Product Description. Woolite® Delicates laundry detergent is a gentle washing liquid, specially formulated to take care of your delicate garments in the wash.It can be used for machine washing in the gentle cycle, or for hand washing delicate fabrics such as silk and wool.
Woolite Delicates Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent is the best detergent for silk! Not only does this formula protect fabric fibers from damage due to over-washing, but it also contains no harsh ingredients that could cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
Whitehurst recommends using a mild shampoo, like Ivory, or gentle detergent, like Woolite. Place the garment in the water, give it a stir, and let it sit for just a few minutes. "Silk releases dirt quickly, so the process doesn't take long," he says. Next, drain the soapy mix and rinse with cool, running water.
The promise: Woolite Delicates is one of the original products in this category and a household name. It can be used for hand or machine washing in the gentle cycle on fabrics like silk and wool.
What types of clothes can I wash with Woolite®? All Woolite® products are liquid detergents and are specially formulated for the machine to not cause shrinking, stretching, or fading on washable suede, linen, cotton, washable wool, silk, rayon, polyester, cotton/polyester, nylon, nylon/spandex and rayon/spandex.
A good alternative is a non alkaline soap or even baby shampoo! Do not soak. Wash your silk gently through the soapy water for a just a few minutes. Rinsing can take a bit of time, but adding a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the water is recommended as it neutralizes alkali traces.
The detergent you use must not have protease, enzymes, alcohol, bleach, or any alkalines in it: these will dissolve silk and any other protein-based natural fabric, such as wool. So when clothing directions say to use a gentle detergent, they mean a detergent without those ingredients.
Use gentle laundry detergent like Woolite. Only use cold water. Machine wash on the delicate or gentle cycle or hand wash. Use white vinegar instead of fabric softener.
*For best results, use a little less than two teaspoons (9.5 mL) of Dawn® Platinum in a top-loading washing machine—be sure not to use too much, and don't use on delicate fabrics like silk. Spot test with a small drop in a less visible area to make sure the material will not be damaged.
This means that heavy-duty detergents meant for cotton or synthetic fibers just simply won't do. “To increase the longevity of your silk garments, we recommend handwashing them in cold water with a quarter teaspoon of gentle organic detergent and fabric softener for no more than five minutes,” offers Kes.
Use a detergent for delicates. Studio by Tide Delicates Liquid Laundry Detergent has been specifically designed to take care of silk. Check for colorfastness. Some silk garments may bleed in the wash, so test a damp area by dabbing with a wet, white cloth to see if any color leaks onto it.
Hand wash silk clothes in cold water
Fill a clean sink or small tub with lukewarm water and a small amount of delicate-friendly liquid detergent. Lightly agitate for three to five minutes and rinse well. If the care label advises machine washing, choose a gentle, cold-water cycle.
Pop your item in the washing machine – we recommend placing any silk items inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase to avoid snags or damage caused by the drum. Select a cool, delicate cycle (do not set the wash temperature to any higher than 30°C).
I often hand wash my silk pillowcase because it is small and easy to dry. Using gentle silk friendly detergent such as Le Blanc Silk and Lingerie Wash or Woolite will help remove residue and stain. But if you don't have any silk friendly detergents, you can also use your hair shampoo.
Too much or the wrong detergent can make silk rough. Be sure to use a non-alkaline detergent. Adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the first rinse helps to work as a natural fabric softener.
Myth: Silk Blouses are Dry Clean Only.
The right way: Fill a clean sink with lukewarm or cold water and a small amount of delicates-friendly liquid detergent, like Tide Free & Gentle Liquid. Lightly agitate for three to five minutes, rinse well, and dry flat. Get more tips on How to Wash Silk here.
Although there are many brands available, we recommend and use ourselves Ecover's Wool & Silk Laundry liquid. It's eco-friendly, gentle on the skin and cruelty free. Try to avoid using fabric softener or conditioner as this can compromise the quality of your silk.
Yes, you can. The safest way to clean your 100% silk item is to turn the garment inside out, and hand wash it with a few drops of Ariel Matic Liquid Detergent in a sink or washbasin filled with cold water. Next, gently agitate the item using your hands, then let it soak for a little while.
Q: Is this ph neutral? A: Woolite Extra Delicates Laundry Detergent formula has a pH range from 7.5 to 8.5.
Don't put silk items in the dryer. Heat can damage delicate silk fibers. If the dryer is absolutely necessary to use only 'air' setting for 15 minutes or less with NO fabric sheets or dryer balls. Remove sheets before completely dry.
The first thing you need to know about how to dry silk pillowcases is that you should never put them in the dryer. The high heat of a dryer — even on a low setting — will destroy the silk's fiber.
Half a cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse water will help silk keep its sheen as well as kill odor causing bacterias. Lay your silk on a towel and roll the towel up, almost like you're making a silk-towel-sushi roll. This will remove excess water before you lay the items flat to air dry.
Even if you are hand washing your silks are per the instructions, if you are using a detergent, they can become stiff. Using a castile soap like Dr Bronner's instead can help a lot. Even after air drying, though, your silk may still be a bit stiff. However, using castile soap will make the silk soften up a lot quicker.
While it is entirely possible to machine wash silk, it isn't recommended. Being such a delicate fabric, silk doesn't tend to get along well with the constant turning motion of the machine drum. Silk should be handled with care, and throwing it in a washing machine can often be a little too rough.