Premium fabrics are an investment. A well-made silk blouse or a good wool suit can last decades with the right care — or be ruined in a single wash cycle with the wrong settings.
Silk
Silk is one of the most delicate natural fibres. It loses strength when wet, fades easily, and can waterspot if splashed unevenly. Most silk garments should be dry-cleaned, but lighter silks can be hand-washed carefully.
- Temperature: Always cold — below 30°C
- Detergent: Specialist silk or delicates detergent only — never biological
- Method: Submerge gently, swish for no more than three minutes, rinse twice in cold water
- Drying: Never wring. Roll in a clean white towel to absorb water, then lay flat in the shade
- Ironing: Inside out, lowest silk setting, while slightly damp
Never use fabric softener on silk — it coats the fibres and dulls the natural lustre.
Wool & Cashmere
Wool felts when exposed to heat and agitation — that's how felt is made. Apply the same conditions to your favourite jumper and it will shrink and come out stiff and matted.
- Temperature: Cold and consistent — sudden changes cause felting
- Detergent: Wool-specific or delicates detergent
- Machine: Wool cycle only, with low or zero spin — better yet, hand-wash
- Hand-washing: Submerge and gently press — never rub or wring
- Drying: Lay flat on a clean towel and reshape. Never hang — it stretches under its own weight
- Storage: Fold, never hang. Use cedar balls to deter moths
Linen
Linen is stronger than cotton and becomes softer with every wash, but it creases badly and shrinks if washed too hot.
- Temperature: 40°C for everyday linen; 60°C only for whites that need sanitising
- Spinning: Low spin speed to reduce heavy creasing
- Drying: Line-dry while slightly damp and smooth out by hand
- Ironing: While still slightly damp on a hot setting — linen responds well to a hot iron
When to Go Professional
Heavily structured garments like suits and blazers contain interfacing that can bubble or shrink if home-washed. Designer garments, embellished pieces, and anything labelled "dry clean only" should always go to a professional cleaner. At Hisparadise Clean, we handle delicate and dry-clean garments with the care they deserve.
