Washing a silk dress in the washing machine

[SirChenjins]

I’ve just bought an LK Bennett silk dress in a charity shop - it was part of a very successful haul! Got it home and discovered it’s 100% silk and says dry clean only, which is a complete pita. Should I risk sticking in the machine on the silk cycle with Woolite?

I have a silk setting on my washing machine so would definitely put it in. Wash it in a net bag, and dry flat as soon as the cycle has finished. It should be fine.

I've put all sorts of "dry clean only" in the washing machine, including my wedding dress and they've always turned out fine.

I wouldn't. I would very carefully handwash around the neck and underarms with very gentle soap/ shampoo using cold water.

Hand wash it very carefully with a gentle soap. Don't wring it. Roll it in a towel then dry it flat.

I wouldn't, before I wore it, I would hand wash it. And there's someone else said roller in a towel to dry it and then dry it flat over another towel on an airer. Once I had worn it I would then decide how much I loved it, if I really loved it, I would get it dry cleaned if I wasn't too fussed I'd risk the washing machine!!

Oh gosh - a mixed response. Ok, I think I’ll handwashing it to start with and see how it goes. Really wish I’d thought to check the care instructions. It’s just a multicoloured shift dress that I was planning to wear to work, I usually chuck my work clothes on the machine and forget about them, I never normally buy stuff that’s dry clean only.

I've done it and would do it again, depending on what I paid for it.

Hand wash in cold may be a safer bet.

I’ve got quite a lot of silk and I’ve never dry cleaned anything. I hand wash particularly expensive or delicate silk clothes, and wash other things on a cool, short wash. I’ve never had anything get damaged yet.

I find the silk wash program on my washing machine is a lot less brutal than my own hand washing abilities.

The machine is a lot more patient, allowing the garment to sit still in the water for much longer periods than I can be arsed with, and then moves it very gently without doing anywhere near as much agitating and rubbing compared to my hand washing style. I believe silk is very frail when wet, so must be handled delicately. Not dragged around the bowl, and knuckled in places that strike me as needing a bit more attention.

i hand washed it in cold water - a lot of dye came out so I’m hoping it’s ok. Rolled it in a dry towel and now it’s lying flat on another towel to dry. Keep your fingers crossed for me please!

Fingers crossed ! That’s how I would have washed it too, but @stealthsquirrelnutkin’s explanation of the silk wash on her washer is interesting. I guess the thing is to just swoosh it around in the water and not to scrub.

If you have a silk/delicates or hand wash cycle on your machine I would go for it - make sure it’s set to 30C or lower

I actually use a cold wool cycle with Woolite to wash silk. I figure it has to be super gentle not to agitate and felt the wool. Never had any problems or damage.

I machine wash everything, but my machine (17 year old Miele) has very good gentle settings. If you are hand washing, start with cool water as it’s possible there might be some dye run. If machine washing stick in a colour catcher sheet as that can help mop up any leaching of dye. Use silk safe detergent obvs. Nothing bio as that damages silk. Don’t rub just push the dress down so that the suds go through the dress, then rinse until you would be happy to drink the water.

Hadn’t read this when I posted, silks are prone to dye run, it’s why I prefer my machine with a colour catcher to a hand wash, you might need a second wash to get rid of any bleeding of the print.

How has it survived the hand wash OP? And what a find!

This is a good description.
Silks mustn’t be rubbed or pulled, and woollens mustn’t be agitated too much as that is what causes the felting. You need the garment to be as flat on top of the water as possible, and then you gently press it down with wide hands.
I wash even 150 year old silks.

It’s survived! I tried it on and it fits perfectly, so I’m feeling very chuffed with myself. My charity shop haul netted the LK Bennett silk dress for £19.95, a Coast cardi/shrug thing for £8, a silk and cotton LK Bennett cropped cardi for £6, a Monsoon blouse for £6, a grey jumper from Zara for £4.95 and a really pretty matching wool hat and scarf for £6.50. All in all, a v successful day!

Thanks for all your advice 😊