Brora silk blouse - to handwash or not...

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I recently bought a silk blouse from Brora in the sale, that I'd had my eye on for a while.

Only realised after wearing that it says dry clean only...

I usually handwash (or cold delicate machine wash) anything silk, but this is a bit more expensive than anything else I have!

It's 100% silk. Would you risk handwashing it, or would you just suck up the cost of dry cleaning?

I’ve hand washed them! They have been ok. I’ve also done the hand wash cycle in the machine on them.

on the whole, I usually wear a t shirt under and try and air them so that they’re not getting washed lots

There’s advice on washing silk using Brora cashmere shampoo here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/3085072-Silk-blouse-Machine-gentle-wash-or-dry-clean

purplenights · 12/11/2017 20:26
I wash all my silk and cashmere in Brora cashmere shampoo, it's a really mild hand wash that doesn't damage the delicate fibres. Easy peasy - two capfuls in lukewarm water, swoosh around and add the garment. Leave for 5 mins (go and have a cuppa) and when you return, lift the garment out, squeeze gently and rinse. I roll my silk shirts/sweaters in a towel and leave in a warm place overnight before laying them flat to dry out properly.

In general, all the cashmere/wool/silk makers will say the less you wash them the better - that’s why there are so many delicate item refresh sprays popping up.

Quick hand wash, swish around in just warm water, I wouldn’t soak it. Dry flat on a towel.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I always wear t shirts under my jumpers, good idea to do that under this blouse as well.

I think I may as well risk it. I'd probably end up not really wearing it very much if I had to get it dry cleaned, so if it does get ruined then c'est la vie.

I take risks! Not only would I not send it to the dry cleaners, I really don't think the chemicals or the motion of their machines is good for delicates, I would risk the washing machine on a delicates wash at 30 degrees.

I also machine wash silk blouses on delicates inside a laundry bag.

Use woolite or the hand washing laundry liquid from Tesco to wash this. I ruined a silk blouse by washing it bio liquid for clothes.

I always wash silk tops in the delicates wash at 30, and low spin cycle. I use a delicates laundry liquid, then hang up to dry on a clothes hanger, or dry flat over a towel. I've never had a problem. Silk is quite resillient, the main problem seems to be the colours running, e.g., if it has white and red stripes or similar.

I have washed silk blouses marked as dry clean only and they were fine. Use tepid water, very gentle hand wash with specialist soap or baby shampoo.

In general, all the cashmere/wool/silk makers will say the less you wash them the better - that’s why there are so many delicate item refresh sprays popping up.

Agreed.I don't wash silk or cashmere or wool or even cotton dresses after every wear. I've got several items from Palava and they recommend wearing a vest or slip underneath and airing garments.

I wash mine in the machine, I have a Miele machine with a good silk cycle.
I put in a colour catcher for the first.
For hand washing silk, the water must be cool, small amount of silk friendly detergent, then just gently push the blouse down through the water a few times, don’t scrub or rub. Do the same to rinse. A small splash of white vinegar in the last rinse is good for silk. Blot dry between two towels.