How to Take Care of Your Thai Silk Fabrics
Thai silk is a natural protein fiber very similar to human hair. Please remember this when you think about how to wash or clean your Thai silk fabric.
Washing Your Thai Silk Fabrics at Home
Thai silk fabrics require care to make sure that the fabric does not shrink, tear or lose its sheen, or tear. If you want to wash your Thai silk at home then do so with care but be aware that if the fabrics are marked “dry clean only” then you should NOT hand wash them.
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Washing methods are especially important. In the past people used coconut milk to wash silk but it is now more common to use dry cleaning or soft alkaline soap. Using a few drops of baby oil during washing will preserve the Thai silk’s luster and make ironing easier. As an alternative you can also use a hair shampoo containing protein and cool water for hand-washing.
Test Before Washing
Before washing your Thai silk do a sample test first to see if the dye bleeds. Sample test with a soft cloth or cotton ball using cool water and a mild soap. Select a part of the garment which is not normally seen. If the cotton ball shows any signs of dye stain then dry clean the Thai silk fabric. In addition, dry clean your garment if the Thai silk fabric shows a loss of its sheen.
To best way to wash your Thai silk is firstly to lightly brush the fabric to loosen and remove any dirt. Then, soak it for a few minutes with a gentle soap – make sure you never leave your Thai silk to soak any longer than this. Do not use detergent, which can make the silk shrink. Constantly swirl the Thai silk in the soaking water, and carefully remove any stain areas in the garment.
Rinsing Your Thai Silk Fabrics
Once the Thai silk fabric item is clean then rinse it in 2 or 3 changes of clean water to completely remove any soap. If your Thai silk is white and you are worried about the color turning yellow then try adding 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into the rinse water. You will then need to rinse one more time in plain water after using the vinegar rinse.
After rinsing your Thai silk garment lay it out on a towel and roll it up to absorb any excess water. Never wring Thai silk as this will tear the fibers and cause the fabric to wrinkle.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Then lay the Thai silk garment out to dry, making sure when you do this that it is out of direct sunlight which can harm the fibers.
Note: To reduce the chances of staining wash your Thai silk regularly.
Take Good Care and Create a Family Heirloom
If well looked after, your Thai silk fabric will stay beautiful for many years and in fact could last you for a lifetime. With its durable qualities, if well cared for, your Thai silk fabric will even be able to be passed down through the generations. 
Iron your Thai silk when still damp at cotton temperature. If you cannot iron right away, you may wrap the Thai silk fabric in plastic and store it in the refrigerator. Iron within 48 hours and the result will be perfect!
For dark coloured silk we suggest you use dry cleaning or very careful hand-washing. Again, do not soak the silk and make sure you rinse well. You could add a little fabric softener to the final rinse. However, if all this sounds too difficult and you decide you want to use a dry cleaner, then make sure the cleaner you are considering has experience with these types of fabrics.
