Know how to maintain your silk sarees

Silk sarees are an essential part of every woman's wardrobe. Indulged in beauty and tradition, they are woven to perfection in the most beautiful manner. Given their preciousness, it is important to maintain and take good care of them to last forever. But not many of us know the proper way to handle and preserve them. Let's have a look at some of them in this blog.

WASHING

Pure silk sarees though heavy, are delicate in nature and should be maintained and cleaned in a skilled manner. When it comes to washing silk sarees, dry cleaning is the best way to handle the silk fabric. But we do understand that it won’t always be possible to dry clean silk sarees! That is why we have good news here - silk sarees can be washed at home! In fact, plain, cold water is more than enough to wash silk sarees. All you have to do is wash your saree with mild shampoo mixed in plain cold water. This will preserve the sheen and shine of the saree. You can even use soap nuts as a substitute for shampoo. 

If the saree is brand new, avoid harsh chemicals, detergents, or soaps for at least a couple of washes, as these can reduce the lifespan of the silk. 

Tip: Make sure to wash the border, saree, and pallu, separately.

 

DRYING

Never wring your silk saree! It will shrink, wrinkle, and permanently ruin the saree. In order to eliminate excess moisture post washing, wrap the saree on a dry towel and then hang it on a padded hanger. Make sure you are not using a metallic hanger as it can stain your saree. Also, you should not dry your silk saree in an open space with direct sunlight! Try drying it inside your home or in a shaded place.

Tip: Avoid drying your silk saree using a machine dryer as it can damage your saree.

IRONING

When it comes to the ironing of silk sarees, a steam iron is the best option. If you do not have one, set the temperature of your iron box to 'silk mode'. And if you don't have that option too, make sure you iron on the lowest heat setting. If the creases persist, try placing a fine muslin cloth or cotton cloth on top of your saree and then iron it at a high temperature.

Tip: Do not pressure and go gentle with your hands while ironing your silk sarees.

STORING 

A pure silk saree should never be stored alongside other fabric sarees. One should wrap it in a muslin cloth and keep it as separately as possible to minimize contact with other materials. By doing so, we can avoid damage and tears, thus increasing the longevity of the saree.

Make sure you are not keeping your silk saree unused for a very long time. Try to open them from time to time and change the creases and folds. This will protect your saree from getting a permanent mark. 

Tip: Maintain the sheen of your saree by folding them with their zari inwards! Also, try to fold your saree inside out to prevent exposure and oxidization of the embroidery work.