Practical recommendations on how to iron silk correctly and not damage it

Natural silk began to be produced in ancient China. The entire process was manual.

Only noble and rich people could afford clothes made from such fabric. Over time, the secret of fabric production became known in Japan, India, Korea, and then throughout the world.

To ensure that silk items always look beautiful and neat, you need to properly care for them. This fabric requires not only delicate washing, but also ironing. How to iron silk without ruining its appearance?

How to iron silk items?

Some housewives do not dare to iron silk products. Modern models have a special mode for ironing silk.

Ironing Features iron silk fabrics:

1. The item should be slightly damp, this will make it easier to straighten out all the folds.
2. The dried fabric should be lightly sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
3. Then carefully fold and place in a plastic bag without access to air. This will help moisture absorb into the fibers.
4. After this, the item is turned inside out and laid out on a completely flat surface.
5. The iron is set to a maximum temperature of 120 °C.

In this case, the temperature can be increased slightly. Cotton fabric is also placed under a silk item.

Natural

This natural material is very delicate, so when processing you should take into account some nuances:

1. Do not steam the fabric.As a result, the fibers become brittle, delaminate, and the item quickly wears out and loses its attractive appearance. The color of the fabric is also distorted.
2. Do not iron natural silk completely wet. When in contact with the hot surface of the iron, the material loses its softness.

   A metallic sheen appears near the seams, which can only be removed by re-wetting the item and placing it in the dryer.

3. A very hot iron leaves unsightly yellow marks on silk. It's quite difficult to get them out.

   The most gentle remedy is considered to be baking soda with water (the ingredients are taken in equal proportions). The resulting slurry is carefully applied to the stain and wait until it dries completely. The fabric is then cleaned with a soft brush.

4. White silk clothes do not need to be turned inside out. It is best to iron it from the front side, and the less often this is done, the better.
5. Before ironing, you should turn off the steam function and make sure that water does not automatically leak onto the fabric.

Artificial

First you need to study the information on the label. Care of the fabric depends on its composition. In some cases, they resort only to dry cleaning, in others, they use an iron, but at a low temperature.

But in any case, you must adhere to the following restrictions:

1. Do not pre-soak clothes. After ironing, obvious stains will remain on the surface.
2. Overdried fabric becomes hard and rough.
3. It is most convenient to steam items made of synthetic silk. They are hung vertically and covered with gauze. The optimal distance between the fabric and the steamer is at least 6 cm.
4. Clothes made from silk acetate are dried only naturally. It is carefully laid out on a flat horizontal surface.

Alternative methods

There are several alternatives to ironing. Most often this is:

• steam generator;
• hot bath or shower;
• kettle.

Steam generator

This device not only effectively smoothes out wrinkles on fabric, but also removes minor dirt.

It is compact, lasts longer than conventional irons and is used for care of delicate fabrics. The steam generator is easy to use.

To iron an item you need:

• water is poured into a special reservoir;
• after that you need to switch to the mode for steaming silk;
• Iron the fabric using even movements.

Hot bath or shower

This method is a replacement for a steam generator and is suitable for clothes with a non-standard cut.

The process of such ironing includes the following stages:

• the item of clothing must be hung on a trempel and secured in the bathroom on a clothesline;
• after that, open the hot water tap (the pressure should be intense) and close the door tightly;
• In just a few minutes the room will be filled with steam and all the folds will straighten out.

Kettle

Another simple home way to quickly tidy up a silk item. It is enough to boil the kettle and hold the crumpled areas over the neck or spout for a few seconds, from which steam comes out.

This method is absolutely safe and 100% effective.. With its help you can cope with even the most difficult creases. It is simply impossible to ruin the fabric in this way.

If you don’t have a special steamer, you can use an iron with a steam function. Hang your clothes on a hanger near the outlet so that you can move the iron freely.

Turn on the steaming mode and, moving the device at a distance of 10 -15 cm from the product, thoroughly treat it with steam.

How to avoid wrinkles?

To make the fabric wrinkle less, you need to follow some care rules:

1. Wash. You can use an automatic machine (mode for delicate fabrics) or do it manually (at a water temperature no higher than + 30 degrees).

   It is not recommended to use powder; it is replaced with liquid products that are thoroughly diluted with water. Another taboo is bleach. Chlorine quickly corrodes delicate fibers.

2. Spin. Silk should not be twisted. The washed item is hung on hangers and gently rubbed over it with both palms to allow excess water to drain.

   Until the product dries completely, place it on a thick towel, which will absorb the remaining moisture, and then return it to the trempel. On the clothesline, the fabric will stretch and wrinkles will form.

If you couldn't avoid creases

In this case, the folk method will help:

• 25 ml of glycerin are dissolved in 5 liters of water;
• a silk product is placed in a container, then, without squeezing, hang it up and wait until it dries naturally;
• then the item must be ironed using one of the above methods.

This method is suitable for both natural and synthetic fabrics.

Conclusion

Clothes and accessories made of silk look stylish and expensive. Thanks to its unique colors and prints, as well as amazing iridescence, this fabric never goes out of style.

By following simple rules when ironing silk items, you can preserve their original appearance for a long time., and the fabric will remain soft and will not lose its unique shine.