Guide on how to wash silk clothes using a washing machine while maintaining their durability and beauty

Silk is a fabric with natural smoothness and softness, hence it is favored by many. However, unlike common fabrics, silk needs to be cleaned and cared for more meticulously to preserve its durability and beauty. Therefore, if you are unaware, you can refer to the method of washing silk clothes with a washing machine outlined below to quickly clean them with minimal effort while still taking good care of your garments.

Step-by-step guide on washing silk clothes with a washing machine

Silk, an exquisite, thin, smooth, and incredibly lightweight fabric, has been adored by many throughout history. With its natural sheen, silk fabric is used to create numerous garments that exude elegance and sophistication for the wearer. To maintain this beauty over time, caring for silk garments may require a bit more attention to detail. However, with the right knowledge, caring for silk fabric is not overly difficult or time-consuming.

Soft and naturally draping silk fabric is often favored by many.

The washing method will depend on the type of silk you are using. However, there are some general tips you should know:

- Avoid cleaning silk garments with bleach.

Use only laundry detergents without enzymes and with a neutral pH to clean silk garments. There are also detergent lines specifically designed for delicate fabrics available on the market that you can consider.

Limit the exposure of silk fabric to alcohol-containing products such as hair spray (gel), perfume, etc.

Avoid directly exposing silk garments to intense sunlight as this can cause the fabric to yellow over time.

When washing silk clothes, handle them gently to avoid affecting the structure of the fabric.

Many wonder if silk garments can be washed using a washing machine. The answer is yes, but only with certain types of silk. To find out if your silk clothing can be washed in a machine, check the manufacturer's label. If it indicates 'dry clean only,' then machine washing is not suitable.

To wash silk garments using a washing machine, follow these steps:

- Step 1: Sort your clothes and place the silk garments in a laundry bag. This will prevent fabric abrasion and minimize silk clinging to the washing machine drum during the cleaning process.

- Step 2: Use an appropriate amount of detergent without alkali and with mild cleansing properties.

- Step 3: Select the cold water wash cycle and set the water temperature to a maximum of 300C. Avoid choosing excessively high water temperatures as this can distort the garments. Additionally, if your washing machine offers a delicate or silk cycle, you can still use it.

Choose the suitable washing mode to clean silk garments

- Step 4: Once the washing cycle is complete, promptly remove the garments to prevent wrinkles and the development of musty odors. Silk dries quickly, so you can lay the garments out on a large towel for natural drying.

In addition to machine washing, you can also choose to hand wash silk garments following these steps:

- Step 1: Check the colorfastness of the silk fabric in small, inconspicuous areas. To test, dampen the fabric area and press a white cloth onto it several times to see if any color transfers. If the cloth turns color, it's best not to hand wash this silk garment and instead seek professional dry cleaning services.

- Step 2: If the color test is successful, you can proceed to treat stains. Firstly, you can use diluted water or vinegar to dab onto the stained area.

- Step 3: Soak the garments in a basin of warm water mixed with a mild soap (no more than 5 minutes).

- Step 4: Rinse the garments and then continue soaking them in a basin of water mixed with 1/4 cup of white vinegar. This will help remove any excess alkali from the fabric fibers.

- Step 5: Soak the silk garments in a fabric softener solution to make them even softer.

- Step 6: After soaking for a period of time, you can clean the garments again with water.

- Step 7: To dry, you can use a large towel, then roll the silk garments inside and gently press to remove excess water. Then simply let them air dry naturally.

Use a large towel to wrap and dry silk garments

Above are the simple steps to washing silk garments with a washing machine that you can do at home. Cleaning and preserving silk garments may not be too easy, but it's not too difficult either if you know how. Hopefully, through this article, you've learned how to care for your silk garments well to keep them durable and beautiful for a long time.

Check out some washing machine models at Mytour Supermarket: