A lot of our clothing items, especially those that are made with a delicate material, recommend “dry clean only” care for them. However, for most people who live on a budget, this is easier said than done. Therefore, we all look for a work around. A way that we can clean those special, delicate items at home.  Here is a secret that not many know; you can learn how to wash cashmere silk at home, without spending a small fortune or taking a chance on ruining it.

Hand Wash

When washing silk material or any other delicate fabric, you need to do it with your hands instead of a machine, using gentle soaps. You may choose a soap that is designed for use with delicates or you may also consider using baby soap and shampoos. To wash, you simply put cool or lukewarm water into a large basin or the bathtub. Squeeze or agitate the silk scarf, shirt, or tie with your hands and then allow the item to soak for a few minutes. Ideally, 10-20 minutes if you are worried that it may need that amount of time. Set it aside and run fresh cool water to rinse in. Take the time to rinse it until the water runs clear. Some people say that you should not ring it out, others say a light ring out is okay, so you should use your own judgement and base it on a piece by piece basis. Lay the silk on a towel to dry, you may have to stretch it a little to ensure that its shape goes back to normal. If you are worried about wrinkles, you can always steam iron it when it is still slightly damp, but you should use two towels to protect the delicate silk.

Items You Should Dry Clean

Unfortunately, there are still going to be items that need a dry cleaners touch. These items may include silk that has bold colors against a white background, jackets that have a lining or filling, and other lined items since the lining may shrink more than the fabric does when you wet it. The best bet it is to use your own judgement and perhaps avoid hand washing something that you invested a lot of money into owning.