Raw silk is a beautiful fabric with a unique luster. Cleaning raw silk can be challenging because it often shrinks, and the residue from soap or other cleansers can dull the sheen of the fabric. However, silk responds better to handwashing than dry cleaning, and with a few basic household ingredients, you can successfully clean your silk without sacrificing the natural luster of the material.
Things You'll Need
Bowl or basin
Mild liquid soap
Lukewarm water
1/4 cup white vinegar
Cool water
Video of the Day
Step 1
Soak the silk garment in a basin filled with lukewarm water and several drops of mild liquid soap.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Rinse the garment in cool, clear water until all the soap has been flushed out of the garment.
Step 3
Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to cool, clear water in the basin and rinse the silk in the vinegar-water solution, neutralizing any residual soap.
Step 4
Rinse the silk again in clear water.
Step 5
Lay flat to dry.
Tip
Washing raw silk in the washing machine can damage the luster of the garment, so try to handwash whenever possible.
Warning
Never put raw silk in the dryer, as it can cause the material to shrink.