Fast fashion may be the flavor of the day, but there’s something sacred about unfolding a silk saree passed on from your mother or grandmother. In those days, women chose fabrics and clothing with the intention of passing it on. Things were designed to last. And they took pride in maintaining their beautiful silks and zaris too. If you’ve been blessed with silk sarees from your mother, here are eight tips to help you maintain them in all their glory so that someday your daughter can enjoy them too!
1) Store it right
Store your silk sarees in separate muslin bags. This allows the silk to breathe. If the sarees have zari work, the covers will ensure that they don’t darken(from oxidation) due to exposure to air or tangle with embroidery on other sarees. Don’t forget to store your silk sarees in a cool dark place (like a wooden trunk or cupboard) and far away from sunlight so that the colors don’t fade.
2) Fold and refold
Don’t leave your folded silk sarees in the cupboard. Preferably, refold them every three months so that they don’t tear at the fold lines.
3) Use hangers
The less folds your saree has, the better. Therefore, hang your silk sarees on hangers so that they stay wrinkle-free.
4) Dry clean
Silk sarees can be cleaned using mild detergents. However, they’re quite delicate and therefore cannot be scrubbed and wrung dry like other fabrics. The ideal thing would be to air them out after use and send them to the dry cleaners.
5) Iron carefully
Always iron your silk sarees at medium heat.
6) Dry carefully
The vibrant colors on silk sarees can fade with constant exposure to the sun. Therefore make sure that they are dried or aired out in the shade or in the early morning sunlight.
7) Keep bugs away
Use naphthalene balls to keep silverfish away. However, don’t place them directly between your saree folds. Alternatively, place it between the muslin bags containing your sarees. It’d be better if you can use dry neem leaves instead of mothballs.
8) No room for moisture
Put those silica gel sachets that come with your shoes to good use. Place them in your silk saree storage to absorb excess moisture. Also, air them out every six months.
Now go ahead and pack your mother’s silk sarees right! And if you want to shop for more, do check out Soch’s extensive saree selection online
