It’s unnecessary to wash your silk scarf after every wear, but you may wish to wash it occasionally. This guide provides a step-by step tutorial for washing your silk scarf by hand – while the process may seem intimidating, the chore goes quickly and becomes routine with a bit of practice.
Please note: If you spill something on your scarf, it’s important to tend to the stain quickly, and wash the entire scarf, rather than spot cleaning.
Without further ado…
Step 1
Fill a basin with cool water and an appropriate amount of silk-safe detergent, as guided by the detergent instructions. My personal favorite detergent for hand-washing delicate silk garments is Eucalan, but any enzyme-free detergent formulated for wool and silk will work wonderfully.
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Step 2
Fully submerge your scarf in the soapy water, and gently swish it around to ensure that it’s fully saturated. Allow it to soak for a minimum of fifteen minutes.
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Step 3
Gently squeeze and agitate the fabric under water to incorporate the water and soap through the fibers. If there’s a stain, gently work the stained area with your hands, while being careful not to be too rough with the fabric. If you use a detergent like Soak or Eucalan, rinsing isn’t a necessary step, but you may still wish to do so.
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Step 4
Drain the water from the basin and gently squeeze the majority of the water out of the scarf, while being careful not to wring or twist.
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Step 5
Place the scarf on a clean and dry towel, roll it up, and gently press the towel to squeeze out most of the remaining water. Lay flat or over a curtain rod to dry further.
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Step 6
While the silk is still ever so slightly damp, iron the silk on the silk setting (medium-low) to dry, de-wrinkle, and return shine to the silk. If your scarf is a single layer of silk satin, iron from the matte back side of the scarf, with the shiny satin side facing downwards. Also, take care not to iron the rolled hem, as this type of edge is intended to retain a rounded edge.
Alternatively, if you let the scarf air dry completely, you may use your iron’s steam function while ironing, or use a hand-held steamer to remove any wrinkles.
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And voilà! Your scarf is clean and perfectly wrinkle-free!
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All photos are courtesy of lingerie and fashion expert, Wen Kitokosan, of the blog Comics Girls Need Bras