Wedding-season silk and saree care checklist

Wedding-season silk and saree care checklist

Occasion silk spends most of the year folded and a few days worn, and both phases carry risk. Zari tarnishes with contact with skin oils and moisture, and fold lines become permanent creases when a saree stays folded the same way for a full year.

• Check for existing stains before wear — old stains set further with heat
• Apply perfume and deodorant before dressing, never over the fabric
• Air the saree in shade for a few hours after wear before storing
• Do not wash silk at home if the care label specifies dry cleaning
• Blot spills immediately; never rub zari or embroidery
• Wrap in unbleached cotton or muslin, never newspaper or plastic
• Refold along different lines every few months to avoid permanent creases
• Store zari-worked pieces flat, not on hangers that stress the drape
• Keep silk away from naphthalene, which can discolour metallic thread