Care of Silk Veils by Veils by Bill

Silk veils and other garments hand dyed and styled by Veils by Bill can be cared for by you at home, with a little time and Patience.  The care of fine fabrics is no more difficult or time consuming than regular hair care.   Silk is a protein fiber, like hair.  You should not do anything to silk, you could not do to your hair.

The Procedure for Hand Washing Silk at Home

1)  Fill sink with lukewarm or cool water, 70 - 90 degrees is fine.  Use a natural soap in liquid form, such as Ivory Liquid or castile soap, or a good hair shampoo.
2)  Place the unfolded silk in the water and let it soak for a few minutes.  Then gently agitate the silk by plunging it up and down.
3)  Drain the water out by squeezing, do not wring or twist.  Rinse the silk several times with clean water until there are no soap suds left in the water.   If you are not sure about soap residue, smell the silk.  It should not smell soapy or scented.
4)  After rinsing, remove the silk and hang to dry on a plastic hanger.  If you hang veils on a clothes line, use only plastic line and plastic clothes pins.  Wooden clothes pins will bleed color onto the silk.  Plain wire clothes lines may bleed rust.
5)  DO NOT WRING water out of silk.  Let it drain as easily as possible.  Silk will dry very quickly.
6)  Press silk veils while damp or dampen them with water by spraying lightly.  It prevents static electricity from building up in the veil.  Use a warm iron (Silk Setting, if you have it), just warm enough to work.
 

Machine Washing & Drying Silk

1)  Machine wash silk only if your washing machine has a 'Very Delicate' or 'Hand Wash' setting.  Use only mild natural liquid soap.  Wash in cool water.
2)  Machine dry silk only if your dryer has an 'Air Dry' or 'Delicate' setting.   Do Not Use Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets.  Dryer sheets will stain the silk with spots.
3)   Press silk veils while damp or dampen them with water by spraying lightly.  It prevents static electricity from building up in the veil.  Use a warm iron (Silk Setting, if you have it), just warm enough to work.