Washing silk?

[Meredith Dill]

I'm currently working on Shroomhilde by Dimples Designs in silk. Am I
safe washing this in Orvus when I'm done?

Meredith

[Di Messina]

From what I've heard it's not a good idea to wash silk. Dry clean it if
absolutely necessary by a very reputable dry cleaner who knows what he's
doing. Make sure you tell him it's silk.
Any other opinions??

Di

Meredith Dill <May_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3AB27715...@hotmail.com...

[Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply]

>
> From what I've heard it's not a good idea to wash silk.

You know, this has always intrigued me. The native women in India who wear
sari's made of silk certainly don't send them to the dry cleaners. We have all
seeen the photos of the women standing in the river hand washing their clothes
and you know that, probably, any self-respecting woman in India who can affodr
it has at least one sari that is made of silk for special occasions! Now, I
may be wayyyy off the target with this theory because I have never been to
India and have never had a close friend whose family was from India so I am
assuming this simply from reading and such.
But I have a *lot* of silk blouses and sweaters and almost all of them are
hand washable! You do have to iron when dry but silk is a natural fiber and a
lot sturdier than most of us think! Anyway, I would be interested in more
*informed* info from those of you who are have textile degrees. I know you are
out there so please share your knowledge with us OK? CiaoMeow >^;;^<
.
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^<
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their
WHISKERS!!
Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!
No husband was ever shot doing dishes!
Visit my photo album http://www.photopoint.com

[F.James Cripwell]

"Di Messina" (dmes...@uswest.net) writes:
> From what I've heard it's not a good idea to wash silk. Dry clean it if
> absolutely necessary by a very reputable dry cleaner who knows what he's
> doing. Make sure you tell him it's silk.
> Any other opinions??
>
> Di

Until comparatively recently, maybe 20 or 30 years, silk could not
be washed successfully. However, whenever it was, silk was modified so
that it could be washed just the same as things like cotton. If is is
this newer type of silk there should be no problems.
--
Jim Cripwell.
Thoughts from a confused philosopher.
If a husband speaks in a forest and his wife does not hear him,
is he still wrong?

[Barbara Dodin]

>
> Until comparatively recently, maybe 20 or 30 years, silk could not
> be washed successfully. However, whenever it was, silk was modified so
> that it could be washed just the same as things like cotton. If is is
> this newer type of silk there should be no problems.

I agree with these statements, they make sense. My only concern would be
those which are overdyed...I wonder if they would tend to run more than
other overdyes....hmmmmmmm

[Meredith Dill]

well, I plan on washing it before I put in the overdyeds and bright
colors, so I should be okay, then. :)

Meredith

[she...@ihug.co.nz]

I have several silk items, shirts and scarves, and have never had any
problems just washing them by hand. I usually use a washing mix that
is specified for wool, rather than a normal washing powder. I also
find that silk, especially silk shirts, is much easier ironed when
wet, rather than dry, as it is much easier to control, and it dries
while being ironed.

Kari

[donna nutt]

In addition to Indian silk, what about the Japanese? Back when we were
dirty Europeans rarely bathing, they were a meticulously clean culture, and
still are. I'm sure they had to wash those wonderful kimonos. Didn't they?
<she...@ihug.co.nz> wrote in message
news:3abda66...@news.inv.ihug.co.nz...

[Dianne Lewandowski]

I just washed a whole drawer full of silk scarves. They look like new. I
have washed silk ribbon works. I have washed silk embroidered pieces
(but pastels, no darker colors). I have washed silk garments (blouses,
nightgowns) and pre-wash silk dupioni before constructing an item (it's
much softer after washing). I always iron them while still quite damp,
with medium steam, at the "silk" setting on the iron.

But I DO wash them with baby (or similar, like plain Nutrogena)
shampoo. I read about this on RCTSewing, from professionals who
posted. something about the protein in these shampoos and the protein
in silk fibers. I'm not putting my stamp of approval on this judgment.
It just has worked for me.

Some detergents formulated for wool (Woolite comes to mind) contain
bleaching agents. This can ruin or change the color of silk. Been
there.

Dianne