How to Hand Wash a Scarf or Item of Clothing As a rule,  whenever a textile becomes soiled or stained, try to wash it immediately.

Washing

• Put cool-to-lukewarm water in a sink with a mild laundry detergent* (i.e., no bleach).  *for silk items, use a very mild, neutral soap.

• Immerse the textile in the water and gently push it up and down with your hands for a minute or so.

• Gently squeeze the water out of the item (do not wring) and let water drain out.

Rinsing

• Put fresh, cool water into the sink.  Gently push the item up and down for a minute or so.  Gently squeeze the water out.

• For a second time, put fresh water into the sink and push the item gently up and down so that all of the soap is out of the item.  Gently squeeze water out of item

Drying & Pressing

• Alpaca Textiles: Roll item in a towel to absorb moisture.  Lay a fresh, dry towel on the floor or in a bathtub and lay item flat on the towel to dry.  When completely dry, press lightly with steam iron on “wool” setting.

• Cotton Textiles: Roll item in a towel to absorb moisture.  For scarves, put a towel over a shower/towel rod and hang scarf over it to dry.  For cotton apparel, hang on a plastic hanger to dry.  Press with steam iron on “cotton” setting.

• Hemp Textiles: Hemp towels can be washed in the washing machine in cool or warm water.  For the first washing, hemp towels should be washed alone because some of the fibres attach themselves to other pieces of clothing.  Hang to dry and if needed, press with steam iron on “linen” setting.  Just like linen, hemp likes to be ironed while still slightly damp.

• Linen Textiles: Very gently squeeze the rinse water out so as not to create creases.  For scarves, put a towel over a shower/towel rod and hang scarf over it to dry.  For linen apparel, hang on a plastic hanger to dry.  Ideally, linen likes to be ironed while still slightly damp.  Press with steam iron on “linen” setting.

• Merino Wool Textiles: Roll item in a towel to absorb moisture.  Lay a fresh, dry towel on the floor or in bathtub and lay item flat on the towel to dry.  When completely dry, press lightly with steam iron on “wool” setting.

• Silk Textiles: Roll item in a towel to absorb moisture.  For scarves, put a towel over a shower/towel rod and hang scarf over rod to dry.  For silk apparel, hang on a plastic hanger to dry.  Press with steam iron on “silk” setting.

LESLEY’S HANDY TIP FOR BERRY STAINS

Passed down from my grandmother here is a great tip.  As soon as the berry stain occurs, get someone to hold the textile tightly over the sink and from a height (2 feet or so) and pour boiling water onto the stain.  The stain will magically disappear!

modified 9 May 2010