AKICIF: How do you wash a sari?

[lydy]

I have a beautiful silk sari in midnight blue and teal with extremely elaborate silver embroidery that I adore. It looks beautiful, and it makes me look beautiful. I've had it for five years or so, and while I don't wear it often, I know that skin oils can damage fabric such as silk. At what point should I start to worry about washing it.

When that time comes, just exactly how does one wash 8 metres silk heavy with embroidery? And have it be smooth and ironed at the end of the process? I talked to a dry cleaner once, and he was unable to estimate, but said it could be more than $100. I'm thinking, no, not a chance.

I should really ask one of the sari shops that are starting to spring up on Central (Minneapolis has sari shops!), but I'm feeling lazy and also curious. Anybody know how this is done, even if it is feat to be performed by professionals only?

Comments

[apostle-of-eris.livejournal.com]

It so happens that one of the most expensive fabric-artifacts I own is silk -- 2 square meters of tie-dye which I spent over a hundred dollars on, and was happy with the bargain.
I asked the guy who did it about washing it, and he said dish soap in cold water, which I've heard elsewhere since. This piece is a very light, gauzy weight, but I can attest that simply hanging dripping wet, smoothing carefully, and allowing to air dry works wonderfully. (It's what I do with my silk shirts. The biggest hassle is the smoothing, which is more complicated with a shirt than a sari!)
You have enough space (assuming the back yard is available without rousing hostility from The Gardener) to hang it in loops, so go for it!