Silk fabrics create a luxurious look and become even more popular as we move towards warmer temperatures.

For fans of delicate fabrics such as silk, here are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your garments remain looking floaty, fresh and fabulous.

Wash and care:

• Where time permits, handwash delicate fabrics over the sink or in the shower. If you’re confident your washing machine is gentle enough, place delicate garments into a wash bag and run the washing machine on a delicate cycle.
• After a wash, dry buttoned up shirts and silk garments on a clothes hanger instead of a clothing line to reduce the crinkles. It’s also a good idea to dry in the shade out of direct sunlight to prevent colour fading.

The golden rules for ironing:

• When ironing delicate garments, ensure the ironing board is well-padded.
• Always iron delicate items inside out on a low temperature setting. An iron plate that’s too hot for the garment can result in ruined, burnt fabrics.
• If you’re still feeling nervous about ironing dainty fabrics, lay a light cotton material, such as a pillow case, over the top of the silk, and allow the steam to penetrate more gently. If there’s a tall pile of ironing to do, always begin with lightest fabrics (which use milder temperatures) before moving to the heavy-duty textiles (which require a hotter iron plate).

APPLIANCES

• Steamline Auto Advance Steam Iron
• Swift Steam Garment Steamer
• SteamStation Steam System