Maintaining your silk sarees :

1. Dry-Cleaning is Preferable

Generally silk sarees should be dry-cleaned. In hand washing, the consistency of the silk may be altered, depending on the finishing treatment used to give it sheen and the colour may run. Chlorine bleach damages silk and causes it to yellow.

2. Washing Silks

Certain pre-wash techniques have made certain washable. Raw silk, china silk, India silk, crepe de chine, Pongee, Shantung, tussar, dupion and jacquard silks are safer to wash. After washing, one should roll in a towel to remove the excess moisture, and then hang on to dry on a padded hanger.

3. Stains

Stained silk sarees should be dry-cleaned as soon as possible. Dyes and sizings tend to discolour with moisture. Therefore attempting to remove stains with water is not recommended without first testing the silk for colour fastness. It is difficult to remove a concentrated food or beverage stain. Scrubbing or pressing could ruin the fabric.

Protein Stains : These stains include blood, deodorant,egg, meat juices and perspiration. To clear such stains, first detergent should be applied to the garment. Then it should be soaked in cool water and laundered. In case of persistent stains, rubbing a mixture of a few drops of Nh2 with hydrogen peroxide should be tried.

Combination Stains : These stains include chocolate,gravy, ice-cream and milk. First a dry-clean solvent should be applied and then dried. The protein part of the stain supplement can be treated by applying liquid detergent and rinsing with cool water. Then after using a prewash stain remover, the silk should be washed in the hottest water that it can stand.

Nailpolish Stain : This can be treated by rubbing acetone on the area.

Lipstick Stains : First Dry-cleaning fluids and then washing in soap and water can be used to remove lipstick stains.

Grease : These stains are usually caused by oils, butter, margarine, crayon, medicines and oil-based cosmetics. Dabbing on talc immediately will lift the stain. After brushing off the talc, a stain remover can be applied and the silk should be washed in the hottest water that it can stand.

Silkguard : Some manufacturers have developed a protective process using chemicals from 3 M corporation of US, which accidental spills (of tea, coffee, food particles, ketchup, oil, etc.) do not spoil the fabric. This treatment is effected at the yarn stage and hence the permeability of the fabric is not affected.

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