Tips To Keep The Handloom Sarees Perfect For Years
Are you a fan of Indian traditional attires? Every Indian woman loves wearing sarees that complement her style and fashion statement. A saree is an attire that suits women of all ages, complexions, and figures! So, sarees are passed on to different generations by women. But storing the sarees and retaining the look can be difficult unless you know the best ways. Here are some tips to help you with the storage and maintenance process.
Should You Always Dry Clean It?
Handloom sarees are currently part of every woman’s wardrobe! How do you think you can manage the sarees and the shine of the fabric over time? It is impossible to retain the look and wear the saree for years without maintaining it correctly. Dry cleaning is always the first choice for all sarees. But is it always possible? Maybe not. Given a chance, you must choose dry cleaning for ensuring the best treatment for the fabric. Otherwise, you can try other ways to keep them good as new!
What About Home Remedies?
Handloom sarees like Banarasi, Kanchipuram, Ikkat, Kalamkaris, etc., are sarees of ancient India. Generations of women have worn these handloom sarees and passed them on to the next generation. How do you think they maintained these sarees without the modern-day dry-cleaning services? There are home remedies through which you can clean the sarees, wash them and store them correctly.
Washing It Correctly In Your House
Handloom sarees are delicate and you need to treat them gently. Use mild soaps or shampoo for cleaning the sarees. Before putting the saree into the soap water, you must put the soap or shampoo in the water for at least ten minutes. After that, soak the saree and keep it for some time. Rinse it with water and put the saree in salt-mixed water for better color retention. Do not keep it overnight; only an hour should be enough to make the color stronger.
What Should You Not Use?
Mild soaps or fabric softeners are perfect for washing handloom sarees. But you should not use the brush on the fabric. If needed, you can use your fingers to rub the saree. Never use lukewarm or hot water as it damages the fabric. Besides these, other products that you must not use our –
- Bleaching agent
- Dye or coloring agent
- Harsh stain removers
Do not keep the sarees in water overnight or put them in soap water for more than an hour. It damages the color and fabric texture.
Stains And Sarees – A Deadly Combination!
Handloom sarees are a great attire for any festive event. Many people wear them to parties and stay worried about the stain from food or dirt. If your saree has a stain of food or mud, you need not worry! It is removable. All you require is to know the best ways to remove the stain from the fabric.
- You can try removing it with water and gently rubbing it with your finger.
- If the stain is greasy and sticky, try applying some talcum powder to soak the oil. After some time, wipe the surface with a cotton ball.
- If the stain is too strong and not fading with soap water, send it for dry cleaning. They can remove the marks from the fabric without damaging the saree.
Drying The Handloom Saree?
Now that you know how to wash these sarees and remove the stains, it is time to move on to the following step. How should you dry the saree? Machine drying is out of the question! You should not put the saree in a washing machine for drying it. Also, putting the saree under direct sunlight can also damage the fabric and the Zari threads. You must hang the saree on a string in a warm area, preferably in a sunshade. The saree should dry with the warmth of the sun’s rays and the breeze. Otherwise, you can keep the saree under a ceiling fan at the highest speed. Do not fold it, as it can create a permanent crease on the fabric.
Ironing The Saree – Know The Correct Technique.
Many people do not take the risk of ironing the sarees at home. But, it is fine, if you know the correct way. Press the saree gently and maintain the folds correctly to ensure compactness. Use gentle heat to avoid marks on the fabric. Also, it is great for the Zari threads. Some people sprinkle and spray water before pressing the saree. It is a big no! Steamers are not the best choice for ironing these sarees. Use dry iron to press the saree into neat folds and remove the crease.
Wardrobe Habits You Need To Change!
Some people keep the saree inside the wardrobe immediately after drying it. You should always keep the saree under the fan after folding them neatly. Especially after pressing the saree with an iron, the fabric temperature gets high. You should not immediately keep it inside the wardrobe as it can impact the thread work and Zari embroidery. The weaving gets loose for temperature retention. Always cool the saree before putting them inside the cupboard.
- Space between sarees– Maintain ample space between two or more sarees to avoid stuffing the fabric. Use papers to separate the sarees from one another. If possible, keep the sarees inside the saree pouches.
- Chemical sprays and products– Many people use naphthalene, and insect repellant sprays on the wardrobe surface to kill germs. These germs can cut the fabric over time and damage the handloom saree. But these chemical products are equally harmful to the handloom weave! Try the organic solution and put neem leaves inside the saree. It repels the germs and keeps the wardrobe safe from their attack.
Flaunt Your Handloom Sarees Like A Queen!
Wear your handloom sarees like a fashionista, and encourage others to try ethnic attire! Pass these precious handloom sarees to generations by retaining the perfect fabric look. Maintain the best practices for washing, drying, and storing the sarees to keep them good as new for years.