The Complete Guide to Caring for Chanderi Silk: Washing, Drying & Storage Tips
If you own a Chanderi silk outfit, you already know what makes it special. It's light, almost translucent, has a soft natural sheen, and drapes in a way that feels effortless yet rich. It's no surprise this fabric has become a favourite for occasion wear, from sarees to kurta sets to co-ords.
But here's the thing: Chanderi silk is also delicate. The same qualities that make it beautiful, its lightness, its sheen, its fine weave, also mean it needs a bit more care than your everyday cottons or synthetics. The good news is that "more care" doesn't mean complicated. Once you understand a few basics, looking after Chanderi silk becomes second nature.
This guide walks you through everything: how to wash it, how to dry it, and how to store it so it stays beautiful for years.
First, What Makes Chanderi Silk Different?
Chanderi is a traditional handwoven fabric, often made from a blend of silk and cotton, or sometimes silk and other fibres. What gives it that signature sheer, glowing look is the fineness of the yarn and the weave itself.
Because it's handwoven and often lightweight, Chanderi is more prone to snagging, fraying, and colour fading than thicker, machine-made fabrics. It also tends to crease easily, though those creases usually fall out with gentle handling rather than harsh ironing.
Understanding this helps explain why every care step below focuses on being gentle rather than thorough. With Chanderi, less is genuinely more.
Washing Chanderi Silk: What to Do (and What to Avoid)
Dry Cleaning Is Usually the Safest Bet
For most Chanderi silk pieces, especially those with embroidery, prints, or embellishments, dry cleaning is the recommended option. A professional dry cleaner who's experienced with delicate fabrics will know how to handle the fabric without stripping its natural sheen or damaging any handwork.
If your piece came with care instructions recommending dry cleaning, it's worth following that, especially for pieces you plan to wear for years and restyle across multiple occasions.
If You Must Hand Wash
For simpler, unembellished Chanderi pieces, a gentle hand wash can work, but it comes with a few important rules.
Always use cold water, never warm or hot, since heat can cause the fabric to lose its sheen and can affect colours, especially deeper or printed shades. Use a mild detergent meant for delicate fabrics, and avoid regular detergents, which can be too harsh for fine weaves. Never wring, twist, or scrub the fabric. Instead, gently swirl it in water and let the detergent do the work. Rinse thoroughly but gently, using cold water until all soap is washed out.
What to Absolutely Avoid
A few things can damage Chanderi silk quickly, so they're worth avoiding altogether. Don't use a washing machine, even on a gentle cycle, since the agitation can damage the delicate weave. Avoid bleach or harsh stain removers, which can fade or discolour the fabric. Don't soak the fabric for long periods, since prolonged soaking can weaken the fibres over time.
Drying Chanderi Silk the Right Way
Drying is just as important as washing, and it's where a lot of delicate fabrics get damaged unnecessarily.
After washing, gently press out excess water by laying the garment flat between two clean towels and pressing down lightly. Never wring or twist the fabric to remove water, as this can distort the weave and create permanent creases.
Dry the garment flat, in shade, away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can fade colours, especially on bright or dark shades, and can weaken the fibres over time. A flat surface, like a clean towel laid on a table or drying rack, helps the fabric retain its shape as it dries.
Avoid hanging Chanderi silk to dry, especially heavier pieces like sarees, since the weight of the wet fabric can cause stretching, particularly at the shoulders or along seams.
Ironing Chanderi Silk Without Damaging It
Chanderi silk does crease, but it's also forgiving once you know how to handle it.
Iron on a low to medium setting, and always iron on the reverse side of the fabric if possible. This protects any prints, embroidery, or embellishments from direct heat. If you're ironing on the right side, use a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the fabric as a protective layer.
For pieces with embellishments, avoid ironing directly over embroidered or embellished areas altogether. Instead, steam gently from a distance, or let the fabric hang in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes to relax the creases naturally.
Storing Chanderi Silk: Keeping It Ready for Next Time
How you store Chanderi silk between wears matters just as much as how you wash and dry it.
Fold, Don't Cram
Always fold Chanderi pieces neatly rather than cramming them into a drawer or shelf. For pieces with embroidery or embellishment, place a layer of soft tissue paper or muslin cloth between folds to prevent the embellishments from snagging or rubbing against the fabric.
Avoid Plastic Covers
While it might seem like plastic covers protect clothes from dust, they can actually trap moisture and cause the fabric to develop a musty smell or, in humid climates, even mildew over time. Instead, use breathable cotton or muslin garment bags, which protect from dust while still allowing the fabric to "breathe."
Refold Periodically
If you're storing a Chanderi piece for a long time, try to refold it every few months along different lines. This prevents permanent creases from forming along the same fold lines over time, especially important for sarees, which are folded into the same shape repeatedly.
Keep It Away from Direct Sunlight and Humidity
Store Chanderi silk in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity. Both can cause colours to fade and fibres to weaken over time. If you live in a particularly humid climate, consider adding a moisture absorber to your wardrobe or storage area.
A Quick Pre-Wear Routine
Before you wear a Chanderi piece that's been stored for a while, give it a gentle shake to remove any creases from folding, and let it hang in a steamy bathroom for ten to fifteen minutes if it needs a quick refresh. This often eliminates the need for ironing altogether, especially for lighter pieces.
Why This Extra Care Is Worth It
Chanderi silk isn't a "wear once and forget" kind of fabric. It's the kind of fabric that, when cared for properly, gets better with time, softer, more comfortable, and even more beautiful in its drape.
This is part of why labels working with handcrafted Chanderi, like WARRA, design pieces meant to be worn again and again across different occasions, rather than just once. A little extra care after each wear means your Chanderi pieces stay ready for the next wedding, the next celebration, and the one after that.
Final Thoughts
Caring for Chanderi silk doesn't need to feel intimidating. Once you understand the basics, gentle washing or dry cleaning, careful drying away from sunlight, low-heat ironing, and breathable storage, it becomes second nature.
Treat your Chanderi pieces with the same care you'd give any investment, and they'll reward you by staying beautiful, wearable, and ready for every occasion for years to come.