Scarves Cleaning and Caring for Hermès Scarves

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#151
I am just beginning to dream about Hermes scarves, but I'd just like to say that I've washed my Ferragamo silk scarves with excellent results. I used a very mild facial cleanser called "Cetaphil" by Galderma, because of it's neutral ph. It got some oily spots out (90% anyway). I followed the same procedure that Doreenjoy and others have mentioned.

It was scary, but worth it. I really don't like to dry clean stuff.
 
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#152
Hello - yet another handwashing question.

I'm looking at an older scarf with a good amount of black (in designs, etc) and a cream background. The cream and white areas have yellowed a bit with age - would handwashing or dry cleaning do best at perking it up? I am a bit afraid to hand wash (which I do all the time) only because of the issue of black running onto the pale field (and since this is not a last decade scarf I understand the older ones run more).


I'm off to search for those color guards in any case - even if I don't use the color catcher sheets in this wash I'm sure I'll use them in something. Thinking my supermarket cleaning product aisle has them.

Thank you!!
 
#153
In my experience (not with scarves!), dry cleaning fluid tends to yellow whites and creams badly over the years. I've had many a white/ivory silk blouse that I have eventually had to hand-wash in order to get out all that old dry cleaning solution. It always brightened the blouses tremendously -all that old, dingy yellow was gone with the solution.
 
#154
If anyone is looking for an Hermes-sensitive dry cleaner in the UK I'd recommend Granada Cleaners on Bridge Street in Manchester. I've sent lots of scarves there repeatedly and the results have been excellent - plump hems & brilliant colours. The first time I wore my brilliant pink Caparacons I managed to get common or garden dirt, chocolate cake and biro on the scarf ( all on the same day - I am ashamed!) and it came back pristine. The old chap who runs the place loves the scarves and likes to talk about them as collectors pieces.

However, and I blame myself for this, as I live some way away, some stains can lie in the scarves untreated for a while and I do have one scarf with a dirty patch on the white. This scarf has been dry cleaned - will any of the handwashing tips still be effective after that dry cleaning or will the dry cleaning irredeemably fix the stain in the fabric? I only seem to have a problem with white and now avoid that colour in new scarves.
 
#155
I no longer wear lipgloss when wearing my scarves. The wind ALWAYS blows a scarf end against my lips, and I have to run to the dishwashing liquid and spot clean it. I too wanted that lovely white Hermes Vif Argent scarf, but you cannot wear any lipstick whatsoever!
 
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#156
Les Tambours - Thanks for the tip on the cleaners in Manchester - 60 miles away for me but still good to know of one that respects our Hermes scarves! Personally so far I have always washed mine but there will come a day when a dry clean is required.
Sorry I can't help on your question as I have no experience of this problem.

Kiko 2700 - good advice! That or tie the scarf tight so it can't flap!
 
#157
I'm a scarf washer and have been for a long time. I abhor the smell of dry cleaning chemicals.
I use Perwoll black magic in cold water in a white dishpan, swish for 3-5 minutes never letting the scarf sit, rinse 5-7 times in fresh cold water (that's how many rinses I used to do when washing glassware in the lab in my graduate student days eons ago, so the number's stuck in my head) roll between two large white towels, fold while still damp and then dry on my Aga cooker. This last step allows me to avoid the iron entirely and the scarf appears ironed, with folds "ironed" in but not too terribly sharp - so no strain on the fabric. If I did not have an Aga, I probably would not iron the folds in.
 
#158
Hi SpecialK12,

I fold my scarves when damp, after washing, too - anything to avoid ironing!

I don't hand wash (again, avoiding actual work!) but the wool cycle on my Miele washer is exceptionally gentle.

I remove the scarves before the spin cycle, sopping wet, and continue the same way you do. (Unfortunately, minus the Aga...)

SpecialK12 said:
I'm a scarf washer and have been for a long time. I abhor the smell of dry cleaning chemicals.
I use Perwoll black magic in cold water in a white dishpan, swish for 3-5 minutes never letting the scarf sit, rinse 5-7 times in fresh cold water (that's how many rinses I used to do when washing glassware in the lab in my graduate student days eons ago, so the number's stuck in my head) roll between two large white towels, fold while still damp and then dry on my Aga cooker. This last step allows me to avoid the iron entirely and the scarf appears ironed, with folds "ironed" in but not too terribly sharp - so no strain on the fabric. If I did not have an Aga, I probably would not iron the folds in.
Click to expand...
 
#159
You are all giving me courage! Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK so I'll sterilise the sink and set to on my troublesome scarf with your advice and tlc. I used to wash silk shirts all the time. Need a couple of white towels though...........going shopping!

Scarf Addict - I went to Granada because the ladies in the Hermes shop on King Street told me that they took thiers there and - apart from this problem with the white which I had before I knew of this cleaners - it's all been good. Beware if you come into Manchester though that they only open till 1pm on a Saturday.
 
#161
So excited! I've been reading this thread and plotting, because I'd bought an older Bois du Boulogne and thought it might need washing. That scarf has a lot of black in it (silhouetted figures) and I was afraid that the heavy black on an older scarf might run.

It arrived last night - STINKING of some mixture of cig smoke, old clothes/perfume and maybe body odor. That "estate sale" smell of old clothes, old dirty things, and things shut up in drawers and closets for decades. No way I was going to put it in my scarf drawer or into its own baggie with that stink.

Didn't have time to buy color catchers but I do have gentle, bleach and color free detergent so I ran the scarf down to the basement wash area and washed it according to the directions on this board. Had to do it twice to eliminate the odors but now she's clean, sweet smelling and pretty much lovely.

The heavy black from the silhouettes did NOT run. I might have one blotch of minor color transfer that I can attack with boiling water, but I'm so relieved - was very afraid of that heavy dark dye bleeding.

There is a spot of something "crusty" on the scarf that survived the washes - I may need to attack it again, but I'm so pleased that I could wash it and take away the odors and that it survived - afraid that dry cleaning would have faded it.

Thank you for the great advice on this board!
 
#162
markova said:
Hi SpecialK12,

I fold my scarves when damp, after washing, too - anything to avoid ironing!

I don't hand wash (again, avoiding actual work!) but the wool cycle on my Miele washer is exceptionally gentle.

I remove the scarves before the spin cycle, sopping wet, and continue the same way you do. (Unfortunately, minus the Aga...)
Click to expand...

Markova - I think I love my Aga as much as my H.
I'll have to try the wool cycle on my Miele washer. Never thought of that.
Hmmmm....
 
#163
I have always used mild hair shampoo. The protein that is added to hair shampoo works wonderfully to lift stains. I also add salt to the water to help keep the colors from running.
Madame Paulette in NYC is also excellent and highly recommended (and easily found on Google). Dry lying flat. When the scarf is 98% dry, use a pressing cloth and iron.
 
#164
^^ I iron mine wet, no pressing cloth. If I wait until they're too dry, I get wrinkles and water spots.

YMMV.

scratchycat, I'm glad you had good success washing your vintage find! You might try Woolite OxyDeep spray for the gunk that's left on the scarf. I spray with OxyDeep and let the scarf sit (spread out or hung so there's no risk of color transfer) for 15 minutes before washing.
 
#165
I would be careful with OxyDeep. As far as I know it contains hydrogen peroxide, and even in a very weak solution, you would be risking color-fading.

My rule of thumb is: If you wouldn't bathe a baby in it, don't use it on your H scarves!

Even with Woolite, I use just a smidgen - far less than the recommended amount.

doreenjoy said:
^^ I iron mine wet, no pressing cloth. If I wait until they're too dry, I get wrinkles and water spots.

YMMV.

scratchycat, I'm glad you had good success washing your vintage find! You might try Woolite OxyDeep spray for the gunk that's left on the scarf. I spray with OxyDeep and let the scarf sit (spread out or hung so there's no risk of color transfer) for 15 minutes before washing.
Click to expand...
 
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