Kenzo H&M silk shirts - would you risk machine washing?

[teawamutu]

Hadn't raised the stupid things were dry clean only. Normally I take the view that anything too choosy to withstand a delicates cycle has no place in my wardrobe, but I don't want to condemn them to death after one wearing.

WWYD? It's good thick silk.

Yep I would . Silk cycle on your machine with silk detergent only . Hang straight away and iron whilst slightly damp !

Yes definitely. I wash all silk shirts on a cool delicates wash and cool tumble or dry on a hanger then iron. The main thing is not to put them on a long cycle or a fast tumble.

People were wearing and washing silk long before dry cleaning was invented. Just use the hand wash cycle on your washing machine, with a very slow spin, or even none. Or just hand wash it yourself. It probably doesn't need more than a rinsing out with a gentle detergent.

Wool wash on cold temp, with a special silk/ wool washing liquid absolutely fine.

Its not the machine its the detergent that causes most problems with silk.

Biological detergent can 'eat' the silk so any non bio will do.

Thanks so much, that's what I thought but I lost my nerve (they were expensive and -even more unusually for me - full price). Will invest in a silk detergent today.

I'd follow the good advice you've been given OP but I really just came on to say I recognise your username - that's my home town

You can always hand wash and do a quick delicate spin . You must hang And smooth straight away though to avoid permanent creases .

Aaack just went to do delicates wash (note that the mountains of normal laundry from being away all week has reduced a bit) realised dh has already done it. He'll have used silk wash but not silk detergent I bought. Dammit dammit dammit.

Is it ok? Get it out and hang it up .. if it's still wet and ok re wash it with silk detergent .