Don't miss: Survival Guide

How Do I Dry Silk Shirts?

Jul 8, 2011 / By Brittney Horwitz

post comment

Pin It

Save your pennies by washing and drying your silk yourself.

Photo: Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images

Wearing a silk shirt feels nice and luxurious; seeing your dry cleaning bill after cleaning said shirt doesn't feel so nice. You might or might not have cringed at the price of the shirt in the first place, but had you realized how much extra it would cost in dry cleaning, the price would be enough to make you pass out. Luckily for all thrifty wallet-watchers, it is possible to wash a silk shirt at home for a fraction of the cleaner's price. When it comes to drying, avoid your standard dryer and do the job in the way that silk deserves.

Hand wash your silk shirt in the sink with a gentle shampoo or detergent made specifically for silk.

Rinse in cold, clean water until the soap bubbles have disappeared from the shirt, taking care to resist the urge to wring. Wringing can damage the delicate silk.

Remove the shirt from the sink and place on a clean, dry towel.

Roll up the shirt inside the towel like you would roll a jellyroll and leave overnight to dry.

Remove the shirt from the towel and place flat on an ironing board.

Iron until fully dry and smooth on a low, delicate setting.

1.Towel

2.Iron and ironing board

Avoid the dryer at all costs unless you want your shirt to be two sizes too small when you finish -- a hardy incentive to lose weight, but not so practical.