Tips for silk, wool and other delicate fabrics

Why delicate fabrics need special care

Silk, wool, cashmere. These are all fabrics that need to be treated differently than cotton or polyester. At Palthe laundry and dry cleaning, we see every day what can go wrong when people try to wash these fabrics themselves.

We want to help you keep your clothes looking good. That is why in this article we give you tips for caring for delicate fabrics.

Silk

Silk is a natural fabric that is soft and shiny. But it is also sensitive.

What you should do:

• Bring it to the dry cleaner for cleaning
• Use cold water if you need to do something yourself
• Store in a cotton bag

What you should not do:

• Put in the washing machine
• Use bleach
• Stretch or wring
• Dry in the sun

If your silk clothing has a stain, bring it to the dry cleaner quickly. Stains on silk are hard to remove if they stay too long.

Wool

Wool keeps you warm and lasts a long time. But it can pill or shrink if you treat it wrong.

What you should do:

• Air it out after wearing
• Use a cashmere comb for fuzzies
• Fold for storage, do not hang
• Use moth repellent in your closet

What you should not do:

• Wash too hot
• Wring
• Hang on narrow hangers

Wool lasts longer if you care for it the right way. At Palthe, we have special methods for wool. We know exactly what temperature and treatment is good for your wool items.

Cashmere

Cashmere is softer than wool but also more expensive. It is made from the thin hairs of goats.

What you should do:

• Only wash with special detergent for cashmere
• Dry flat on a towel
• Be careful with storage

What you should not do:

• Wash too often
• Put in the dryer
• Hang on hangers

Cashmere can pill. That is normal. You can gently remove the fuzzies with a cashmere comb. After that, your clothing looks good again.

Linen

Linen is strong but wrinkles quickly. That comes with the fabric.

What you should do:

• Wash at 30 to 40 degrees
• Hang to dry
• Iron while it is still a bit damp

What you should not do:

• Wash too hot
• Put in the dryer on high temperature

Linen actually gets softer when you wash it more. That is the nice thing about this fabric.

Leather

Leather is a different category. We need special knowledge for this.

What you should do:

• Impregnate regularly
• Use leather conditioner after cleaning
• Have it treated by professionals

What you should not do:

• Put in the washing machine yourself
• Let it get too wet
• Put in the sun to dry

For smooth leather, suede and nubuck, we have different treatments. Bring your leather clothing to us for the best result.

When to go to the professional

Sometimes it is better to go to the dry cleaner. For example when:

• You have a stain that will not come out
• Your clothing has changed color
• You have a wedding dress or expensive garment
• You are not sure what treatment is needed

At Palthe, we look at each garment separately. We know what fabric it is and what the best treatment is.

Prices for delicate fabrics

We keep our prices fair. Here is an overview:

Item	Price
Silk blouse	EUR 8.50
Cashmere sweater	EUR 12.00
Leather jacket	EUR 25.00
Gala dress	EUR 18.00

For special treatments, prices can vary. Call us for a quote.

Our service

At Palthe Den Haag:

• Free pickup service from EUR 20
• Fast service within 24 hours possible
• Green Cleaning options
• Personal advice

We are happy to help with your delicate clothing.

Contact

Palthe Den Haag Laan van Meerdervoort 437 2563 AS The Hague

Phone: 070-3450379

Monday to Friday: 07.30 to 18.00 Saturday: 08.00 to 16.00

Also read about Green Cleaning and professional dry cleaning.