Silk Scarf has been worn and used in home furnishing for almost five thousand years. And for just as long - silk has been hand washed. Dry cleaning by contrast is a relatively new method of removing soil and not always the best for this natural fabric. Just like hair, silk is made up of protein and responds in the same way to repeated chemical exposure. After only a few trips to the cleaners, silk begin to look flat and takes on an almost matte-like finish. Even the texture changes - after dry cleaning silk feels dry and brittle.
There are so many reasons to hand wash your Pure Silk Scarf. It's better for the environment; better for your silk, and certainly better for your bank account! Hand washing plumps up the hems - the entire fabric is renewed. If you like the crisp silk, simply use a little spray starch as you iron and voila - a store fresh press appears.
Though generally not recommended by collectors, I have also included a section on machine-washing silk.
Spot cleaning your Silk Scarves
Tip Use a soft facial brush to work the pre treatment solution into the silk. These are available at any drug store.
Many vintage scarves have unstable dies. Before using any stain remover, do a spot test to see if the colour will run. A good rule of thumb is to begin with the mildest product, first. As the centre of the carrè is rarely seen when worn, this is a good area for a spot test. Almost any pre wash or stain treatment available at your grocers is safe to use on men's scarf, however, do read the product labels! Also try rubbing a little liquid dishwashing detergent directly onto the soiled area prior to wash - sometimes that's all it takes. I have had the best success with carpet cleaning solutions.
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