Looking after your saree
How to Wash and Care for a Silk Saree
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Silk is a protein fibre — strong when dry, fragile when wet. Kanchipuram, Banarasi, Mysore Silk and Patola sarees all share the same core rules, even though the weaves themselves differ.
Washing
Dry-clean your pure silk sarees for the first few washes to preserve the zari and the sheen. If you choose to hand-wash at home later, use cold water and a capful of mild, pH-neutral liquid detergent — never an enzyme-based or biological detergent, since those are formulated to digest protein, which is exactly what silk fibre is. Submerge the saree gently; do not rub or wring it. Rinse twice in cold water.
Drying and ironing
Roll the saree in a clean cotton towel to absorb excess moisture, then hang it on a wide rod in shade — never in direct sun, which fades and weakens silk. Never tumble-dry, and never iron while the saree is still fully wet. Iron on the reverse side at a low, silk-appropriate setting with a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric.
Storage
Store silk sarees in a breathable muslin or cotton cover, never in airtight plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mildew. Refold along a different crease line every few months so the same fold line doesn't weaken permanently. For heavily worked pieces, interleave acid-free tissue between folds so zari doesn't catch on the silk beside it.
Stains
Act immediately: blot, never rub, with a clean dry cloth. For a water-based stain, blot and let the saree air-dry before taking it to a professional cleaner — silk stains are easy to set permanently with the wrong home remedy. Describe the stain type to your dry-cleaner rather than attempting to treat it yourself.
Questions
When in doubt, consult a professional dry-cleaner who specialises in sarees and delicate Indian textiles. A small investment in professional care protects a much larger investment in the piece itself.