We all are aware of the universal fact that amongst all the Indian ensembles, sarees undoubtedly remain the reigning queen. Don’t we all agree to this fact? Be it an exquisite aari zardozi zari saree passed on from generation to generation or a bespoke brass saree that your mom had her own wedding day, saree is more than a cloth. It is a sentiment that sings the mighty tail of Indian craftsmanship. But, along with the 6 meters long-staple yard comes immense responsibility; specifically, the heritage yarns require prior attention to stay shiny and new as day one. Food stains, accidental spills, fading colors are some of the easily-avoided mishaps that’s wait at every corner. But, it does not mean that these mishaps can’t be reversed. This blog is all about to do’s and don’ts you need to consider while keeping your heritage threads in perfect shape.
STORE THEM WITH EXTRA SUPERVISION
Suppose you follow the regime of hanging your silk and zari sarees on metal hangers. In that case, you have been doing the biggest wardrobe mistake. It’s a big NO-NO! Instead, choose a dry and cool place, folded in a semi-porous fabric bag with aroma sheets. It will allow proper circulation, and the aroma sheets will keep away the musky smell. Don’t forget to add silicon gel pouches. It will avoid humidity and keep the dry moisture intact, thereby preventing fungal growth.
KEEP NOTE OF THE REFOLDING ROUTINE
Make a routine that you must unfold your sarees every four to six months and keep them under the mild sun for a couple of hours. Avoid dry contact with sun rays. It helps retain your sarees’ original color and shine and prevents any fungal growth or messy odor. When restoring them, rearrange the folds to prevent permanent creases, zari, and other embellishment breakages.
WASH YOUR WEAVES THOROUGHLY
One must avoid regular washing of the sarees. In case its your first wash, soak it under saltwater for 2-3 hours. This will help to sustain the color in the long run. See if there’s color bleeding. If so, was it with mild soap for further washes.
REMOVAL OF STAIN
There is possibly no one who has not had a food spill and stain encounter. In simple words, it is an unavoidable evil. And an attempt to treat the spilled area will lead to a greater radius of unsatisfactory results and discoloration. What you can do is soak your saree in the cold water as soon as possible and gently wash the saree with mild soap and a sponge.
REGAIN THE GLIMMER
A constant fear that hangs around our neck every time we buy a saree is that eventually, it will lose its shine. Don’t we? To avoid that, take one gallon of water and mix it with one-third cup of distilled white vinegar to retain the lustrous shine. Don’t forget to rinse off the vinegar properly and hand washes in cold water for adequate results.
THINGS YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF
If your sarees have a “DRY CLEAN ONLY” label, its better to avoid those DIY home hacks. Trust your laundry guy. He knows his job. And for the rest of them, always remember to use lukewarm or cold water if you don’t want your sarees to become a victim of instant shrinkage.
ULTRA-CAREFUL IRONING
After wash often leaves permanent creases on your favorite heirloom weaves, resulting in wreaking the fibers. Therefore, you must use the steam iron, and if not that, steam the wrinkles areas to smoothen up the creases. And if you want to be extra careful, use a cotton sheet between the saree and iron to prevent any contingencies.
