<p>Hi,
Looking for comments from those with experience if possible. Conjecture I can do on my own, thanks. </p>
<p>I have read online that it’s ok to wash silk in the washing machine on cold/gentle or delicate cycle using baby shampoo or woolite in a net bag.
I always appreciate hearing from those with experience though.
Color-fastness is not an issue with this item.
Also read that I should roll the wet item up in a towel to wring out excess water and then hang out of sunlight to dry.
Yes?
Finally, there is a small “watermark style” stain on the garment. Nothing serious. A small spill of champagne on a champagne colored dress! Do I need to treat that in any special way, or can I just try putting the dress through the cycle to see if it comes out?
Hoping that this whole thing isn’t too complicated and risky.
As always, I appreciate the help from cc members!
Thanks.</p>
<p>I have washed silk blouses and then iron them. I didn’t have any problem. My mom used to say that Chinese have used silk for a long time and we didn’t have dry cleaning.</p>
<p>What kind of silk fabric? If it is silk jersey, you will have no problem with washing it. I wash my DVF dresses in the washing machine all the time without even bothering with putting them in a mesh bag, then hang them to dry. A white wine stain should come out during the wash; however, I’d pre-treat it with some detergent first, maybe add a bit of Oxiclean.</p>
<p>I used to wear silk blouses all the time, and always washed them. My usual method was to do them by hand in the sink with cold water, using regular liquid laundry detergent. Roll in a towel to remove most of the water, shake out major wrinkles and pull/straighten seams, hang on plastic hanger from shower rail.</p>
<p>They can also go in the washing machine as you describe.</p>
<p>The one negative experience I can recall was when I washed a very pale pink silk blouse with a stain on the front. As directed, I poured some Whisk directly on the stain, then put it in the washing machine. The blue detergent stained the blouse! I would suggest using something colorless in this case. (Personally, I am a fan of Tide.)</p>
<p>I’ve had plenty of garments ruined by dry cleaners, especially silk. Most of the time they fail to remove stains. I’d try just washing it.</p>
<p>Edited to add: ITA with oldfort about life before the existence of dry cleaners. Same thing goes for Aran and merino sweaters and the like. I will say that a front loading washer is a lot better for such things, especially wool, since it just flips them back and forth rather than wringing them, which causes wool to felt.</p>
<p>Exactly as consolation posted. I would use dish detergent or woolite and wash them by hand (cold water). I am pretty good at ironing, so the shirts would look pretty nice.</p>
<p>Silk and water usually do not mix ( unless is a washable silk) because the salts and deposits in tap water change the feel of the fabric and leave water marks.Option: try to wash the whole garment with distilled water. Also wash future garments with Dryel using your dryer. The first kit is expensive but the refills are affordable and you can wash several garments (3-4) with one sheet. I have found that it works very well with light soiled garments or garments that need a little freshen up.</p>
<p>ddahwan, I can confidently state that I have washed every silk dress, blouse, or skirt I have ever owned over 40 years–many of which had “dry clean only” labels–and not a single one has ever gotten a water mark. And once ironed, the texture is the same.</p>
<p>We used to grow silkworms back in the old country 50 years ago :). When the cocoons were ready, the processors would boil them in water then unwind the very long strand before combining the strands to make it thicker. </p>
<p>The stuff can withstand water and a lot of abuse.</p>
<p>I’ve washed silk clothing (blouses, skirts, dresses and silk sweaters etc.) for years in my washing machine on gentle with cold water soap but I don’t dry in the dryer and I’ve had no problems with water spotting or texture changes. They have to be pressed, but other than that no issues.</p>
<p>I used to hand wash silk blouses – gentle soap, wrap them in a towel to remove excess moisture, air dry then iron. I’m not a very good ironer so I found I had better results taking them to the dry cleaner. Plus I wouldn’t iron that often so I’d never have the blouse I wanted when I wanted it.</p>
<p>Im with Consolation on this issue. Most “dryclean only” clothes can be handwashed; usually the trick is in the drying. Clothes manufacturers use these labels to cover their behinds and transfer the liability to another party (drycleaners). Besides, it is much cheaper to use a universal label on all clothes instead of coming up with a new label with detailed instructions for every new item.</p>
<p>For people fed up with ironing, I highly recommend getting a steamer (Jiffy makes really good ones).</p>
<p>I also used to wear silk blouses a lot. I would wash them in the sink with mild dish washing liquid - probably Ivory. Roll in a towel, this is where I differ, I would iron them when damp. They were super easy to iron that way and turned out beautifully! I never had problems with water spotting. Silk is one of natures strongest fibers. I also agree do not use any type of soap, detergent or spot treatment with any dye in it. I have even had trouble in my washing machine with detergent with dyes particularly on natural fibers.</p>
<p>A staple of my wardrobe is silk taffeta dresses. I wash them in the washer: gentle cycle, cold water, arm & hammer detergent. I spot clean stains with the same detergent. Toss in the dryer just a minute to heat the fabric a bit and fluff out the worst wrinkles. Hang them up to dry. I don’t iron. My look is intentionally slightly rumpled.</p>
<p>If it is a lighter or heavier weight silk, I skip the spin cycle and hang them soaking wet in the shower. Usually this drying method eliminates wrinkles entirely. I do this with all clothes when washing something out in a hotel sink.</p>
<p>I don’t like the mesh bags and put silk items in an old pillowcase in the washing machine on gentle with Woolite. I’ve also washed them by hand if I didn’t have an appropriate load. In that case, rather than rolling in a towel (which I do for other items), I put them between two towels and walked on them. I generally didn’t iron them.</p>
<p>Sometimes “dry clean only” silks can be water washed and sometimes not. Much depends on the fusible that is used. The fusing is the fabric inside the silk garment that gives the garment some thickness/rigidness such as in the collar, cuffs, and placket. Some of these fusibles are not compatible with water washing and you will get what’s known in the industry as differential shrinkage, as evidenced by the fusing shrinking more than the silk causing ripples or puckering. I’m retired now but I used to be the technical advisor to the formalwear industry which uses lots of silks in their retail accessory lines.</p>
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In my case, this was back when I had a career and worked in NYC and environs.</p>