Since ancient times, silk has been one of the most highly sought-after textiles, and it has traditionally been reserved for individuals of distinction and affluence. Even now, in the context of Australia’s fashion industry, silk continues to be a costly but in high demand fabric among other clothing materials. Because silk laundry is a fashion icon of style and elegance, it is essential to take adequate care of it to preserve its durability and maintain its perfect state for a more extended period.
Why does silk cost more than other standard fabrics when compared to them?
One of the reasons why silk apparel is more expensive than other types of clothing is because the majority of silk items and raw materials are imported into the nation. Because of import taxes and other transportation charges, the final product’s overall price will be higher due to this practice. Furthermore, the fact that there is only one silk farm, along with the additional effort of producing and weaving textiles, makes it challenging to fulfil the public demand, resulting in a rise in the price of these items, without even mentioning the popular perception of silk as being connected with monarchy and riches, which, together with the introduction of other synthetic textiles, has pushed the costs of these fabrics into a more costly category. Because it is one of the most potent natural fibres on the planet, there is a good likelihood that prices will not fall any time soon, and demand will continue to be at an all-time high for the foreseeable future.
How To Take Care Of Your Silk Clothes:
Moreover, as previously said, a more expensive fabric must be adequately maintained for users to continue to profit from it for many years to come. Examine a few of the most acceptable methods to follow to minimise damage and assist silk garments in maintaining their delicate state for a more extended amount of time.
When hand-washing silk, follow these instructions:
Always use washing powders and detergents that are labelled particularly for silk washing and that are safe for the fabric to use on your silk garment.
Keep all of your silk laundry separate to avoid the colour from seeping into other clothing items.
Avoid rubbing it too hard when cleaning silk and instead wash it slowly and gently. Scrubbing, stretching, and wringing the silk may permanently change its structure and cause the fabric to wear out over time.
Instead of hanging the silk to dry on a thread, spread it out flat to dry.
When to Use a Machine to Wash Silk: Machine washing silk is not usually suggested, however for individuals who are pushed for time and cannot hand-wash their silk, the following suggestions may be helpful:
- To avoid ruining your silk items, check sure they are labelled as machine washable before placing them in the washing machine!
- Turning the clothing inside out will allow you to gain a greater reach for the washing machine throughout the procedure.
- Whenever possible, wash with cold water and set the cycle speed to a low setting to ensure gentle washing results. Slower rates will prevent the cloth from being stretched in an unwanted manner.
What Should You Do After You Have Properly Laundered Silk Clothes?
As previously said, drying is most effective when the clothing is put out flat on a surface and allowed to dry naturally in the room temperature environment. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs since it might distort the colours and the fabric. Because of the delicate nature of the cloth, tumble drying is not recommended in this situation. Another method that seems to work is to sandwich silk between two dry cotton towels, gently roll them together and let the cotton absorb any excess moisture.
Consider steaming to erase wrinkles, as long as it does not take an excessive amount of time. Pressing is not commonplace, but it should be done at a low setting and only if the fabric has been labelled as safe for that pressing.
Always keep the silk in a cool, well-ventilated area to prevent it from becoming brittle. Instead of using plastic bags that are too tight, use cotton bags since they are much nicer against the skin.
