Sarees are a prized possession, loved for their lustre and magical mingling of vibrant hues. Hence a little extra love and care should be shown right from storing to maintaining them. When it comes to caring for your saree, it is important to understand the nature of the fabric, the dyes used and various embellishments employed in adorning it. Here are a few tips which will go a long way in helping you maintain your sarees. 

• When washing your sarees, ensure that you don’t squeeze, wring or brush them hard to remove dirt or stains. Soak the sarees in water with a mild detergent and wash them with your hands gently. Always wash your sarees by hand to keep the intricate and delicate embroidery work intact. 
  

• When storing your sarees,  use padded satin hangers to avoid wrinkling, scrapes and scratches on them. Avoid hanging your expensive weaves such as pashmina and Banarasi Sarees in the closet as it can cause the fabric to stretch and lose its shape. Fold the saree inside out so that the handworked designs last longer.
  

• When it comes to hand-painted weaves like the Kalamkari, stick to hand washing or dry cleaning. Avoid using a machine to retain it in all its glory.
   

• Do not dry your saree in direct sunlight as it will cause the colour to fade. Use low heat or a press cloth while ironing them and do not move the iron machine back and forth as it can stretch and pull the delicate threads.
   

• Wash your Bright Coloured Sarees, such as sarees with indigo dyes in cold water separately. After washing, reverse dry and iron them to prevent fading. While washing your Cotton Sarees, soak them in warm water with rock salt for 20 minutes prior to washing, to prevent colour bleeding. 

• Avoid spraying perfumes, deodorant or fragrances directly on your saree as they may leave a non-removable stain. 

• To protect your sarees from dampness, you can also wrap them in muslin and store them in a wooden cabinet along with some cloves.

• To keep fungal growth and musty odours at bay, use neem leaves rather than naphthalene balls which tends to damage the fabric. While using dried neems leaves, store in a cotton pouch to avoid direct contact with the fabric, and replace it every 6 months. 
  

Weaving a saree is an art that utilises a lot of hard work and time of the artisan. And it’s only just that we put in equal, if not more, effort into its care and maintenance. With these tips in mind, you can ensure that your Sarees stay just as beautiful for generations to come.