How to Keep a Silk Dress Quality: Tips for Longevity & Care

I absolutely love wearing silk dresses. The luxurious feel of the fabric, the way it drapes beautifully over my body – silk dresses make me feel special whenever I put one on. 

However, I’ve learned that silk is a delicate fabric that requires some extra care to maintain its beauty and prevent damage.

In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned over the years about keeping my silk dresses in the best possible condition.

My goal is to provide practical tips to help you preserve the quality and extend the lifespan of your own silk garments.

Proper care is key for enjoying these dresses for many years to come!

Why It’s Important to Care for Silk Properly

Silk has unique properties that set it apart from other types of fabric:

• Silk fibers are very fine and lightweight, creating a luxuriously soft and fluid feel.
• The fibers are strong, but can be damaged by excess moisture, heat, sunlight, and harsh handling.
• Silk stains easily and requires gentle cleaning methods.

Following specialized care instructions for silk is essential to prevent:

• Permanent stains
• Loss of vibrancy in colors
• Yellowing over time
• Weakening of fibers that causes tears or rips
• Shrinkage that alters the drape and fit

By caring for silk properly from the start, you’ll be rewarded with years of enjoyment from your silk dresses! The small effort is well worth it.

Hand Washing vs. Dry Cleaning Your Silk Dress

When to Hand Wash

I recommend hand washing for silk dresses that are only lightly soiled.

If you wear it around the house and notice some minor smudges or light perspiration stains, hand washing is perfectly fine.

It’s also suitable for dress that say “Dry Clean Only” but have very small, localized stains that you want to try removing at home first before taking it to the dry cleaners.

When to Dry Clean

For accumulated body oils and odors, or if the dress is heavily soiled with makeup, perfume, or food stains, it’s best to dry clean.

This stronger cleaning process helps dissolve and remove built up grime that would be difficult to handle at home.

Dry cleaning is also recommended if your dress has:

• An elaborate beading, sequin, or embroidery detail that you don’t want to risk damaging by hand washing.
• A full silk lining or structured interior that makes hand washing tricky.
• Specific dry clean only instructions on the fabric care label. When in doubt, defer to the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines.

I learned that dry cleaning silk dresses is often the best option to maintain their quality.

Step-By-Step Guide to Hand Washing Silk

If you decide that hand washing is suitable for your silk dress, follow these steps:

Gather Your Supplies

• Extremely mild liquid detergent or specialty silk wash – Avoid regular laundry detergent!
• Large sink or basin for washing – A bathtub also works.
• Clean towel
• Garment rack for drying

Mix Your Silk Wash Solution

• Fill your sink/basin with lukewarm water. Test the temperature to ensure it feels gentle and lukewarm, not hot.
• Add a small amount of your mild detergent, about 1-2 tsp.
• Gently swish the water to dissolve and evenly distribute the detergent.

Soak the Silk Dress

• Submerge your silk dress fully in the wash solution.
• Let it soak for 3-5 minutes so the detergent can penetrate the fibers.
  • For localized stains, use a soft cloth to gently blot and soak the area prior to the full soak. This helps loosen up the stain.
• Do NOT rub, twist, scrub, or aggressively agitate the dress during washing – this can damage the delicate silk fibers.

Rinse Thoroughly

• Drain the water and refill your sink/basin with cool, clean water for rinsing.
• Rinse the dress by gently moving it up and down in the water.
• Drain and repeat the rinsing 3-4 times until there are no more suds or soap residue.

Remove Excess Water

• Avoid wringing silk material to remove water, as twisting and bunching can stretch the shape.
• Instead, gently lift, smooth out, and press the dress between two clean towels to blot out moisture.

Air Dry Properly

• Lay the dress flat on top of a towel in an area with good airflow.
• Ensure the dress retains its natural shape while drying.
• Do NOT hang silk items up with clothespins! Let it dry fully before placing back on a hanger.

And you’re done! Follow these tips each time you hand wash your silk dresses to keep them looking beautiful.

Choosing a Gentle Silk Detergent

It’s crucial to avoid regular laundry detergents when washing silk items.

Most contain harsh chemicals, bleaches, brighteners, and enzymes that will damage delicate silk fibers.

Instead, choose an extremely mild liquid soap that is specifically formulated for silk and other fine washables. Here are some great options:

• Heritage Park Laundry Detergent (link to Amazon) – A pH-neutral, concentrated detergent for delicate fabrics, free from sulfates, phosphates, parabens, and dyes. Ideal for silk, cashmere, and wool, it ensures gentle cleaning and preserves softness.
• Soak Wash – This no-rinse wash is made of mild cleaning agents derived from coconut oil. It’s gentle enough for all fine fabrics.
• The Laundress Delicate Wash – A sulfate-free concentrated wash made with plant-based surfactants. It contains a special silk protein to nourish fibers.
• Forever New Wash – Gentle, biodegradable formula safe for silks, cashmere, wool, and other delicates. Leaves no residue.

You can find these specialty silk washes online or sometimes in the laundry aisle at high-end grocery stores.

They are very concentrated, so you only need to use a tiny bit with each wash.

Tips for Spot Cleaning Silk

It’s inevitable that your silk dress will end up with a localized stain now and then that requires some spot cleaning. Here are my best tips for handling stains on silk:

Identify Stain Type

Inspect the stain closely and try to identify what caused it. Knowing what you’re dealing with will help you select the best spot cleaning method.

• Oil-based – Makeup, lotion, food grease often leave oily residue
• Plant-based – Berries, wine, coffee, tea can leave pigmented stains
• Protein-based – Blood, egg, sweat stain yellowish over time

Test Cleaning Solutions

It’s always wise to test any new spot cleaning product on an inconspicuous part of the garment first, like an inner seam.

Silk can be permanently discolored or damaged if you use too harsh of a stain removal method.

Gently Dab Stain

Never aggressively scrub silk fabric to remove a stain! This weakens fibers.

Instead, gently dab the stain using a soft cloth and cleaning solution (see next section for recommendations).

If the stain persists, let the garment fully dry and then take it to be dry cleaned. Forcing a stain often backfires and sets it permanently or causes a water ring effect.

Avoid Wetting Entire Garment

When spot cleaning part of a silk dress, place absorbent cloths or paper towels under and behind the fabric.

This prevents the moisture from spreading and soaking into areas that aren’t stained.

Recommended Spot Cleaners for Silk

Here are the best solutions I’ve found for handling various types of stains on silk without causing damage:

Water-Based Stains

• Fresh wine, coffee, tea stains – Blot immediately then flush underside with cool water. Air dry flat on towels, shape while damp.
• Dried wine stains – Dab with distilled white vinegar followed by cool water rinse.
• Perspiration stains – Dissolve with ammonia, then rinse. (Test first!)

Oil-Based Stains

• Makeup, lotions, food grease – Gently massage in a bit of mild soap like Ivory or baby shampoo. Rinse thoroughly.
• Ink marks – Use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball. Avoid moisture spreading.

Protein-Based Stains

• Chocolate, blood, eggs, sweat – Dab with diluted enzyme detergent like BioKleen Bac-Out. Rinse thoroughly.

Unknown Stains

• For unidentified stains, start by dabbing the area with distilled white vinegar first. If that fails, try a few drops of mild dish soap diluted in water. Rinse immediately.

Always handle silk gently when stain removing. It’s very easy to make things worse if you aren’t cautious!

Best Practices for Drying Silk After Washing

Proper drying is just as crucial as washing when it comes to keeping silk fabric looking beautiful. Here are my top tips:

Always Air Dry

Silk contains delicate protein fibers that are damaged by high heat. Never put silk items in the dryer, even on low settings! You must air dry only.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

The UV rays from sunlight can fade and weaken silk fabric over time. Always dry silk dresses in indirect natural light, like in a shaded room.

Lay Flat Initially

I like to lay my silk dresses flat on top of towels immediately after washing. This allows them to maintain their natural drape and shape as they dry.

Blot Excess Moisture

Leave silk laying flat until no longer dripping wet. Then, gently lift and press between two clean towels to absorb excess moisture. Do NOT twist, wring, or bunch silk fabric.

Use a Drying Rack

Once excess moisture is removed, transfer the silk dress to a drying rack or rod to finish air drying. This allows air to circulate properly.

Smooth & Shape While Damp

Check back while the dress is still slightly damp and use your hands to gently smooth out any wrinkles. Reshape areas like collars or cuffs as needed before the silk dries fully.

Keeping silk dresses wrinkle-free can be a challenge, but proper care helps.

Fully Dry Before Hanging

Silk is very delicate when wet. Never hang dresses up with clothespins or hangers before totally dry or you risk stretching and distorting the shape.

Ironing vs. Steaming Your Silk Dress

Silk requires very gentle heat methods to remove wrinkles or refresh the shape between wears. Here are the pros and cons of ironing vs. steaming:

Ironing Silk Fabric

Temperature Setting

Choose the silk/delicate setting on your iron, or use a lower temp if possible. I set my iron between 250°F – 280°F for silk items. Any higher can scorch the fabric.

Use Press Cloth

Place a lightweight cotton press cloth over the silk dress before ironing. This helps buffer the direct heat. Make sure your cloth doesn’t have dye that could transfer.

Inside Seams First

I like to start by gently pressing the inside seams flat, as this helps the overall garment lay nicely. Then work section-by-section on the outer fabric.

No Steam Function

Avoid using the steam function on your iron which exposes silk to a blast of hot moisture. Stick to dry iron heat only.

Iron Back Side Too

Don’t forget to flip the garment inside out and give the back side of the fabric a quick press too.

Steaming Silk Fabric

Lightly Mist Entire Garment

Hold your steamer 6-10 inches above the silk dress and apply a very light mist across all areas of the garment, similar to spraying perfume. This relaxes wrinkles.

Avoid Directed Steam

Do NOT aim and shoot steam directly at the silk or let the steam head touch the fabric. This can damage silk and leave water marks.

Use Low Heat Setting

Use lower temperature settings on your garment steamer, ideally under 210°F. Higher steam heat increases the risk of shrinking or yellowing silk fabric over time.

Steam Inside Seams & Hems

Gently smooth your hand over the dress as you lightly steam inside seams and folded edges. This helps flatten them.

Refresh Shape with Hands

After steaming the entire dress, use your hands to gently smooth over the fabric, restoring the beautiful drape and shape of the silk garment.

I find that steaming works very nicely for silk dresses and is less risky than ironing. Both methods require great care though to avoid damaging delicate silk fibers!

Storing Silk Dresses: Hanger, Garment Bag & Folding Tips

The way you store your silk dresses between wears plays a big role in keeping the fabric resilient and preventing damage over time. Here are my top storage tips:

Choose Wide, Padded Hangers

Avoid wire, skinny, and plastic hangers – these can dig into silk fabric and cause snags or misshapen shoulders.

Look for wide, gently curved hangers with padding to evenly distribute the weight without stressing delicate fibers.

Some great options:

• Huggable Hangers (ultimate favorite!) – These have a dense velvety flocking that hugs delicate fabrics without putting stress on shoulder seams. The soft grip helps silk garments keep their shape.
• Wooden hangers with silk sleeve attachments – Try to find wooden hangers made of smooth sanded wood rather than rough unfinished types that could snag threads. The shaped silk sleeves prevent sliding.
• Groove Hangers – These have a patented design with shoulder saddles and a waist notch to evenly distribute the weight of dresses and prevent stretching out of shape. The smooth contours are gentle on delicate silk.

I recommend using the same high quality hangers for all your silk dress storage to prevent uneven hanger bumps.

And felt shoulder inserts can be added to any wood or velvet hanger for an extra smooth grip.

The key is keeping the weight of the silk dress supported across the entire shoulder area, not just hanging from skinny neck straps which will stretch and distort the shape over time.

Some other handy accessories for silk dress storage include:

• Hanger clips – these secure loose straps in place on the hanger
• Hanger caps – smooth silicone caps prevent snags from hanger hooks poking through necklines
• Hanger extenders – elongated metal hooks allow more room between dresses

Proper distribution of the garment’s weight takes the stress off delicate silk fibers, maintaining the integrity of the fabric through years of storage.

Use Breathable Garment Bags

Garment bags protect silk dresses from dust, debris, and lighting that can dull the vibrancy of the fabric over time.

Look for lightweight and breathable fabric bags that won’t trap moisture. Clear vinyl bags work nicely as you can view contents easily.

Ensure zippers function smoothly so metal teeth don’t snag threads.

I use garment bags for:

• Off-season silk dress storage to prevent yellowing
• Protecting elaborate embellished dresses
• Keeping a spare dress protected in my car for impromptu occasions
• Transporting dresses when traveling

Fold & Store Short-Term Between Wears

If hanging space is limited or you just wore your silk dress once and plan to wear again soon, you can carefully fold it between wears.

• Turn dress inside-out first to prevent snags
• Close any zippers so metal teeth don’t catch fabric
• Fold along natural seams and pleats
• Lay flat or stand upright in cool, dark closet space
• Refold slightly different each time to avoid permanent creases

You can place acid-free tissue paper between folds to prevent silk layers from sticking together. Just be sure tissue edges don’t peek out where they could catch or stain fabric.

Storing Silk Long-Term? Use Archival Box

For off-season storage, specialized archival storage boxes are best for protecting silk dresses.

These have pH neutral cardboard and tissue that won’t damage delicate fabrics.

Look for boxes with:

• Acid-free, lignin-free materials
• Moisture and light protection
• Tissue paper to wrap items before placing inside
• Option to add silica packs to control humidity

Properly stored this way, high quality silk dresses can remain vibrant and resilient for decades!

What NOT to Do: Silk Care Mistakes to Avoid

It’s just as important to know what NOT to do when caring for treasured silk garments! Here are common mistakes that can lead to permanent damage:

Exposing Silk to Sunlight

Never display or store silk dresses in bright sunlight. The UV exposure causes:

• Fading of vibrant dyes and prints
• Brittleness and dry rot over time
• Weakening of fibers that eventually shred

Keep your silk dress in the dark to retain its color and strength!

Using Harsh Chemical Detergents

As explained earlier, regular laundry detergents and pre-treatments are much too harsh for delicate silk fabric. But also steer clear of:

• Chlorine bleach – corrodes fibers instantly
• Oxygen bleach – leaves yellow stains over time
• Chemical stain removers – often contain damaging solvents
• Oxiclean or other enzyme cleaners – degrades protein-based stains

Stick to specialized silk cleansers only!

Aggressive Handling & Wear

Silk fibers are very strong, but scrunch up and stretch out permanently if handled roughly. Avoid:

• Pulling silk items over head aggressively
• Twisting or wringing wet silk harshly
• Placing silk dress directly on abrasive surfaces
• Piling heavy objects on top of silk fabric
• Letting silk garments drag on the ground

Refreshing & Revitalizing Tired Silk Dresses

What if you have a beloved silk dress that’s looking a little tired from years of wear? Try these simple tricks:

Freshen with Cool Air

Hang the silk dress outdoors in a shaded area on a breezy spring or fall day. The fresh cool air helps revive the fibers.

If weather doesn’t permit, hang indoors near an open window instead. Just make sure to avoid direct sunlight on the silk.

Use Silk Fabric Refreshers

These are formulated to penetrate fibers and surround odors so they can be whisked away. Simply spray onto clean garments between wears to:

• Eliminate odors
• Remove airborne pollutants
• Brighten colors

My two favorite fabric refreshers for silk are Zero Odor and Soak Revive. Use as directed on garment tags.

Maintaining Silk Dress Quality Through Care & Upkeep

Caring for your silk dresses doesn’t end after washing – ongoing maintenance preserves their integrity for years to come. Here are my best tips:

Inspect Regularly

Make a habit of visually inspecting silk dresses before and after each wear for new stains, small holes/snags, loose buttons, and damage to zippers or embellishments. 

Address issues promptly!

Rotate Your Silk Dresses

To prevent over-wearing, make sure to rotate your silk dress collection so no single garment gets worn more than once or twice per season.

This helps them last exponentially longer.

Travel Carefully

If traveling with silk dresses, transport them in a garment bag folded atop your luggage, not crammed inside. Hang promptly upon arrival. Wrinkles can be steamed out carefully.

Practice Preventative Measures

Get in the habit of wearing slip dresses or camisoles under your silk to prevent deodorant stains.

And keep silk dresses covered with a coat when wearing perfume or riding in a taxi to avoid transfer stains.

Conclusion: Enjoy Your Silk Dresses Through Proper Care

I hope these comprehensive tips give you the knowledge and confidence to care for your precious silk dresses properly.

Although silk is a delicate fabric, it can still be enjoyed for many years when handled with care and cleaned using gentle methods.

The small effort involved with specialized washing, drying, spot cleaning, and storage techniques goes a long way towards preserving vibrant colors, resilient fabric, and beautiful drape of your silk garments.

Implementing my best practices outlined here will keep your silk dress collection looking fabulous for many wears to come!

Let me know if you have any other caretaking questions.