ethnikstore.com

Traditional Indian garments are not just pieces of cloth; they speak of culture, heritage, and artistry. It could be the delicate Banarasi saree or the embroidered lehenga or even the finely woven salwar kameez- each one calls for special attention to preserve their beauty and longevity. In this blog, we will discuss how to take good care of your traditional Indian wear so that they remain as attractive as the day you purchased them.

1. Know your fabric

First and foremost, in how to take care of Indian traditional wear is to know what kind of fabric it is. Most of the fabrics require individual care methods, and so one needs to know their fabric to take proper care. Indian Textiles are highly delicate, thus they are usually made from materials like silk, chiffon, georgette, and cotton, each type of material requiring a specific kind of care.

Silk: Rich and luscious, the silk is to be dry cleaned always. If you want to do it as hand washing, use mild detergent with cold water so that it is gently washed.

Cotton: The cotton clothes can be kept very easily, but the best thing is to wash it in cold water so that it reaches the shrinking point. Hand washing will be the best for those clothes having extensive embroidery or other sort of decorations.

Chiffon/Georgette: These are extremely light fabrics. They should be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. Avoid wringing and twisting these fabrics to maintain their shape.

2. Store Your Clothing Properly

Proper storage can ensure that your traditional dresses and wear look and feel nice. Inappropriate storage may cause fading, fabric tear, or even loss of shape. Some tips that would be outlined on how to store your traditional wear follow:

Store your clothing in breathable storage bags: Carry cotton or muslin bags. This allows for air flow, hence does not encourage the gathering of moisture which might lead to mildew or fading.

Avoid Plastic: Plastic bags trap moisture, which makes the fabric damp and encourages mildew growth. Always avoid plastic for long-term storage.

Fold with Care: Folded Items like sarees, lehengas, etc., are neatly folded and put away in cool, dry rooms. For excessively ornate items or those bearing heavy embroidery work, it would be best to hang them instead to maintain shape.

3. Washing Your Attire

Traditional dresses of India are prepared to be very cautiously washed. The ones which have more embroidery work, zari work, or other ornamentations require better hand washing or dry cleaning. Light shades like cotton or chiffon can be very gently hand washed in a way to meet that requirement.

Hand washing: This is the safest method of hand washing most of these traditional Indian garments. Hand wash in cold water with a very mild detergent and wring or scrub so as not to damage the fabric.

Dry Clean: If there is some intricate embroidery or zari work, sequins, or beads in the garment, dry cleaning is usually advised because it ensures that the delicacy of such embellishments is protected and their integrity very well maintained.

Spot Cleaning: For any minor stain, simply use the above minor spot cleaning method. Wet a towel with cooled down water mixed with mild detergent in it. Dab the stain but rub hard on to the cloth in no way

4. How to Iron Tradition Wears
   It often irons itself. The trick again is on what to do for it without shredding the entire fabric.

Silks and Satin: Iron both the silk and satin pieces from the backside side using low heating conditions. Cotton should always be covered between the hot iron and fabrics to prevent friction, which is likely to result in burns or any damage.
 
Cottons: Generally, cottons can take moderate heat so may use a bit of medium hot setting. There is steam irons for de-wrinkling.

Avoid Direct Heat on Embellishments: If your clothes feature sequins, beads, or zari work, do not iron directly on the embellishments. Iron around them or cover them with a cloth so that they are not subjected to the heat.

5. Stain Management

Stains are sure to come but prompt action will ensure that the permanent damage is prevented from occurring to your traditional wear.

For Food or Liquid Stains: Cool water and absorbent material must be applied on the marked areas to clean and remove the mark. A solution of a weak detergent added onto the stain as well should wash it out perfectly.

Oil Mark: Rub tiny amounts of either cornstarch or talc powder on your marked cloths. Leave some hours then take off the small powder by hand and proceed and wash.

Makeup Stains: Pat gently on soap wet cloth with cold water. DO NOT rub the stain because this will only push it further into the fabric.

6. Retain Color and Lustre

Indian clothes will fade, lose their sheen, or become dull if they are not properly cared for. Here’s how you can keep them vibrant.

Avoid Direct Sunlight: The direct sunlight makes brighten the color in the fabric that specifically damages weak silk and cotton-based clothes pieces. Clothes should be stored in a cool dark environment so that the damage is avoided.
Use Fabric Fresheners: Spray fabric freshener or keep your clothes with a sweet, flowing sachet of lavender as it will refresh the smell on the clothes and retain the softness and shining texture of it.

Periodic Cleaning: Regardless of the fact that you use an article very seldomly, clean it every couple of months in order to not get dust deposition and fabric damage.

7. Special Care for Embellished Garments

These garments, although being traditional Indian attire, have heavy ornamentations in embroidery, sequins, zari work, or mirror work. In such a case, extra care must be taken to prevent shine getting lost or marred.
Avoid Abrasion: One must avoid embroidery against abrasive surfaces because the embroidery might get scraped off.
Avoid Contact with Water: Some of the embellishments may lose their shine or may turn color if exposed to water; therefore, the washing of decorated clothes frequently should be avoided.

Storage: In case of storing decorated garments, use padded hangers or store them properly without any pressure on the embellishments.

Conclusion

Indian traditional clothes are elegant, vintage, and mostly made of sensitive fabric materials that should be dealt with very specifically. If one follows these simple yet effective care tips, then his precious garments will remain in great condition for years to come. Whether it is a special occasion or daily wear, the right care for your traditional Indian wear will shine and become the pride of your wardrobe.