A Silk Scarf Adds Flair!

A gorgeous silk scarf is an investment that you will want to wear for decades. In fact, fine silk scarves may cost hundreds of dollars. Vintage and art pieces can reach the thousands or more. Your wardrobe may include vintage silk Hermès scarves—with their hand-rolled and hand-stitched hems and motifs ranging from equestrian to ancient maps, Gucci’s men’s scarves like the tassel, and chain print silk scarf, a collage print silk scarf from Salvator Ferragamo, or other designer pieces. Regardless, the scarves only last if you take care of them properly.

Caring For Your Silk Scarf

Clean silk scarves worn close to the face or around a bare neck should frequently than items worn away from the face or neck. If you have a favorite silk scarf you wear weekly, dry clean it at least once a month to eliminate dead skin cells, smudged cosmetics, or food particles.

Most silk scarves include care labels that recommend the scarf be dry-cleaned or dry clean only. Take this directive seriously. Taking them to a cleaner like Flair keeps scarves looking their best and protects them from harsh chemicals and unprofessional cleaning methods.

Using a professional cleaner ensures that you will avoid simple mistakes like these that have costly results:

1. Stains. Different stains require different types of treatment. For example, we treat a coffee stain that contains milk as a protein stain. Flair’s experts will pre-treat makeup, oil, and food stains on the scarf before cleaning, using the best treatment for each type of stain.
2. Proper handling. Home treatments often require rubbing the cleaning solution into the scarf and squeezing or ringing it to rinse. This can break the silk fibers, cause the scarf to lose its shape, and dull the finish.
3. Harsh cleaning solutions like bleach or even “gentle” detergents may damage the delicate fibers and colors.
4. Wringing or rolling the scarf to remove moisture can introduce wrinkles and stretch the piece out of shape.
5. If scarves are not dried properly and evenly, they get watermarks or stains where one part of the fabric dries faster than the rest. Dryers – even on the air setting – will remove the glossy sheen.
6. Scarves that are mishandled during washing and may end up with a dull, scratchy, stiff finish.

If you do choose to wash them at home, always hand-wash them. Never clean silk scarves in a washer, even on gentle, or you risk permanent damage. Never use a dryer and avoid ironing.

Storing Silk Scarves

Always store a silk scarf in a dry place. Be sure the scarf is completely clean before storing. Use lavender-filled sachets to repel insects that can attack the natural silk fiber. Use non-acid tissue paper to soften the folds of a scarf and prevent severe creases, which can break fibers.

A silk scarf is often the finishing touch that completes an outfit, adds flair, and gives the wearer panache, but only if they receive the proper care. Isn’t it best to protect your investment and bring your silk scarves to Flair?