Scarves Cleaning and Caring for Hermès Scarves
- Thread starter dianagrace
- Start date
Oh wow such care taken. Thanks for the walkthrough!Reviving this thread!I’d been reluctant to hand wash dip dyes, for fear of rampant dye run!
So, I’m happy to report that I successfully washed my 90cm, Clic Clac dip dye from SS2011, using The Laundress Delicate Wash, without any trouble!
As I usually do with twills, I used two plastic wash basins, initially using one for sudsing, and then placing the scarf into fresh water to begin rinsing. I then transferred from one basin to the other to continue rinsing, refilling with clean water as needed, until the water was clear. In the initial sudsing basin, there was quite a lot of excess dye in the water. But I wasn't really alarmed, as I expected that would be the case because of the dip dye process. I just gently swished the scarf while submerged, and kept it moving. I did not leave it in the soapy water very long. After it was fully rinsed, I gently rolled it in fluffy, white towels, placed on a drying rack, and finally ironed it when dry, avoiding the hems. There were no issues with it prior to washing, it just needed refreshing, so likely easier as I wasn’t dealing with stains. But I'm so pleased to know dip dyes can be as easily cared for as the regular silk twills.
Here are a couple of photos of it happily nestled back in its box!
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I also have washed my vintage silk with The Laundress Delicate. They also make a cashmere soap that I've used on an alpaca blanket and that I'd feel comfortable using on a CSGM.
Thanks for sharing this good infoReviving this thread!
As I usually do with twills, I used two plastic wash basins, initially using one for sudsing, and then placing the scarf into fresh water to begin rinsing. I then transferred from one basin to the other to continue rinsing, refilling with clean water as needed, until the water was clear. In the initial sudsing basin, there was quite a lot of excess dye in the water. But I wasn't really alarmed, as I expected that would be the case because of the dip dye process. I just gently swished the scarf while submerged, and kept it moving. I did not leave it in the soapy water very long. After it was fully rinsed, I gently rolled it in fluffy, white towels, placed on a drying rack, and finally ironed it when dry, avoiding the hems. There were no issues with it prior to washing, it just needed refreshing, so likely easier as I wasn’t dealing with stains. But I'm so pleased to know dip dyes can be as easily cared for as the regular silk twills.
Here are a couple of photos of it happily nestled back in its box!
View attachment 3937524
View attachment 3937525
Washed two pre-loved scarves today with the Laundress and Dr.Beckmann’s colour catching sheets. So pleased with the results! No dye ran! One scarf had a particularly stubborn stain so went over it using a Q-tip dipped in micellar water from Bioderma and it completely removed it! Thanks to all for the washing tips!
I’ve never removed care labels before but I’d probably try something smaller like curved nail scissors
Has anyone used the French hand-washing soap Genie? It smells great, v gentle and and works well for lightly cleaning silk scarves or silk/cashmere blends. If you’ve used it before let us know your thoughts! I’m so hesitant on sending silk scarves to the dry cleaner!
I think I'm having a sur-teint crise!
I think DDs behave completely differently than normal silk twills.
I have the 'silver' DD La Danse du Cheval Marwari and it had a few marks from make-up sometime last Summer. I thought that by hand-washing it as per-normal eventually the stains would come out (as in = twill-normal, tepid temp/hand-wash/Ecover = perfect). 5 washes later, well, the same stains look worse to me.
I figured H throw these in the washing machine to achieve these DD. One of the worst things that can happen to normal silk is to get that washed-silk effect whereas DDs already are that way. Maybe they lose a protective layer from the process and have the ability to get dirtier quicker and the stain attaches more strongly itself to the 'fuzzier' fibres (granted mine is a light colour so everything shows). I sort of wish I'd washed it again and again straight away last Summer.
All base make-up is basically oil-water emulsion plus colour. The type I use is tinted moisturiser by Nars, and which should come out with even the gentlest wash, never a problem before.
After consulting the finest dry cleaner on the planet, my MIL. Not just any MIL mind (though that may be credentials enough) this particular MIL also happens to be the former owner-operator of a chain of specialist German dry cleaners until retirement. She said that contemporary machine wash on a delicate setting at a cool temp cannot hurt and I can always send to the cleaners H used if it doesn't work. So, on her word, I just threw caution to the wind (well kind of, I put it in a non-bleached natural laundry bag first so it won't catch) and stuck it on 20/silk wash in the machine (no dryer) right this minute. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I think DDs behave completely differently than normal silk twills.
I have the 'silver' DD La Danse du Cheval Marwari and it had a few marks from make-up sometime last Summer. I thought that by hand-washing it as per-normal eventually the stains would come out (as in = twill-normal, tepid temp/hand-wash/Ecover = perfect). 5 washes later, well, the same stains look worse to me.
I figured H throw these in the washing machine to achieve these DD. One of the worst things that can happen to normal silk is to get that washed-silk effect whereas DDs already are that way. Maybe they lose a protective layer from the process and have the ability to get dirtier quicker and the stain attaches more strongly itself to the 'fuzzier' fibres (granted mine is a light colour so everything shows). I sort of wish I'd washed it again and again straight away last Summer.
All base make-up is basically oil-water emulsion plus colour. The type I use is tinted moisturiser by Nars, and which should come out with even the gentlest wash, never a problem before.
After consulting the finest dry cleaner on the planet, my MIL. Not just any MIL mind (though that may be credentials enough) this particular MIL also happens to be the former owner-operator of a chain of specialist German dry cleaners until retirement. She said that contemporary machine wash on a delicate setting at a cool temp cannot hurt and I can always send to the cleaners H used if it doesn't work. So, on her word, I just threw caution to the wind (well kind of, I put it in a non-bleached natural laundry bag first so it won't catch) and stuck it on 20/silk wash in the machine (no dryer) right this minute. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I will be waiting with bated breath for your results!
I think a factory surteint dip dye is a different weave silk , not a std twill imho, and it probably receives something other than the std 90cm twill sizing
A 90cm Hermesmatic is of course just a twill , it is washed to remove the factory applied sizing as best as possible , and then not resized after dying
In either case, one or more acid baths are used to fix the colors
So, all in all, the silk is laid bare by either process, allowing more more stuff - makeup - to adhere to the fibers - the good news is that the dip dyed ones have a muddy look that hides spots
You're right.
This DD is very pale and non-muddy hence the panic but still the DD does magically blur.
The good news is the stains are far fainter but the bad, not altogether gone. No point in showing you pics as I forgot the 'before' and the stains now don't really show on camera. IRL they look like the faintest creases (if you were really looking) although there are no creases. The really good news is the scarf is not harmed in any way by the cool machine wash and certainly looks better overall. Whether I'll repeat the machine wash or even use a stain remover I'll think very hard about (and consult MIL).
Try a stain remover and spot treat , rub it in at spot, then rinse the spot only
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I don't think I will be able to sleep until I know how it went!!!