How to Wash Sarees At Home ? 

Basics of Saree Cleaning

Once an exquisite piece of seven yards is bought it requires intelligent care for it runs the risk of getting ruined through improper storage or wash. Here are some keys points you should note when cleaning your sarees at home.

How to Wash Cotton Sarees:

1. Before washing a cotton saree for the first time, soak it for 10-15 minutes in a bucket of warm water mixed with rock salt. This will ensure that the colour latches on to the saree and will prevent the saree from ‘bleeding’ colour during subsequent washes.
2. Use only a mild detergent to wash a cotton saree. Do not wring it vigorously; instead, hang it over a water-tap and allow the excess water to drain off.
3. As a thumb rule, always starch cotton sarees (after wash) to ensure that they retain their crispness and stay stain-free.
4. Hang the saree to dry in a shaded area only as allowing the sun’s rays to directly hit the saree will cause the colour to fade.
5. Store the saree is an airy cupboard that is devoid of humidity and direct sunlight.

How to Wash Silk Sarees:

1. Never hand-wash or machine-wash a silk saree.
2. In case the saree gets stained, immediately wipe the stain off with cold water. 
3. It is advisable to only dry-clean silk sarees.
4. Never hang a silk saree to dry in direct sunlight as doing so will cause the colour to fade.
5. Don’t keep the saree bundled up as this will result in the threads of the embroidery work getting entangled.
6. Store the saree in a light cotton muslin cloth. This will give the saree breathing space and will prevent one saree from sticking to another when kept in a pile.
7. Don’t store the saree in a plastic cover as this will cause the gold embroidery to turn black.