Silk odors may be removed with hand washing.
Silk is a delicate fabric that should be handled with care. If not properly cared for silk can hold odors from perfume, sweat or staining. Properly washing and caring for your silk fabric may remove the odors. Unless dry cleaning is recommended on the care label, all silk should be hand washed.
Washing
Fill a washing tub or clean sink with lukewarm water. Add one teaspoon of Borax and one teaspoon of mild detergent or baby soap to the water. Use your hand to swish the water around and combine the soap and Borax. Place the silk into the washing bin. Push the silk down to submerge the fabric into the solution. Gently move the fabric around in the solution to make sure the silk is saturated.
Rinsing
Remove the silk from the solution and set aside. Rinse out the washing tub or sink. Fill the tub or sink with cold water. Add two tablespoons of vinegar and one teaspoon of hair conditioner to the cold water. Place the silk into the cold water. Move the silk around in the water to rinse the washing solution from the silk. Empty the cold water from the tub or sink. Run cold water over the silk to fully rinse any residue from the silk.
Drying
Lay the silk onto a like-colored towel. Spread the silk out flat on the towel. Roll the towel up into a cylinder. Squeeze the towel to remove any excess water. Lay the silk flat to dry. Do not place the silk in the sun or dryer to prevent damaging the silk.
Prevention
Proper care may prevent silk odors from becoming a problem. Put any perfume or hairspray on before you put on a silk garment. Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach on silk. Hang silk fabrics in a well-ventilated closet.
