How to freshen up dry-clean only silk?

spiddy100

Help!

I bought a gorgeous top from Ebay for a Christmas night out but when it's arrived it has a strong smell of sweat _pale_

It's marked dry-clean only, the fabric is silk and it is covered with lots of tiny pleats which apparently are not permanent but need to be ironed back in. For this reason I'm reluctant to wash it - I know I'd never get it back to how it looks now.

Any suggestions? I have hung it out on the washing line which helps a bit but there is still a lingering odour. Don't want all my friends to think it is me!

Badger_Lady

Firstly - urgh!

It depends how much risk you're willing to take, but I usually hand rinse my delicate silk tops in cold water. I don't screw them up or anything, just literally pour water through the fabric, then hang it on a hanger to dry naturally. This should also mean that the pleats aren't very affected (?).

Seakay

Taking Badger-lady's idea a little further - if you dissolve a few drops of citronella essential oil in a tablespoon of white vinegar in the washing bowl, and then add the cold water, rinse through and drip dry, this might help because citronella is supposed to be a deodouriser, amoung other things.

spiddy100

Thanks both I don't think cold water alone will do the trick but I like the citronella idea. I knew vinegar would come into it somehow!!

I hope I can sort it out as I love the top. Wondering if it was a bad buy though as I suspect that dry cleaning it might ruin the pleats too.