Practical advice on how to iron silk properly and not damage it

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

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

In order for silk things to always look beautiful and neat, you need to properly care for them. Such fabrics require not only delicate washing, but also ironing. How can you iron silk without ruining its appearance?

How to iron silk items with an iron?

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

Ironing features silk fabrics by iron:

1. The garment should be slightly damp, so it will be easier to smooth out any wrinkles.
2. Dry fabric should be lightly sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
3. Then fold carefully and place in a plastic bag without air access. This will help the moisture to be absorbed into the fibers.
4. After that, the thing is turned inside out and straightened on an absolutely flat surface.
5. The iron is set to a maximum temperature of 120 ° C.

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

Natural

This natural material is very delicate, therefore, some nuances should be taken into account when processing:

1. Do not steam the fabric. From this, the fibers become brittle, exfoliate, the thing quickly wears out and loses its attractive appearance. The color of the fabric is also distorted.
2. Natural silk must not be ironed completely wet. Upon 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. Unaesthetic yellow marks remain on the silk from a very hot iron. It is rather difficult to deduce them.

   The most gentle remedy is considered to be soda with water (the ingredients are taken in equal proportions). The resulting gruel is carefully applied to the stain and wait for complete drying. 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, and the less often it is done, the better.
5. Before ironing, turn off the steam function and make sure that water does not automatically flow onto the fabric.

Artificial

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

But in any case, it is imperative to adhere to such restrictions:

1. Do not pre-soak clothes. Clear streaks will remain on the surface after ironing.
2. Overdried tissue becomes rough and rough.
3. It is most convenient to steam synthetic silk products. They are hung vertically and covered with gauze. The optimum distance between the fabric and the steamer is at least 6 cm.
4. Clothes made of acetate silk are dried only naturally. It is laid out neatly on a flat horizontal surface.

Alternative ways

There are several alternatives to the iron... Most often these are:

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

Steam generator

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

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

To pet a thing, you need:

• water is poured into a special tank;
• then you need to switch to the mode for steaming silk;
• even movements "iron" the fabric.

Hot bath or shower

This method is a replacement for the steam generator and is suitable for non-standard cut clothing.

The process of such ironing includes the following stages:

• the item of wardrobe must be hung on a trempel and fixed in the bathroom on a clothesline;
• after, open the tap with hot water (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 be straightened.

Kettle

Another simple homemade 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, from which steam comes out, for a few seconds.

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 spoil the fabric in this way.

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

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

How to avoid creases?

To make the fabric less wrinkled, 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 not higher than + 30 degrees).

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

2. Spinning... Silk must not be twisted. The washed item is hung on a hanger and gently passed over it with both palms to allow excess water to drain.

   Until completely dry, the product is placed on a thick towel, which will absorb the remaining moisture, and then returned to the trempel. On the line, the fabric will stretch and wrinkle.

If it was not possible to avoid creases

In this case, the folk way will help:

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

This method is suitable for both natural and synthetic fabrics.

Conclusion

Silk clothes and accessories look stylish and expensive. With its unique colors and prints, as well as amazing iridescence, this fabric never goes out of style.

Observing 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.