How to care for your hand-painted silk scarf or hand-dyed silk shawl

Because silk is such a fine and fragile material, many people assume that it is not durable at all and extremely difficult to care for. Add hand-painted designs to the mix and you increase the fear that the item is highly impractical and therefore represents poor value for money.

However, in reality, hand-painted women’s silk scarves and hand-dyed shawls are very easy to care for and are a stunning addition to any lady’s wardrobe.

As with any item worn over the body, silk scarves and shawls should be cleaned regularly to remove stains, perfume residue, and air pollutants that can affect the look and feel of the material. Washing not only refreshes colors, giving them new life, but also eliminates odors that can adhere to any type of fabric. Far from shortening the life of the item, it keeps it in tip-top condition so that your precious and unique scarf or shawl continues to provide value for many years to come. Here are some quick and easy tips to keep in mind to extend the life of your portable canvas.

1. Wash the item by hand. The dry cleaning process uses harsh chemicals that can have an adverse effect not only on the silk material, but also on the colors and dyes used to create unique designs on your hand-painted or hand-dyed scarf or shawl. Agitation and rapid temperature changes that machine washed garments are subjected to can also damage hand-painted or hand-dyed silk. Washing your hands is fast, effective and safe and, of course, profitable. Use warm water instead of hot water and always make sure to use a mild detergent or better yet a mild baby soap or shampoo. The nature of the material is such that it should be sufficient even to remove stains, but it is important not to rub the material vigorously as this could lead to worn stains. Ordinary household table salt, when added to the soap and water solution, will prevent the colors of the item from fading, but never, under any circumstances, should bleach be used.

2. Add vinegar during rinsing. Once you’ve washed your silk scarf or shawl, you should rinse it with cool, clean water, making sure not to twist it in the process. When all the soap has been removed, rinse again, but this time add a little kitchen vinegar to the water. This will not only neutralize the soap, but it will also brighten the fabric and restore its natural shine. Finally, rinse again with clean, cold water to remove the vinegar, taking care that no odor remains.

3. Use clean towels to dry your scarf or shawl. Silk should never be wrung out as this can cause it to stretch and warp. Instead, lay the scarf or shawl on a clean, dry towel, then roll it up. This will effectively squeeze out excess water without causing any damage. Once done, simply lay the scarf or shawl on another dry towel and let it air dry.

4. Iron with care. When it comes to ironing your silk scarf or shawl, it’s always preferable to work on the reverse side of the fabric, but make sure the iron is on its lowest setting. Alternatively, you can use a slightly higher setting, but place the item under a clean cotton cloth or towel so it doesn’t come in direct contact with heat.

Hand-painted silk scarves and shawls are a pleasure to have, and if you follow these simple steps, yours will give you pleasure for many years to come.