You buy an exquisite piece of Printed saree but then it dawns on you – how would you care for it? How can you save your favorite sarees from inadvertently getting ruined by wrong storage or rough washing?

Don’t worry. Washing sarees is a simple yet important task, and we got some handy tips for you to care for your favorite silk and cotton sarees.

Washing silk and cotton sarees

Washing Cotton Sarees

1. Before you wash a cotton saree for the first time, soak it in a bucket of water, mixed with a little salt, for 10-15. This prevents the bleeding of colors in later washes.
2. While hand-washing a cotton saree, use only Normal water. Do not wring the saree vigorously, but hang them in your washing area itself to drain off excess water.
3. If you like your cotton sarees to be crispy and stiff, starch your cotton sarees after wash.
4. When hanging out cotton sarees to dry, make sure it is not under direct sunlight.
5. While storing a cotton saree, make sure it is in a well-aired cupboard/closet, and away from humidity and direct sunlight.

Washing Silk Sarees

1. Never hand-wash or machine-wash a silk saree. It is always advisable to only dry-clean silk sarees for them to last longer.
2. In case the saree gets stained, use cold water immediately on the stained area.
3. Never hang silk saree to dry under direct sunlight. Early morning or late evening sunlight is the most ideal for drying a silk saree. Direct sunlight causes the colors to fade in a silk saree.
4. Make use of saree bags for storing multiple sarees. Do not stuff them or bundle them together as it will cause any embroidery work to get tangled and damaged.
5. Wrap your expensive silk sarees in a light (preferably white-colored) cotton or muslin cloth.
6. If your saree has golden embroidery or golden Zari, do not store them in plastic bags. Even in saree bags, make sure the saree is not in contact with the plastic part.