How to Care for Your Handloom Saree: A Complete Guide

A handloom saree is not just a garment — it's a piece of living heritage. With the right care, it can last 20–30 years and even become a cherished family heirloom. Here's everything you need to know to keep your handloom saree looking beautiful for decades.

Washing Your Handloom Saree

First wash: Before wearing a new handloom saree for the first time, hand wash it in cold water with a small amount of mild detergent. This removes excess starch and sets the colour.

  • Always use cold water — hot water damages delicate fibres and causes colours to bleed
  • Use a mild, pH-neutral detergent or baby shampoo — never harsh detergents
  • Gently swirl the saree in the water — do not scrub or twist
  • For silk sarees: add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the rinse water to restore shine
  • Never soak for more than 10 minutes

Machine wash: Avoid it entirely for silk and tissue sarees. Cotton handloom can be machine-washed on the gentlest cycle inside a mesh laundry bag.

Drying

  • Gently squeeze out excess water — never wring
  • Dry in shade, never in direct sunlight (fades colour and weakens fibres)
  • Hang over a smooth rod or dry flat on a clean surface
  • For silk: dry almost completely before ironing to prevent water spots

Ironing

  • Iron while slightly damp for the best finish
  • Use a medium heat setting for cotton; low heat for silk and tissue
  • Always iron on the reverse side of the saree to protect the surface sheen
  • Use a thin muslin cloth between the iron and the saree

Storing

  • Fold along the original fold lines — re-folding in new places creates permanent creases
  • Store wrapped in clean muslin or a soft cotton cloth — never plastic bags (traps moisture)
  • Add a sachet of dried neem leaves or lavender to deter insects
  • Refold every 3–6 months to prevent permanent fold lines
  • Store silk sarees separately from synthetic fabrics

Reviving an Old Saree

If your handloom saree has lost its starch and drape, mix rice starch in water, dip the saree briefly, wring gently and dry flat. Iron while slightly damp. This restores the crisp, structured drape of a new saree.

Shop With Confidence

Every Music of Loom saree comes with a care label. Browse our handloom collection at musicofloom.com. Free shipping ₹999+. COD available across India.

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