What is the difference between silk and satin?
Silk
Silk is a natural fabric that is made, believe it or not, from the cocoons of silkworms. The individual fibers are unwound from the cocoons, made into threads and then woven into cloth. The cloth is then made into such useful items as sheets, other bed linens, and even clothing.
Silk shimmers when seen in the right light. It is made from a natural protein made by the silkworms which makes it strong and durable. While hard to produce, silk threads are made by literally thousands of worms, which makes it somewhat more expensive than other products.
Silk is the oldest fabric that was discovered in China years ago. It is a royal fabric and was the choice of royal families in the old times. Now it is worldwide available for all and anyone can buy it but it cost a little much compared to other fabrics like satin, cotton, etc.
Satin
Satin, on the other hand, is a man-made material. It can be made up of a mixture of satin, nylon, and polyester. Satin is more delicate than silk, so it needs more careful handling. It does not shimmer, but it does have a glossy appearance. Silk is the same on both sides, while the manufacturing process leaves satin with a dull flat back.
Satin can shrink up to 10%-20% if we wash it in hot water. Just don't do so unless you want it, to get shrunk. So, be very careful while washing satin. Always read the instructions manual before washing your satin fabric items. Your wrong way of washing it can lead to problem of shrinkage or stretch in fabric size. Sometimes expert says dry clean is the best way to wash satin.
Another difference between silk and satin is Silk can be washed but should be in cold water by hand. Satin is dry cleanable only, so it actually is more expensive to maintain.
How to identify real silk?
Perform a ring test.
If the silk that you are planning to buy is not very heavy, this test is perfect! Genuine silk of lower ply can be easily threaded and pulled through a wedding ring because silk is naturally flexible and smooth. On the other hand, artificial silk would scrunch up and would be impossible to pull through.
See if you can perform a burn test.
This is perhaps the best and most definitive test to find genuine silk. You can take a few threads from the material and burn it with a flame. Genuine silk burns with smell of burnt hair. When you burn the edge of real silk fabric, the flame is invisible and it will stop burning as soon as the flame is removed. The ash produced hence, is black, crispy and brittle. It turns to powder when twisted in fingers. With the artificial silk, it is quite the opposite. When artificial silk is burnt, there is a flame and smell of plastic. No ash is produced. Needless to say, you might need to exercise caution with this step, due to its inherently dangerous nature.
If you really need to know, consider a chemical test.
Genuine silk dissolves in bleach (e.g. 5% sodium hydroxide solution), while artificial silk does not. This is the most scientific method that can completely distinguish silk and chemical fibers.
What is mulberry silk?
1. Mulberry silk is the highest qu ality silk available for purchase. The unique thing about Mulberry silk is how it is produced. Mulberry silk has its history in China, where local farmers grow Mulberry trees and harvest the leaves for silkworms to feed on. The resulting cocoons are spun into raw silk fibers.
2. Because the silkworms of the Bombyx mori moth are fed only Mulberry leaves, the resulting silk is some of the finest available in the world. Pure white in color and made up of individual long fibers, Mulberry silk is more refined than other types of silk.
3. Other types of silks such as wild silk or Habotai silk are less uniform in color and texture, with shorter strands. Products made from 100% Mulberry silk are among the most durable and produce the most luxurious silk goods.
What are the advantages of silk?
How to hand wash silk at home?
Handwashing is always the best and safest method for washing particularly delicate items like silk. (some may prefer DRY CLEAN).
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Fill a basin with <= lukewarm water 30℃/86°F.
2. Add a few drops of special detergent for the silk delicate.
3. Let the garment soak for three minutes.
4. Agitate the delicate around in the water.
5. Rinse the silk item <= lukewarm water (30℃/86°F).
6. Use a towel to soak up water after the wash.
7. Hang the garment to dry.
How to get wrinkles out of silk?
Silk is a delicate fabric that is used to make different types of clothing. The material is made up of fiber collected from the cocoons of larvae of silkworms. Thousands of fiber length is required to make the fabric. It is the reason why clothes made up of silk are more expensive than ones made of other materials like cotton, nylon, etc. Though the fabric is silky smooth, it also develops wrinkles when not stored properly. Getting them out can be quite challenging because of the delicate nature of the material.
So, let's see how wrinkles in silk clothes can be smoothened easily without damaging the fabric.
How to remove static from silk clothes easily?
Static electricity results from friction between two different materials that come in contact with each other in a dry environment.
1. Mist it with H₂O
Since static build-up can only happen in a dry environment, adding a little moisture can help you solve your problem. You can invest in a spray bottle to help you out. All you have to do is spray some water on your clothing before you go out, just enough to dry before you head out.
2. Apply moisturizer to your body before you get dressed
Try to apply lotion to your legs or any other part of your body that experiences static cling. Please be sure to allow the moisturizer to be completely soaked in before dressing. (If your skin is greasy, it may leave a stain!)
3. Use a metal hanger (a safety pin or metal thimble work may also be OK)
Run a metal hanger on the surface and inside any clothing article. This will reduce the electrical charge by transferring the electron charges on the cloth
The benefits of sleeping on a silk pillowcase
Once a well-kept secret of beauty insiders, sleeping on silk has gone mainstream. Along with regulating body temperature and reducing exposure to allergens, a mulberry silk pillowcase delivers a true night of beauty sleep and supplements your hair and skin care routine:
Silk pillowcases are great for hair and sensitive skin. It is naturally hypoallergenic and protects skin from irritation
Mulberry silk fibers are coated with sericin, a protein that makes them antibacterial, antifungal and resistant to dust mites and mold
Silk contains amino acids that work to condition hair and skin
Silk prevents bed head, and hair breakage, especially on curly hair or frizzy hair
Silk helps skin and hair retain essential moisture, unlike a cotton pillowcase which can dry hair and skin
Silk reduces friction on the skin, which minimizes sleep wrinkles
Silk bedding regulates body temperature
Silk products can be certified to be free of harmful chemicals, toxins, and irritants
