Silk is one of the finest, most luxurious fabrics in the world. It possesses an unparalleled level of comfort that's not found in other textiles, which is why silk suits are so popular. If you're going to invest in a suit made of genuine silk, though, you should familiarize yourself with the general care and maintenance it requires. Failure to properly maintain it could result in extensive damage, which isn't something you want to experience given the high cost of silk.
Do Not Machine Wash
One of the reasons why silk is so soft is because it's thin. Unfortunately, this means it's susceptible to damage when placed inside a washing machine. Unless you're willing to take the risk of damaging your suit, avoid placing it in the washing machine. And if you do decide to machine wash your silk suit for whatever reason, use the "gentle" setting with the coldest water possible. Doing so will reduce the risk of damage occurring to your suit.
Keep It Clean
Ideally, you should do your best to keep your silk suit as clean as possible. Whether you're wearing it to a business meeting, wedding, evening party, or any other occasion, use caution to try avoid any accidental spills or stains. I know this easier said than done -- and there will be times when it's impossible to avoid spills -- but keeping your silk suit clean will preserve its look and integrity.
Handwashing
No matter how hard you try to prevent it, accidental spills and stains are bound to happen at some point in time. The good news is that you can still clean them off a silk suit. While it's a bit more laborious and time-consuming when compared to using a traditional washing machine, it can be done. To clean your silk suit, submerge it inside a tub of lukewarm water with a small amount of non-alkaline soap. If there are any major stains visible on it, use a scrub brush to try and remove them. When you are finished, remove the suit and hang it outside to line-dry.
Beware of Hard Water!
If you have hard water at your home, you may want to use purified or filtered water to wash your silk suit. Attempting to wash a silk suit in hard water may result in mineral deposits accumulating on the surface, which can be difficult if not impossible to remove.
