Silk is one of the most fragile materials a person can have in their wardrobe.
It feels great on the skin but that is only when you are taking good care of it.
Unfortunately, there might be a scenario where you accidentally washed silk and it’s time to figure out what to do next.
If you accidentally washed silk, it’s best to immediately remove it from the washer. Next, use an iron on low heat to dry the silk. Avoid putting it in the dryer as it will tear. Once done, let it continue to air-dry for a few hours.
If the silk was not damaged in the washer, using an iron set on low heating should get the job done.
It simply depends on what is in front of you and how roughly the silk was washed in the washer.
If you are dealing with this type of situation at home, it is time to figure out what you should be doing if you accidentally washed silk.
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Steps To Consider If You Accidentally Washed Silk
1. Remove From The Washer
You will want to put an end to this as soon as you can.
If the silk is already in the washing machine, it will have gone through the cycle. It might have already been damaged but the only way to find out is to take the silk out.
This is going to let you see whether or not the silk is in good shape.
Remove the silk from the washing machine and begin inspecting it for tears. You will want to turn it inside and out to see how it is doing from all ends.
If you are convinced the material is still in good shape then you can begin working on removing moisture from the material.
2. Use Iron On Low Heat To Dry The Silk
So, how are you going to dry the silk in front of you?
The best option is to use an iron on low heat because it will dry the silk instantly. You are not going to have to worry about the silk tumbling inside a dryer or getting damaged using any other heating method.
Irons are good as long as you are not aggressive with the heating.
Just set it on the lowest heating setting and then begin to iron the silk carefully. If you are patient during this part of the process, the silk is going to turn out the way you want it to.
3. Let The Silk Air-Dry
It is still not time to start using the material again.
You are going to want to continue to work on the moisture in the fabric. This is going to take a bit of time and the best option is to let the silk air-dry.
You will want to ensure the silk has a chance to get as dry as it needs to be to become secure.
For the most part, air-drying the silk is enough to get the job done.
It will remove any remaining moisture in the fabric and will ensure it looks the way you want it to.
Continue to inspect the fabric when you are assessing how it is doing and whether or not you need to wait longer.
4. Check The Silk From Inside And Out
You will want to take the time to inspect the silk during the drying phase.
A lot of people don’t do this and that damages the fabric when they begin to wear it later. Do not take the risk of doing this as you are going to put in so much effort and then the silk will fall apart on you.
It is best to make sure the moisture is gone and continue to see how it is doing as time goes on.
When you are certain it is as dry as you want it to be, this is when you can attempt to put it on.
Final Thoughts
These are the most important steps if you accidentally washed silk at home.
If you accidentally washed silk, take out the fabric from the washing machine instantly. Now, set an iron on its lowest heating setting and use it to dry the silk. After you are done, set the silk aside and let it air-dry for a few hours.
At this point, you should have removed all of the moisture in the silk from the washing.
This is when you can begin to reuse the silk and put it on as you would in any other situation.
Please note that if the silk is damaged, you might not be able to save it.
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