The one rule: never wash silk in water
Silk is a protein fibre. When it contacts water, the fibres swell unevenly and contract as they dry — dulling the sheen permanently and distorting the weave. Zari threads tarnish on contact with water. The damage from washing a silk saree at home is usually irreversible.
Dry cleaning is the only correct method for all silk sarees — Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Tussar, Chanderi, Jamdani and Mysore silk alike.
Cleaning: what professional dry cleaning does
At The Swiss Laundry, every silk saree goes through a six-step process: inspection and tagging, individual stain pre-treatment, solvent cleaning cycle (temperature and agitation set for silk), post-spotting, steam pressing at 110°C with no direct contact, and final inspection. The solvent dissolves oils and particulates without water contact — the silk emerges clean, sheen intact, weave undisturbed.
Stains: what to do immediately
The rule for any stain on silk: do not rub, do not wet, do not apply anything. Rubbing spreads the stain into the fibre. Water on silk creates a permanent watermark. Bring the saree to a dry cleaner as soon as possible and tell them what the stain is and when it occurred. Fresh stains are treatable. Stains left for weeks may not be.
Storage: the five rules
- Dry clean before storing — never store an unwashed saree
- Wrap in undyed cotton muslin — never plastic
- Store flat or loosely rolled — vary the fold lines each year
- Use cedar or dried neem near (not touching) the saree — not naphthalene
- Store in a cool, dark, dry location — away from sunlight and damp
In Kolkata, the monsoon months (June–September) are the highest-risk storage period. Silk protein fibres absorb atmospheric moisture — a saree stored in a humid room will develop mould and odour within weeks. Silica gel desiccant packets in the storage box, replaced monthly during monsoon, significantly reduce this risk.
Pressing: 110°C maximum, no direct contact
Never press silk directly with a domestic iron. The heat concentration point creates permanent shine marks even at the correct temperature. Press from the reverse side through a muslin pressing cloth. Better: bring it to a professional. At The Swiss Laundry, all silk sarees are pressed with boiler steam at exactly 110°C, never touching the silk surface.
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