love silk blouses, hate the dry cleaning bill

Dhar in Sac

looking for tips on care and ironing for nice silk blouses. i used woolite to wash, but i really don't like the strong scent. are there good fragrance free alternatives?

i have a very good home iron but i'm seeking any and all tips for how to iron them easily and successfully?

thanks!

5 years ago

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from elpgal

Gretchen

Veteran

I have seen a silk/lingerie detergent recommended before. Might need to do some searching. From what I remember, the key with silk was to use less soap than you think, and limit the water exposure - it's a fast, light wash, not a scrub.

My grandmother swore by layering a tea cloth over the blouse when she ironed. She'd also dampen the cloth if the wrinkle was stubborn. Said it was the best way to get the heat high enough without damaging the fabric.

(I'm 100% allergic to ironing, so sorry I can't speak from personal experience.)

5 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I have been washing mine with the unscented delicates wash from Nordstrom. I usually just steam the wrinkles out with a handheld steamer, but I'm not a crisp-pressed sort of person.

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

I use unscented Eucalan and deal with wrinkles by hanging to dry (also not a crisp pressed person).

5 years ago

Anonymous

I also use Eucalan. I hang to dry or lay flat. Wrinkles don't seem to be a problem.

5 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

Baby shampoo. I hand wash so much stuff in baby shampoo during the winter. Gentle, and shampoo is wonderful for protein stains

5 years ago

Anonymous

Hand wash cold water Castile soap ( pinch of salt if color runs)
Check out” laundress” website for any laundry questions- great site.
Oh- and I just heard a tip yesterday but have not tried it yet.......
When hand washing an item that you can’t or don’t want to wring out—-get this——— put it in your salad spinner!!!! Can’t wait to try that - laundry day tomorrow. Giggle giggle

Use steam iron with men’s handkerchief or muslin as pressing cloth

5 years ago

Joy

Veteran

Another baby shampoo (Toms of Maine or Burt’s Bees Baby hand washer of silk, wool and delicate undies. I have also used Zum washing liquid soap diluted a lot. I love the scents, especially lavender and frankincense and myrrh. These are all natural and gentle.
I hang to dry or dry flat on as rack and smooth out wrinkles with my hands as much as I can.

5 years ago

Barbara

Active Member

I too use baby shampoo to wash my silk blouses. I then hang them to dry on soft hangers. Occasionally I need to use a steamer to touch them up. I never iron them.

5 years ago

featherwitch

Active Member

I’ve used Ecover Delicates wash (which has a light scent), as well as All Free and Clear liquid. Neither contain enzymes, so safe for silk.

5 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Yep, I hand-wash delicates in a salad spinner!

I used to use a steamer for silk, but two things made me switch to ironing recently:
1. some of my shirts ended up with a slightly burnt (not really burnt, but overheated) smell? still confused by this
2. someone, Suz possibly, pointed out that ironing silk really makes it look better. I thought hand washing would never look as good as drycleaning, but a quick iron got it back to its original smooth texture. It flattens out all the fibers.

That said, I only just switched, so let's see if I stick with ironing or get lazy.

5 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I buy unscented wash for delicates. I am not particular about the brand. I rarely iron and don't mind some wrinkles.

5 years ago

Aliona

Active Member

I have always dry cleaned silk, but tried an experiment recently with an old St. John shell (using Nordstrom brand lingerie wash) and it washed and ironed beautifully! I’ll have to pluck up the courage to wash shirts with collars, though. Collars and cuffs are the spot I just can’t seem to iron as well. I’ve also heard one can wash items and take them to dry cleaners for pressing only, but my cleaner doesn’t offer that.

5 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Haha, Greyscale just love your creative washing silk procedure, I don't own any silk items at the moment but will give it a try with some others fine fabrics!!!

5 years ago

Dhar in Sac

Active Member

thanks everyone, these are great responses! will try out the baby shampoo suggestion!

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I dry delicates the old fashioned way: lay a towel down flat, then lay the item on top of the towel. Roll them up together, then roll/bend the resulting roll from end to end.

But a salad spinner would be easier & more fun.

Most major detergents in the US seem to have unscented/no dye versions, for people with allergies. I think I’ve seen one by Ivory. I don’t hand wash enough to get special detergents and just use the Dr B’s I have on hand anyway.

5 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I am a fan of Euclan, line-drying and ironing on occasion. For me it took an attitude shift to embrace silk as daily wear with its wear and tear and wrinkles and all.

5 years ago

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