How to iron silk correctly: expert advice

Natural silk is one of the most expensive and beautiful types of fabric. It is very delicate, and therefore the question arises - how to iron silk without causing harm to it? In this article we will tell you how to take care of such delicate material, we will describe in detail the methods of ironing and the features of caring for silk items.

How to iron silk

Various types of silk materials are used in clothing production today. How the fabric will withstand ironing depends on the composition and quality of the fibers. Therefore, before you pick up the iron, you need to carefully read the recommendations on the label.

It is best to prevent clothes from becoming wrinkled from the beginning: do not leave them crumpled, straighten them immediately after washing, and do not press them down in the closet with other things. And, of course, you need to know how to properly iron silk products.

Features of drying silk

In this process, it is also necessary to adhere to certain conditions. Recommendations for drying silk products are as follows:

Fold the product in several layers.
Press gently on both sides with your hands.
Place a terry towel on a horizontal surface.
Place a silk item on it - the towel will absorb any remaining moisture.
Place the item to dry.

Note:

Blouses, dresses and skirts made of this material are hung on hangers so that they do not stretch. Never twist or stretch silk!

Vertical steaming

Items with folds, complex cuts or large sizes are best not ironed, but treated with steam. Movements should be fast and uniform. At the same time, you should not focus the steam on one place for too long. Otherwise, water stains will appear on it, and the item will have to be washed.

Silk steaming process:

place clothes on hangers, hang them on a hook or bar;
straighten out all the details and folds;
attach the attachment for delicate fabrics to the steamer;
test steam in an inconspicuous area;
From a distance of 6-7 cm, process the product, moving from top to bottom.

Leave the ironed product to “rest” for several hours. It is not recommended to put it on immediately to prevent the silk from becoming wrinkled again.

How to avoid wrinkles?

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

Wash

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. 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.

Hot bath for silk

To iron complex-style clothes, you need professional equipment. At home, it will be replaced by hot steam treatment. A small silk item can be ironed using a kettle:

hang clothes in a well-lit place;
boil the kettle;
Treat bruises with hot steam from the spout.

If the method does not work, then you need to hang the item over the bathroom, close the door and hood, and turn on the hot water. Make sure that splashes do not get on clothes. When the bath is full, close the tap. Keep clothes above water until wrinkles disappear. If necessary, drain the cooled water and add hot water. Leave ironed clothes on a hanger until completely dry.

Badges on clothing labels

Before ironing any item, you need to read the label. It is on the wrong side. There, the manufacturer usually recommends what mode to iron this fabric.

It is forbidden to iron fabric if a device is drawn, crossed out by two lines.

Irons have three operating modes. The manufacturer indicates one of these modes on the item or linen tag. One point is graphically indicated - heating the device to 110 °C is allowed, two - up to 150 °C, three - 200 °C.

If there is no ironing instruction on the label:

the iron is set to minimum heat;
turn the item inside out;
trying to smooth out an inconspicuous area;
If the result is successful, iron the fabric completely.

Steam generator

If you have a steam generator, then it is better to iron the silk with it than with an iron. Even if the latter has a vertical steam function. The steam generator has a gentler effect on delicate tissue and, accordingly, does not injure the fibers. In addition, when treated with hot steam, the slightest dirt disappears and allergen particles remaining on clothing are destroyed.

To iron silk clothes, you need to:

fill the steam generator tank with water;
turn on the “silk” mode;
process clothes.

Before work, you need to make sure that the steam generator does not leave wet marks on clothes. To do this, iron a spare scrap or similar fabric. If water stains remain, adjust the device so that when ironing you do not ruin your expensive item.

Setting the iron mode

Silk mode must be set. If it is absent, the temperature is set to 120 °C or a division is established between o and “Wool”. If the fabric is thick or ironing is done through gauze, the iron may be a little hotter.

To prevent damage to the material, you need to check the heated sole on the edge of the underside. If the selected area becomes wrinkled or “broken,” the temperature needs to be reduced. Another option is to use gauze.

Wash

Silk products can be washed in a machine at the appropriate setting (up to 30 ° C), but it is better to wash them by hand. If liquid detergents are used, they must be diluted well in water.

It is recommended to first dissolve the powder in a small amount of water until the grains completely disappear, and then add it to a basin or machine. Natural silk also washes well with mild hair shampoo, baby soap or baby powder.

Note! It is prohibited to bleach silk with bleach, since the structure of the fibers is destroyed after treatment. The material quickly becomes unusable.

When washing, do not rub, twist or pull the fabric too much. In addition, silk items should not be soaked for a long time - a maximum of 10 minutes. It is better to dry silk clothes in a shaded place, away from radiators and other heat sources.

Features of silk fabric

Silk is one of the oldest textile fibers and was used in China more than 4,500 years ago. Natural silk consists of fibers woven by silkworms. Silkworm caterpillars, turning into chrysalises, are entwined with silk, from which fibers are obtained. They are used to make scarves, dresses, bed linen and other clothing items. To keep silk always soft, smooth and durable, you need to follow some basic rules when washing, ironing and storing it.

Silk items are washed by hand in cool water with hand and delicate items added. This way you will maintain the softness and original color of the silk.

It is necessary to place a piece of silk fabric in a bowl of cold water, add the required amount of detergent, and allow the product to dry.
After which you should rinse it thoroughly and drain the water without twisting it.

Never wring out silk clothing to get rid of excess water, as this may damage the item. If necessary, blot it with a clean, absorbent towel.

Do not under any circumstances use a clothes dryer on silk clothes. This type of fabric should be allowed to air dry. And if possible, avoid using hooks to hang silk clothes, as this will inevitably leave a mark on the fabric.

Spin

Silk items do not tolerate intensive twisting or line drying. Do not hang out immediately after washing. The structure of natural fibers is destroyed, which leads to deformation and rapid wear of products.

After washing, clothes should be wrapped in a towel or cotton fabric and blotted. Replace absorbent material. Spread a dry towel, lay the product on it, first straightening out the parts and folds, and leave for a while. Hang the dried item on hangers.

Choosing a method for natural material

The elasticity and softness of natural leather help preserve the appearance of the item. But if folded or compressed for a long time, leather clothing can easily become wrinkled.

There are several ways to restore the shape and beautiful appearance of such things:

Using household appliances.
Using traditional methods.
Using purchased household chemicals.
By letting things sag under their own weight for several days. But this option may not help with severe wrinkles in rough skin.

When starting ironing, it is important to make sure that the item is clean. Preliminarily check the pockets, remove all foreign objects from them

The choice of smoothing method depends on personal preference, the quality of the leather and the condition of the item.

Ironing

It is recommended to iron the products while damp. If the item is very dry, then before ironing clothes made of natural silk, it must be moistened.

You should absolutely not spray silk items with a spray bottle, otherwise water marks will remain.

The product must be wrapped in a damp (not wet!) towel or sheet. Place the package in a plastic bag and close it tightly. Leave for a couple of hours. During this time, the silk will dampen well, making it easier to iron. The method will not work if it is “overcooked” in too hot water during washing.

Products made from dark material must be processed from the inside out, light items from the front side.
Acetate silk does not tolerate high temperatures and strong pressure. It is recommended to iron with dampness through cotton fabric.
Lining fabrics are processed from the wrong side.
Fabrics made from raw silk should be ironed with a dampened hot iron on the reverse side.
Artificial silk items are ironed at moderate temperatures. For severe creases, use a moderately heated iron.

What can I do to prevent silk from wrinkles?

For traditional starch, use a teaspoon or tablespoon of starch per liter of water. To prevent dark fabric from wrinkles, use a gelatin solution; It is also recommended for silk and viscose.

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Useful tips for caring for silk

Before ironing, you need to make sure there are no stains. If there are any, then it is better to entrust complex stains to dry cleaning. The rest can be dealt with with home remedies:

traces of sweat disappear if you wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
white material will not turn yellow for a long time if vinegar (hydrogen peroxide, ammonia) is added to the last rinse.
A paste of water and crushed aspirin tablets will help whiten stains.

To prevent iron marks from appearing when ironing, you need to use the “silk” mode. The soleplate of the iron must be clean, free of carbon deposits and stuck particles. A special cleaning pencil or a paste of soda and water (1:2) will help clean the surface. It is applied for a few minutes, then removed, and the sole is wiped.

If severe bruises remain after washing, then before ironing, you need to soak the clothes for several minutes in water with glycerin (25 ml of product per 5 liters). Afterwards, carefully pat dry with a towel and dry flat on a soft surface. This method is suitable for natural and acetate silk.

Things to consider

Silk fabric is delicate and needs to be ironed under special conditions. If the products are made of high-quality material, they do not wrinkle at all and therefore do not need to be ironed. Usually, expensive accessories are made from such high-quality fabrics - neckerchiefs, scarves, blouses, dresses. In order for the products to have an aesthetic appearance, it is enough to dry them after washing in a straightened form, laying them out on a perfectly flat surface.

If you have silk items, check out the useful recommendations from experts on how to iron natural silk:

You should start the ironing process without waiting for the product to dry completely. Experts do not recommend ironing dry fabric by sprinkling it with water, as drops can leave behind stains and stains. You should also not allow the item to dry out, otherwise it will become rough and hard, and it will not be easy to smooth it out.
Place a clean cotton cloth on the ironing board for ironing.
Set the iron to a low temperature, which is used for ironing fabrics containing silk fiber. Modern devices are equipped with the “Silk” temperature mode. If this mode is not available, set the temperature between o and “Wool”, it will be no more than 150 degrees. This is the optimal temperature for ironing silk.
If you are not sure of the correct temperature setting, carefully move the heated iron in an inconspicuous place. The corner of the product from the wrong side is suitable for this.
It is not recommended to iron natural material using the steam mode. Since under the influence of hot steam the product may become deformed and lose its color.
Items made of natural silk should be ironed from the wrong side or from the front, but through dry gauze or thin cotton fabric.
When ironing, the iron should be moved smoothly over the surface of the fabric. It is important not to stay in one area for too long, otherwise you risk burning expensive material.
Sometimes it happens that the product has dried unevenly; in hard-to-reach places and in the seam area, the fabric may be wet at the time of ironing. In this case, a metallic sheen may appear on the material. Only repeated hand washing and drying naturally will help correct the situation.

To make silk fabric easy to iron, it is important to wash silk items correctly:

products made from 100% natural silk can only be washed by hand washing;
for washing you should use special soft products intended for delicate items;
the water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees;
It is also important to wring out the washed item carefully; you can lightly wring it out with your hands and hang it up so that the water drains off on its own.

With such actions, after drying, there will be no traces of wrinkles and creases on the fabric, which are often difficult to remove even when ironing silk.

Please note: There is such a variety of this smooth material as “wild silk”, or tussah. It differs in that it has an unusual weave of fibers. It needs to be ironed differently - only dry and on the reverse side. The iron must be set to the lowest temperature setting.

What things should not be ironed?

But not all things can be ironed. Some products and fabrics cannot be ironed or steamed:

polyester - manufacturers often prohibit ironing it, but if necessary, you can iron the fabric through the fabric at a minimum temperature (not higher than 110 degrees);
polyamide is a type of polyester, the hot processing method is the same, but the iron temperature should not exceed 110 degrees;
nylon is dried on special forms or hangers;
terry sheets, towels, and bathrobes lose their softness when ironed;
products that have grease, coffee and other stains.

What to do with an item that needs ironing if there is a “Do not iron” icon on the label, indicating that ironing is contraindicated for the fabric? Products made from delicate materials are indeed very capricious, and contact with the hot iron platform almost always leads to scorching and deformation. Therefore, it is better to wash such products by turning on the mode for delicate fabrics, and dry them on special forms or hangers.

If the material still needs to be ironed, then the item, previously turned inside out, is placed on the pillow. Then place slightly moistened gauze or other thin fabric on top, and barely touch the iron, set to the lowest possible temperature, smooth the product.

How to tidy up cotton and linen items

Almost no one has a question at what temperature to iron cotton or linen: you need to set the maximum value on the relay and you can start working. But the fabric, unassuming at first glance, is quite difficult to smooth out, always remaining slightly wrinkled. How to avoid this effect?

It is important to know: steaming is the only way to properly iron a cotton or linen product.

It is equally important to set the temperature correctly:

100% cotton should be ironed at a temperature of 150 to 200 degrees, with powerful steaming or spraying water with a spray bottle;
cotton is diluted with polyester - in this case, the ironing temperature is no more than 110 degrees, the amount of steam and water is limited to a minimum;
The material contains cotton and linen threads - the relay is set to 180-200 degrees, and the item is generously moistened with water.

Linen can only be exposed to very high temperatures - up to 230 degrees. The product is ironed from the front side, so you must be careful not to burn the item.

Ironing temperature for fabrics – what should you consider?

At what temperature should you iron cotton and other fabrics? Today you can find smart equipment on sale that has many different functions, greatly simplifying the ironing process. You just need to set the desired mode according to the type of fabric and the iron will set the temperature itself. But in any case, you need to be careful - even if you lose vigilance for a short time when ironing clothes, the housewife can ruin a beautiful new thing.

But, in addition to following the instructions included with the iron, you need to pay attention to the ironing marks on the clothes. The characteristics of modern fabrics are almost impossible to determine by touch: without looking at the label, you can confuse cotton with synthetics. Fabric with the addition of synthetic threads, ironed with an iron whose temperature is set to work with a cotton item, will be hopelessly damaged.

Good to know
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Chiffon is a very delicate material that requires the most careful handling. That is why we decided to tell you how to iron chiffon so as not to burn or spoil the fabric.

Types and properties

The raw material for the production of natural silk is fiber obtained from the cocoons of silkworm caterpillars.

To produce a cocoon, the caterpillar secretes a special secretion consisting of amino acids. Some glands secrete jelly-like protein threads, others secrete a special protein called sericin, which allows these threads to bind to each other and harden in air. Hence the name for the industrial cultivation of such caterpillars - sericultivation. Next, the cocoons are heated, the outer shell dissolves, the fibers are combined and twisted into threads.

satin and satin - dense materials, shiny on one side, soft, smooth and draping well;
crepe is a material made from high-twist threads, rough, very dense;
organza is very thin, smooth, translucent. Differs in rigidity;
chiffon - soft, very thin, easy to drape;
gas is a thin, light and transparent material. Does not shine, holds its shape well;
taffeta is a tough but flexible dense fabric;
velvet is dense, has a pile on the front side.

The positive qualities of all types of natural silk are strength and wear resistance (for crepe and denser fabrics, with proper use, the service life can be twenty or more years), environmental friendliness, hygroscopicity, low thermal conductivity, and breathability. They also do not accumulate static electricity and have antibacterial properties.

The disadvantage is a high degree of creasing (except for crepe ones) and instability to ultraviolet radiation.

Silk fabrics are used for the production and finishing of elegant and evening women's dresses and suits, wedding dresses, casual elegant blouses, men's ties, stoles and scarves, expensive bed linen, negligees, and home clothes.