How to wash a saree at home

To wash a saree at home, first check the fabric. Cotton, georgette, chiffon and most synthetic sarees can be hand-washed in cool water with a mild detergent. Test the colour on a hidden corner, wash it on its own, and never wring it. Roll it in a towel to press out the water, dry it flat or folded over a rail in the shade, and iron it while it is still slightly damp. Silk sarees, heavy zari borders and anything with stones, sequins or heavy embroidery are best left to dry cleaning.

With Deepavali on 8 November, now is a good time to take out your festive sarees and check which ones need a wash, and which ones need a professional.

What you need

• A large, clean basin or bucket (a saree is long, so give it room)
• Cool water
• A mild liquid detergent, or a gentle wash for delicates (no bleach)
• A small white cotton cloth for the colour test
• One or two large clean towels
• A drying rack or line in a shaded spot

Check the fabric first

Sarees come in very different fabrics, and they do not all like water.

• Cotton and handloom cotton wash well at home. They may shrink a little or lose some stiffness, which a light starch or ironing can fix.
• Georgette, chiffon, crepe and synthetic blends can be hand-washed gently. The thin fabric snags easily, so keep it away from rough surfaces and zips.
• Silk (such as Kanjivaram or Banarasi), sarees with real zari, and anything with stones, beads, sequins or heavy embroidery should not be soaked or machine-washed. Water can dull silk, make dyes run, and tarnish or stiffen metallic thread.

If the label or the shop said “dry clean only”, believe it. Our guide on what not to machine-wash explains why some pieces are better kept away from water.

How to wash a saree, step by step

1. Do a colour test. Wet a hidden spot, such as the inside end of the pleats, and press a damp white cloth on it. If colour comes off, the saree will bleed. Wash it on its own every time, and think about dry cleaning it if the bleed is strong.

   

2. Treat stains first. Festive meals mean oily food and ghee spills. Blot, do not rub, and follow our guides on how to get an oil stain out of clothes and how to get a curry stain out of clothes. Test any stain remover on a hidden spot first.

3. Wash the saree and blouse separately. The blouse often has a different fabric, a lining or a darker colour, and it may bleed onto the saree.

4. Use cool water and a mild detergent. Mix the detergent into the water before the saree goes in, so no neat detergent sits on the fabric. Hot water fades colour and can shrink cotton.

5. Swish, do not scrub. Fold the saree loosely and move it gently through the water for a few minutes. Squeeze softly. Do not leave a coloured saree soaking for long, because that is when dyes run. For the first wash of a new cotton saree, a quick rinse in plain cool water alone is a safe start.

6. Rinse until the water runs clear. Change the water two or three times. Leftover soap leaves patches and makes the fabric feel stiff.

Drying without fading or stretching

• Never wring or twist. Lay the saree on a large towel, roll it up, and press to soak up the water. Use a second towel if needed.
• Dry it in the shade. Strong Malaysian sun fades colours fast, especially deep reds, pinks and greens. A covered balcony or a spot near an open window works well.
• Spread it out. Fold it lengthwise over a drying rack or a couple of lines so the weight is spread evenly and it dries straight. Do not hang a wet saree from one end, or it may stretch.
• Skip the tumble dryer. Heat can shrink cotton and damage thin fabrics and borders.

If a saree dries slowly on a rainy day and starts to smell, see our tips on how to get rid of musty smell in clothes.

Ironing and storing your saree

Iron it while it is still a little damp, on the setting the fabric allows. Cotton takes a warm iron; georgette, chiffon and synthetics need a low setting. Iron the border and any zari from the back, with a thin cotton cloth in between.

To store it, make sure it is completely dry, then fold it and wrap it in a clean cotton cloth instead of plastic. Refold it along different lines every few months, because sharp creases that stay in one place for a long time can weaken the fabric, especially silk.

When to send it for dry cleaning

Home washing is fine for everyday cotton and simple georgette sarees. Choose dry cleaning for silk sarees, wedding and festive sarees with zari, stones or heavy embroidery, sarees that bleed in the colour test, and any piece with a set-in stain you do not want to risk. Our post on what dry cleaning does explains how it cleans without water, and dry cleaning prices in Malaysia shows what to expect to pay. If you also wear baju kurung for festive visits, see how to wash a baju kurung at home.

FAQ

Can I wash a saree in the washing machine?

A plain cotton or synthetic saree can go in on a gentle or hand-wash cycle with cool water, folded inside a large mesh laundry bag and with a low spin. Silk, zari and embellished sarees should never go in the machine.

How do I wash a saree without losing colour?

Do a colour test first, wash it alone in cool water with a mild detergent, keep the wash short, do not soak it for long, and dry it in the shade instead of direct sun.

Can I wash a silk saree at home?

It is risky. Water can make silk lose its shine, cause water marks and make the colours run, and it can tarnish zari. For silk and festive sarees, dry cleaning is the safer choice.

Should I wash the saree and blouse together?

No. Wash the blouse separately, because it is often a different fabric or colour and may bleed.

Saree care at our Cheras shop

If your saree is silk, has a zari border, or is simply too precious to risk at home, Superman Laundry in Taman Cheras (Cheras Yulek) can handle it with dry cleaning. Dry cleaning a saree is RM30, a saree with its blouse is RM40, a blouse on its own is RM12, and ironing a saree is RM8. See our prices page for all current rates. Your items are never mixed with other customers’ laundry. You can drop off at the shop, or use pickup and delivery (minimum order RM80, fee quoted by distance). We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm. Most jobs are ready within about 3 working days, and express is available, so send your festive sarees in early before Deepavali. WhatsApp 013-833 5526 if you want to ask about a piece first.