Hand washing silk : Soak the garment in lukewarm water and a mild soap solution. Rinse in clear, cool water until all the soap is gone. then fill the sink again and add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the final rinse. Vinegar neutralizes any remaining soap, and allows it to rinse out completely restoring the fabric's natural sheen, it can make a dramatic difference. Give the fabric a final rinse in clear, cool water to remove the vinegar smell. Iron with a low-medium temp iron while still slightly damp use an all cotton ironing board cover. Alway use a mild detergent or a small amount of soap. note: if your silk garment has not been pre-washed some silks may shrink. also, note that garments made with a combination of fabrics or that are highly detailed probably should not be machine washed. check with the store where your purchased the item.

Dry cleaning silk : Always tell the dry cleaner that your garment is made from silk so that it will not be placed in a vat with jeans and other garments that could harm your silk garment. some dry cleaners use solutions that are not best for silks. inquire first

Silk cleaning tip : To keep white silk white, add peroxide and ammonia to the wash. do not use bleach or products that contain bleach. to remove yellowing, add 3 or 4 tablespoons of white vinegar to a basin of cool water. perspiration and sticky deodorant stains can be a problem with any fabric. they are not removable. use small shields or a silk undershirt.

Machine wash silk : Check the manufacturer actually claims silks may be washed by machine. Wash on gentle cycle in a clean washing machine some people put their delicate silks in a machine wash bag, this will minimize any damage caused thru machine washing.