How to Care For Delicate Fabrics at Home

Delicate fabrics like silk, wool, velvet and lace need special care to maintain their appearance and durability. If washed improperly, they may stretch, snag or shrink.

The best way to keep your delicates safe is to read the care label. Look for symbols like a hand (hand-wash) or a tub with dots (gentle machine wash). Also, play it safe by sticking to cool water.

Hand-washing

Hand-washing is a vital health care skill that prevents pathogen spread and decreases infection risk. Washing and drying hands properly is important for all staff members, whether they interact directly with patients or not. Johns Hopkins Medicine reminds staff of the importance of good hand hygiene by posting signs and educating them.

Delicate fabrics, like silk ties, velvet jackets and lacy bras, require special handling to help maintain shape, color and appearance. When these delicates are washed improperly, they can shrink, fade, stretch and lose their beauty.

Laundry experts advise that the care label is an essential guide when washing delicates, and it’s a good idea to start by sorting fabrics by color. Mixing cashmere with lace, wool sweaters with polyester and other fabrics may cause colors to run and garments to shrink or stretch. Sorting by fabric will also help ensure that your fabrics don’t snag and scratch each other.

Start with cold or warm water, depending on the fabric’s care instructions. Add detergent, but don’t overdo it. Too much can result in lots of bubbles, which requires a lot of rinsing. Then submerge the fabrics and gently swish them around in the water. Don’t rub or scrub. Rough handling stretches and damages delicate fibers, so it’s best to agitate the fabrics by swirling them, not rubbing or scrubbing them.

Rinse and drain the fabrics carefully, then press them between clean towels to absorb excess moisture. Don’t twist or wring to dry, as this can distort the shape and weaken fibers. When the fabric is dry, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open any exit doors. Avoid recontaminating your hands by touching any sink surfaces (sink handles, the exit door handle, etc).

For machine-washing sturdier delicates, like fine knits and some synthetic blends, always use a mesh laundry bag to shield them from tangling, snagging and stretching. The bag also protects against zippers and metal closures, which can snag and damage delicate fabrics. Using a mesh laundry bag is also recommended when laundering wool or silk, as these fabrics are more prone to shrinking and stretching.

Machine-washing

The washing machine is a great way to quickly and efficiently clean everyday fabrics like cotton and linen. But delicates, like silk, wool and lace, require special care in order to retain their shape, color, and quality. From lingerie to cashmere sweaters, the right method of washing can help these fabrics last longer and look better.

When in doubt, follow the care label on the item of clothing or textile. A care label will tell you if the fabric is safe for washing, as well as what temperature of water and what spin cycle to use. It will also provide any other helpful tips or warnings, like “dry clean only,” which indicates that the item needs to be taken to a professional cleaner to prevent damage.

If a care label allows for washing by machine, always use a mesh laundry bag to protect the garment from snags and tears caused by rough washer parts or other items in your load. It will also keep delicates from getting tangled or stretched in the machine, especially if you put them in the dryer with other items after washing.

Use a cold or lukewarm water setting, and choose the delicate wash cycle with the lowest spin speed. A gentle or delicate wash cycle is designed to have less agitation and shorter than a regular cycle, which reduces the risk of damage to fine fabrics.

After washing, gently reshape the garment and lay it flat to dry. Never hang a wet delicate in a closet or on a clothesline, as this can stretch the fibers and cause them to lose their shape. Instead, let it air dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat.

In addition to being safer for your delicates, hand-washing helps the environment by reducing the amount of detergent and chemicals that enter sewer systems and waterways. It is also less likely to dislodge microplastics, tiny plastic fibers that drain into the environment and are believed to be contributing to a number of environmental problems.

Drying

Delicate fabrics are lightweight, finely woven and supple, making them susceptible to shrinking or stretching if washed incorrectly. You’ll typically find them in luxury clothing, lingerie and soft accessories. Fine natural fibers, such as silk, wool and cashmere, also fall into this category. So do fabrics with a light or airy weave, such as lace and chiffon.

Getting a good wash starts with choosing the right washing method for your delicates, and this is usually based on what the care label suggests. Look for symbols like a hand (hand-wash only) or a tub with dots (gentle machine wash) to determine the safest washing method for your items.

If a fabric is labeled dry clean only, skip the tumble dryer altogether—even on a low heat setting, the tumbling action can cause shrinkage, stretching and color fade in delicate materials. Instead, lay the item flat on a towel to air-dry. If you must hang delicates, use a padded hanger with wide hooks to prevent stretch.

Always reshape your delicates after washing and before laying them to dry—this helps maintain their shape and prevents creasing and stretching. When drying, avoid direct sunlight since the sun can fade colors and weaken delicate fibers over time.

To protect your delicates in storage, choose breathable fabric garment bags and boxes that allow air to circulate. Plastic storage bins trap moisture, which can lead to mildew and fabric damage. If you must store your delicates in plastic containers, be sure to flip the garments halfway through the process to ensure both sides get fully dried. Never store wet delicates in the same spot where they were stored before washing—contact with rough furniture or other items can snag or pull fragile fabrics.

Storage

Whether in silk, cashmere, or wool, delicate fabrics add luxury and beauty to your home and wardrobe. These materials are more sensitive to washing, handling, and storage than everyday textiles and require special care to keep them looking beautiful. While you may be able to machine wash some delicates, many garments will need to be hand washed or taken to the dry cleaner. This guide to caring for delicate fabrics outlines the best methods for cleaning, drying, and storing your fine garments at home.

Sorting Matters

Before you begin washing your delicate fabric clothing, make sure to sort them according to color and fabric type. This will help you avoid accidentally bleeding dark colors into light or snagging fragile items on rough furniture, walls, or zippers. It will also help you avoid fading, which is caused by exposure to sunlight and certain detergents.

When you are ready to wash your delicate fabrics, make sure to use a mesh laundry bag in your washing machine and a cold water cycle to prevent color loss and agitation. You should also choose a gentle or delicate soap to minimize damage, especially for embroidered, beaded, or otherwise embellished fabrics.

After washing your delicates, you should air dry them and fold them neatly. Avoid stacking them or putting them in a drawer, as this will cause them to crush and lose their shape. If you do hang them, use padded hangers to avoid the shoulder bumps and stretching that can occur with wire or plastic hangers. For folded items, pad them with white acid-free tissue paper (available at art supply stores) to minimize creases.