I wash my H silk scarves by hand with baby shampoo. Handwashing also re-plumps up the hems. I learned this on thelaundress.com.
Scarves Cleaning and Caring for Hermès Scarves
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awesome, thanks! Baby shampoo to every rescue! I use it to clean my makeup brushes, too. The interesting thing about baby shampoo is that it wrecks my kids' skin. Good for just about everything else, though (except an actual baby).
This is timely, because I just bought a lovely older scarf on eBay that REEKS of perfume (it's an orange and brown Les Coupes). It's terrible. I happen to despise perfume, but I think anyone would find it unbearable. Just being near it gives me a headache.
After a few days of airing it out did nothing, I washed it in cold water with The Laundress per instructions on this thread (thank you, posters!!). The water turned slightly orange, but no runs onto the white areas. Still smelled terrible. Repeat, still awful.
Since I can't wear it unless I get the smell out, and couldn't resell it in good conscience, I soaked it in cold water and vinegar (I think about 1:3 vinegar to water) for as long as I could stand (only about 3 minutes because I was worried about the colors). Then rinsed in cold, then repeated the process. The smell was better, but still very noticeable. So, I went for broke and washed it in warm soapy water. The water turned really orange, but it was in constant motion for only a moment, and it rinsed clear. I soaked it in cool vinegar water for 15 minutes, swirling every few minutes. Just finished ironing it, and the smell is MUCH MUCH better. Colors like fine - if there's any fading, I can't tell.
The hems are drying now and I hope I didn't just acclimate to the perfume. Even if it still smells, I think I'll be bold about washing my other scarves now, even the older ones.
After a few days of airing it out did nothing, I washed it in cold water with The Laundress per instructions on this thread (thank you, posters!!). The water turned slightly orange, but no runs onto the white areas. Still smelled terrible. Repeat, still awful.
Since I can't wear it unless I get the smell out, and couldn't resell it in good conscience, I soaked it in cold water and vinegar (I think about 1:3 vinegar to water) for as long as I could stand (only about 3 minutes because I was worried about the colors). Then rinsed in cold, then repeated the process. The smell was better, but still very noticeable. So, I went for broke and washed it in warm soapy water. The water turned really orange, but it was in constant motion for only a moment, and it rinsed clear. I soaked it in cool vinegar water for 15 minutes, swirling every few minutes. Just finished ironing it, and the smell is MUCH MUCH better. Colors like fine - if there's any fading, I can't tell.
The hems are drying now and I hope I didn't just acclimate to the perfume. Even if it still smells, I think I'll be bold about washing my other scarves now, even the older ones.
Not at all! I clean everything with vinegar (clothes, floors, mirrors) and the smell never lingers. I did rinse it though, but even if I hadn't I doubt it would smell like vinegar. I washed a few more scarves and gave them all a quick vinegar rinse. They are so bright and clean! It's awesome! Some of the ones I thought were clean left some seriously grim wash water...
Also, I had a very old (70's) Hermes tie belonging to my fiance that was dirty and stained beyond belief. So today I tried washing it in normal soap, but that didn't work, so I went for broke and soaked it in warm water with oxiclean. A LOT of blue dye came out, but it rinsed okay. Then when I went to iron it, it was clear that the dyes were unstable and the blue was running everywhere (fortunately I had only ironed a little of the back). I soaked it in cool vinegar water, and that seemed to reset the dye. It ironed up nicely and is CLEAN! Now I guess I'll just put it away and wait for skinny ties to come back...
Not at all! I clean everything with vinegar (clothes, floors, mirrors) and the smell never lingers. I did rinse it though, but even if I hadn't I doubt it would smell like vinegar. I washed a few more scarves and gave them all a quick vinegar rinse. They are so bright and clean! It's awesome! Some of the ones I thought were clean left some seriously grim wash water...
Also, I had a very old (70's) Hermes tie belonging to my fiance that was dirty and stained beyond belief. So today I tried washing it in normal soap, but that didn't work, so I went for broke and soaked it in warm water with oxiclean. A LOT of blue dye came out, but it rinsed okay. Then when I went to iron it, it was clear that the dyes were unstable and the blue was running everywhere (fortunately I had only ironed a little of the back). I soaked it in cool vinegar water, and that seemed to reset the dye. It ironed up nicely and is CLEAN! Now I guess I'll just put it away and wait for skinny ties to come back...
I happy to hear your tie washing went well, I've always wondered if that was possible. I always use a color catcher (Shout is the brand) when washing my scarves just in case a scarf bleeds dye.
It did! You just have to try not to twist the interfacing while you're washing and wrestle with it to smooth it back out for ironing. I might not do it with a precious one.
I always thought dry-cleaning was the best option, but you make me change my mind.
I feel bad that I found this thread too late: 2 weeks ago, I found a stain on a scarf, brought it to the dry-cleaner, and they couldnt remove it, but they did iron it anyway
I guess now its too late.
Its not too late however for my mousseline! Im going to buy some woolite tomorrow.
I feel bad that I found this thread too late: 2 weeks ago, I found a stain on a scarf, brought it to the dry-cleaner, and they couldnt remove it, but they did iron it anyway
I guess now its too late.Its not too late however for my mousseline! Im going to buy some woolite tomorrow.
Does anybody know of a good dry cleaners that won't flatten my H scarf hems in the Calabasas/Westlake Village area?
I'm in desperate need of one but am now considering to handwash my scarves by hand with the laundress silk detergent.
Ughhh! Don't know what to do.
I'm in desperate need of one but am now considering to handwash my scarves by hand with the laundress silk detergent.
Ughhh! Don't know what to do.
I haven't tried moussies or CSGMs but I have handwashed both my 90s & 140 summer twills. Our veteran scarve-wearer,Lanit, taught me how & I have never looked back. There is always risks with dry-cleaners but risk-free when u handwash them yourself!
I even took my handwashed CSGM back to H for a side-by-side comparison & even the SA couldn't find any difference between the two.
Thanks to you all for all your tips on handwashing twills and the CSGMs. I have about 20 of them in total that I will slowly (call it my spring weekend project) handwash with TLC.
Hi.Not at all! I clean everything with vinegar (clothes, floors, mirrors) and the smell never lingers. I did rinse it though, but even if I hadn't I doubt it would smell like vinegar. I washed a few more scarves and gave them all a quick vinegar rinse. They are so bright and clean! It's awesome! Some of the ones I thought were clean left some seriously grim wash water...
Also, I had a very old (70's) Hermes tie belonging to my fiance that was dirty and stained beyond belief. So today I tried washing it in normal soap, but that didn't work, so I went for broke and soaked it in warm water with oxiclean. A LOT of blue dye came out, but it rinsed okay. Then when I went to iron it, it was clear that the dyes were unstable and the blue was running everywhere (fortunately I had only ironed a little of the back). I soaked it in cool vinegar water, and that seemed to reset the dye. It ironed up nicely and is CLEAN! Now I guess I'll just put it away and wait for skinny ties to come back...
Next time you try cleaning ties I suggest after the gentle wash that leaves the linings and interface in position you roll the tie up in a towel and stand on it to absorb as much water as possible and then using a hair dryer blow up the tie to dry it from the inside out.
You may not even need to touch it up with a iron. If you do need to do so keep the weight off the tie so you do not crease the edges. That's a big a no no for ties as it is for the hems of our scarves ; -)
Funny I was just speaking with an SA in my local boutique about washing vs. dry cleaning scarves. She said to bring in any scarves I want cleaned and that they would send them to Tie Crafters in Manhattan. I'd actually heard about them and that is where Hermes sends their scarves and ties to be cleaned. They have a website so you can actually just send them there yourself. I also know that Madame Paulette's in Manhattan is excellent with Hermes scarves and have personal experience with them being top drawer in handling expensive clothing. I'd let either of them dry clean my scarves in a heart beat. They both have websites and do mail order cleaning.
I've been washing my silks by hand with just baby shampoo. I have extremely sensitive skin and because my silks are always wrapped around my neck (the most sensitive part of my body) the chemicals used during dry cleaning are just too harsh.
I purchased an extra plastic kitty litter box that I use only for my H scarves. In the kitchen sink I fill it with ice cold water and a little bit of baby shampoo. I vigorously swish the scarf around and then rinse 2 or 3 times.
Then I squeeze out the water (I do not twist) and roll up in a clean towel. The scarf dries very quickly. In about 30 minutes, I iron out the wrinkles by placing a white pillow case over the scarf to protect it from the iron, making sure I stay away from the hem.
I even iron back the folds.
Voila!
When you have upwards of 20 scarves, it's just not cost-effective to dry clean them. The only dry cleaners in my area that I would trust with an Hermes scarf charges $35 per scarf.