Silk Qipao Care Guide: Washing, Drying, and Storage

You own a silk qipao, and you would like to know how to take care of it? Or you plan to purchase a silk Chinese dress, and you would like to learn how to clean, dry, iron, and store it properly? Then you are at the right place!

Our boutique specializes in silk qipao and cheongsam dresses. In this article, our tailors will share their professional secrets to help you to:

• Wash your qipao at home without paying for cleaning services
• Be able to remove any type of stains from your dress
• Learn all the mistakes to avoid when cleaning a silk qipao
• Preserve your gown in good condition for as long as possible

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Read the Care Label before you start

Before you start cleaning your silk qipao, the first thing to do is to check the care label inside. It will give you precise advice on how to wash, dry, and iron your garment to keep your dress in the best condition possible.

Each Silk Cheongsam can have different care labels, depending on its exact fabric composition, details, and silhouette. Here are the most common manufacturer instructions that you will find:

Symbol	Instruction
	Dry clean only
	Hand wash
	Do not wring
	Do not tumble dry
	Iron at a low temperature
	Steam iron
	Do not iron
	Dry flat in shade
	Do not bleach

If the fabric care symbols are missing or not visible, we advise you to contact professional cleaning services to avoid taking any risk of damaging your silk cheongsam.

How to wash your Silk Qipao at home?

Silk qipaos can be carefully hand-washed in cold water with a gentle detergent for silk, but you should never put them in a washing machine or use hot water. If the dress is delicate or the care label mentions dry cleaning only, we recommend that you send it to professional cleaning services.

Can you machine wash your Silk Qipao?

No, you should never machine wash your silk qipao.

The significant amount of friction from the spinning can damage the fibers of the silk, permanently distort the shape of the dress, or cause color bleeding. Even if you choose a delicate cycle, you risk creating too much stress on the fabric.

The only exception to this rule would be if the care label allows machine washing. In this case, do not forget to put it inside a mesh laundry bag and use a special, gentle detergent made for silk.

Should you get your Chinese dress dry cleaned?

If the care label tells you to dry clean your dress, you should always send it to professional cleaners.

When the care label is missing or hard to read, you must examine your silk qipao. If it has intricate embroidery, beading, or delicate details, the safest solution would be to have it dry-cleaned.

A good way to check if your silk cheongsam must be professionally cleaned is to test its colorfastness to know if the fabric’s color fades or transfers when put into water. To make this test, use a damp cloth or Q-tip on a discreet area like the inside of a seam. If you see the Q-tip changing its color, we recommend that you take your gown to the dry cleaners.

How to hand-wash your dress step by step?

To hand-wash a silk qipao at home, you should follow the steps below:

1. Fill in a clean basin with cold water to avoid shrinkage and color transfer.
2. Add a small amount of gentle pH-neutral detergent made for silk fabric. Avoid using harsh chemicals, regular laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and bleach.
3. Stir the water and submerge your dress carefully. You can gently swirl the cheongsam, but avoid any scrubbing, rubbing, or wringing.
4. Soak the gown for a few minutes (3 to 5 maximum) and then rinse it with cold water until there is no soap remaining.
5. Gently use a dry towel to absorb all the extra water by pressing it gently against your dress. Never twist or wring it to avoid damaging the fabric.
6. Lay flat on a clean surface and make sure your silk Chinese dress stays away from direct sunlight.

We recommend that you wash your silk qipao directly after every important event (wedding, banquet) or at least once per season if you wear your dress regularly.

How to remove stains from a Silk Cheongsam?

No matter how careful you are with your silk cheongsam, you might get stains on it one day. If it happens, you must act quickly to resolve them before they get dry. Here are the most common stain types that you might face, and how to clean them properly:

• Water-based stains (juice): use cold water with a tiny amount of silk-friendly detergent and blot gently the surface until it’s cleaned.
• Oil-based stains (food): for this type of stain, you can first use talcum powder to absorb the oil for several hours, then we recommend that you seek a professional cleaner.
• Makeup stains: carefully blot the stain with a cotton ball lightly soaked in micellar water to remove lipstick or foundation stains.
• Deodorant and perfume stains: mix white vinegar with cold water and dab a cotton ball with this mixture on the stains. Note that they can oxidise over time and become permanent: never forget to clean your dress before storing it.

Please, never use beach or harsh products on silk under any circumstances: they might dissolve the protein fibers and ruin the fabric of your dress. Also, avoid rubbing the stains, so they don’t spread more or damage the delicate silk fibers. Only blot the area carefully and do not cause much friction.

If you have a doubt about the cleaning solution you use on your silk cheongsam, test it first on a hidden part of the dress before treating the stain. This will guarantee that the fabric is safe. Finally, never hesitate to contact a professional cleaning company if you have a stubborn stain that does not go away.

How to dry a Silk Cheongsam?

In order to dry a Silk Qipao, you need to lay it flat on a dry towel away from direct sunlight for 4 to 8 hours. Make sure to never use a tumble dryer. If your dress has delicate details, we recommend that you choose the services of a professional cleaner.

Never use a tumble dryer

Although it can be tempting to use this equipment, avoid using a tumble dryer at all costs on silk dresses. High temperatures will shrink the fabric and break down its protein structure permanently. As well, you risk losing the natural sheen of this luxurious material.

Even if your care label says so and you try to use the lowest temperature, it will damage the gown. Please consider it as a non-negotiable rule to apply for the safety of your cheongsam.

How to dry a Silk Qipao at home?

If you want to dry a silk qipao at home, you should follow the steps below:

1. First of all, you need to remove excess water by gently patting the dress with a dry towel. Never twist or wring it.
2. Then, lay the dress flat on a new, clean, and dry towel. Avoid using a drying rack or hanging wet silk. The weight of the water will stretch the fabric and distort the shape.
3. To avoid the fading of the color or weakening the fibers, keep the qipao away from direct sunlight or any sources of heat.
4. Finally, wait for 4 to 8 hours for the dress to dry naturally at room temperature. The time required can vary depending on the humidity.

When to choose professional dry cleaning?

If your cheongsam has artisanal embroidery, beaded designs, or any other delicate details, we recommend that you have the silk dress professionally dry cleaned.

As well, if your dress has a stain that you cannot remove yourself, cleaning companies will be a great resource to help you.

Finally, if your qipao has a white or ivory color and you try to improperly wash it, the garment can change shade and turn yellow. This is why it is best to address professionals in this situation.

How to iron your Silk Chinese dress?

To iron a silk cheongsam, the best option is to use a garment steamer 5 to 10 cm away from the fabric and work from the top to the bottom of the dress. It will avoid any risk of burn or heat damage that you could face with an iron.

Iron settings for silk gowns

Ironing a silk cheongsam requires respecting some specific safety measures. Here is what you must pay attention to:

• Put your iron on the lowest heat setting possible to avoid any possible damage.
• Always lightly spray the silk dress with clean water first and never iron on a completely dry fabric.
• Make sure to iron on the reverse side of the dress whenever possible.
• The iron should never directly touch the silk. Always use a pressing cloth between your dress and the iron. It can be a clean white cotton cloth or a clean tea towel.
• Last but not least, never iron directly on delicate embroidery or Chinese frog buttons.

By respecting these simple rules, you will get your qipao wrinkle-free and ready for your big event. However, if you have the possibility to make it, we suggest you use a steamer instead.

Using a steamer instead of an iron

By far the most effective and safe way to iron a silk qipao is to use a garment steamer at home. It will definitely work better on the fitted silhouette without flattening the fabric, and it is gentler on delicate details.

To steal properly, hang the dress on the shoulders and hold the steamer 5 to 10 cm away from the fabric. Begin steaming from the Mandarin collar of the dress and slowly work your way to the bottom hem of the qipao. This method is fast, harm-free, and will remove all the wrinkles from your gown.

How to store a Silk Qipao?

To store a silk qipao properly, clean your dress first and put it in a safe environment away from light, moths, heat, and humidity. We recommend hanging the dress in a cotton garment bag for short-term storage. Fold it gently with acid-free tissue paper in your wardrobe for long-term storage.

Always store your Silk Qipao clean

Although it might feel obvious to mention it, please do not forget to make sure your qipao is clean before storing it. Even if it looks clean, some body oils, perfume residues, or invisible food particles can oxidise over time, causing permanent fabric degradation or yellowing in storage. This recommendation applies right after wearing a silk cheongsam for a wedding or any big event, so please do not forget to have your garment washed before.

Should you hang or fold a Silk Cheongsam?

The decision of hanging or folding a silk cheongsam depends on how long you need to store it. If you plan to wear it for an upcoming event, hanging will be better: the fitted silhouette of a qipao naturally holds its shape better when hung. This short-term storage option will work great with a padded hanger. Never use a wire hanger, which will create pressure points and permanently mark the fabric.

On the other hand, after an event or a seasonal wear, you should fold your silk dress for long-term storage. Hanging can stretch the fabric over a long period of time and deform the dress. Make sure you fold loosely, putting acid-free tissue paper in between each fold of the dress. This method will prevent permanent creases from forming and guarantee that the gown remains in pristine condition.

The perfect environment for storing Silk

You can store your silk Chinese dress anywhere, as long as you avoid those 4 environments:

• Light: since UV light fades the color of silk fabrics, always store your dress in a dark location or inside a garment bag.
• Humidity: damp environments favor the development of mould and mildew on natural silk fibers. This is why you should never store your dress in bathrooms and basements.
• Heat: store your dress away from radiators and sunny windows to avoid damaging the materials. Make sure that the place has a stable room temperature.
• Moths: made of protein fibers, silk easily attracts moths that love to eat it. This is why we recommend adding lavender sachets or cedar blocks as a natural repellent for these insects. Please, do not use chemicals and make sure that those deterrents never touch the silk directly to avoid any damage.

Choosing the right garment bag

Garment bags are the best way to store your silk cheongsam. When choosing it, make sure it is made with a breathable fabric like cotton. The worst thing you could do is to store your silk Chinese dress in a plastic bag or a vacuum storage bag. They will trap all the moisture and cause the material to go yellow over time. On top of that, the compression vacuum bags will hurt the delicate silk fibers and embroidery.

If you are planning to store a wedding silk qipao, a cotton garment bag with acid-free tissue paper padding is a must-have in your wardrobe. As well, you can opt for professional preservation services to keep luxurious and expensive gowns for the long term.

Top 10 common mistakes to avoid

Before finishing this article, we wanted to summarize the most common mistakes that people make when taking care of a silk cheongsam. Please, make sure to avoid them:

• Ignoring the care label: you only live once, so does your qipao! Always read and follow the care label, please, it will thank you later.
• Applying perfume directly on silk: spray it directly on your skin away from the garment to avoid any stains on your dress.
• Rubbing stains: silk is a noble fabric that requires softness and patience. Do not spread the stain further by rubbing it with strength.
• Washing the dress with warm or hot water: the fastest way to shrink the size of the dress by damaging the silk fibers.
• Regular laundry detergent or bleach: if you want your dress to lose its natural sheen and color, the result will definitely exceed your expectations.
• Tumble drying: this machine will create irreversible damage and shrinkage due to the high temperature. Stay away from it at all costs.
• Wringing the dress: you do not want to distort the silhouette of your gown by twisting it. Never wring the dress when it is wet.
• Ironing directly on silk: scorch marks are not and will never be fashionable on a qipao. Please follow our ironing instructions instead.
• Storing while damp: your gown (and your skin) deserve way better than mould and mildew. Don’t do it, please.
• Storing in plastic: a powerful way to attract moisture and turn your dress yellow over time.

If you have any doubt about the cleaning, drying, ironing, or storing of your gown, always ask for professional help.

Take care of your Silk Qipao like a pro

We believe that qipaos carry the happiness and joy of the most precious moments of our lives. They deserve to be taken care of so you can relive these cherished memories each time you wear them. We hope that our advice will help you keep your dresses in a pristine condition for as long as possible. You are now a true expert in taking care of your silk Chinese dresses.

If you want to explore more silk cheongsams to prepare for upcoming events, we invite you to discover our exclusive collection of mulberry silk qipaos. Each model is made to order and crafted in a custom size. We are sure that you will fall in love with one of them!