Caring for and storing foulards and silk scarves properly

Silk shawls are luxurious and precious accessories that can be worn in many versatile ways. Whether as a neckerchief, belt, or bag decoration, a silk shawl is the eye-catcher of every outfit. To enjoy a silk shawl for a very long time, however, it must also be cared for and stored appropriately.

A scarf made of the finest silk can often almost represent an investment. With proper care, however, it is worth spending more for a high-quality piece, because this accessory is timeless and can give your outfit that certain something for a lifetime.

Caring for silk shawls

Silk shawls are very delicate pieces of jewelry and should be cared for with caution. A silk shawl that has been in the wardrobe for a longer period of time or smells unpleasant after a visit to a restaurant or bar can be hung outside in the fresh air to air out. If this is not enough, another trick can help. The silk shawl is hung in the bathroom during a shower. The warm water vapor ensures that the silk shawl is refreshed and even becomes wrinkle-free again.

If you still wish to wash the silk shawl, you should pay attention to the fabric and the dyeing.

An undyed silk shawl can be washed at 30 degrees in the washing machine. Degummed silks, such as chiffon or crepe de chine, can even withstand slightly higher temperatures. Dyed silk shawls (all products from GetYourScarf), however, should be cleaned using a cold wash.

If your washing machine offers a special wash program for silk fabrics, this should definitely be selected. However, wash programs for curtains or drapes are also sufficient for a gentle wash cycle. Furthermore, it is important to use a silk detergent. Conventional detergents or soaps contain wash-active substances and surfactants that can attack the protein structure of the silk shawl. In addition, only silk shawls of the same color should be washed together, as they can bleed.

For very high-quality silk shawls, hand washing is the safest solution. Depending on the dyeing, the wash cycle should be carried out differently.

A single-colored silk shawl is washed in a larger container or in the sink with lukewarm water. The silk shawl should be placed in the water and moved back and forth immediately. If the shawl releases a little color, this is not a problem, as only excess color pigments are being detached and the silk shawl is single-colored anyway. Next, the silk detergent is added to the water and the silk shawl is carefully kneaded; it should always be in motion. Brushing, rubbing, or scratching must be avoided. After the dirt is removed, the silk shawl is rinsed under running water until no detergent residue remains.

A multi-colored silk shawl can be placed in the sink and rinsed with a jet of water. Here, too, the silk shawl must be constantly in motion. It is important that the lukewarm water constantly drains away and the water in the basin is replaced. This prevents the silk shawl from becoming discolored by the detached color pigments. Once no more color is released, the foulard can be washed as described above. Make sure that the silk shawl is always moved. The lukewarm water with the detergent not only dissolves the dirt but also opens the silk fibers. If there is insufficient movement, dirt residues can penetrate deeper into the tissue and damage your silk shawl.

After the wash cycle, the silk shawl is only lightly pressed out and under no circumstances wrung out. The foulard can then best be air-dried on a towel.

Ironing silk shawls:

For a perfectly ironed silk shawl, it is crucial that the foulard is still damp. The silk shawl is then ironed at the lowest setting, with the steam function switched off. Here, too, it is important to move the iron constantly so that the silk does not burn. If the silk shawl is already dry and you want to iron your foulard, cover it with a damp cloth first.

The silk must under no circumstances be sprayed with water, as water spots will otherwise form. These will not disappear even with re-washing!

Storing silk shawls:

Silk shawls are fundamentally very light-sensitive and should therefore be protected from direct sunlight. Otherwise, the colors of the silk can fade and the silk fibers can become brittle. For this reason, silk shawls should be stored in the wardrobe or in a drawer. The silk shawls can, for example, be placed over a padded trouser hanger or draped around a clothes hanger. Knots should be undone beforehand. Of course, the silk shawl can also be loosely folded and stored in a drawer. However, make sure that no sharp fold edges are created, as this can look unattractive when wearing the silk shawls.

Author: Melis Karaali

Sources
(1) https://www.die-seide.de/seidentuecher-richtig-pflegen-infos-und-tipps/#Seidentuecher_richtig_pflegen_8211_Infos_und_Tipps
(2) https://www.bunte.de/meldungen/seidentuecher-das-ist-bei-der-pflege-zu-beachten-61128.html
(3) Image source: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/78531587228830782/
(4) Image source: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/367113807107720875/