron while still damp and put on a hanger to finish drying. I did this with a silk shirt and had it for years!
I forgot to say I didnt use fabric conditioner - someone told me it rots the silk - dunno if its true but I didnt want to take the chance!

MrsAtobe

Meritaten, I've never heard that about fabric conditioner! I have been told that drying them outside also rots the silk. I've been using fabric conditioner and drying my silk pillowcases outside for years, with no obvious ill effects yet.