Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Around the world, silk is avoided as "difficult to look after". Japan, however, has generations of know-how from handing down silk kimono within families. Here we set that know-how out alongside Japan's care-label system, so you can read the label on a silk item bought here and act on it.
| Item | Guide | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Care label (Japan uses the international JIS L0001 symbols) | Tub with a hand = hand-wash OK; tub with × = do not wash at home | JIS L0001 |
| Water temperature | 30°C (86°F) or below | Protein fibres shrink and stiffen with heat |
| Detergent | Neutral, sold for "delicates" (おしゃれ着用洗剤, oshare-gi-yō senzai). No alkaline detergent, no bleach, no enzyme detergent | Silk is a protein (fibroin) and is weak against alkali and enzymes |
| How to wash | Press-wash for 2–3 minutes. Do not rub, do not soak | Friction causes fuzzing and brightening |
| How to dry | In the shade. Direct sun causes yellowing | UV light discolours and degrades the fibre |
| Ironing | Up to two dots (150°C), with a pressing cloth; many items say no steam | Water drops leave marks (water stains) |
[Verify] Check the meaning of the symbols on the Consumer Affairs Agency's "Care labelling" page. The temperature guides are based on guidance from textile bodies and makers.
If the label shows the hand-wash symbol, you can wash it at home. For expensive, dark-coloured or lined items, asking a dry cleaner is the safer side.
Shampoo ingredients vary widely from product to product, and some are alkaline or leave conditioning agents behind. A neutral detergent for delicates is the reliable choice.
Silk is a fibre whose dyes dissolve easily in water. Test for colour-fastness in a hidden spot, and wash on its own and briefly. Water stains (marks left only where the fabric got wet) are also a characteristic of silk.
They may be fuzzing caused by friction (brightening, or fibrillation). This is fibre damage, not dirt, and it does not come back. Prevention means not rubbing when washing, and avoiding a bag strap rubbing the fabric when wearing.
Silk is a fibre moths readily eat, so repellent is needed, but direct contact with the repellent can discolour it. Wrap the item in non-woven fabric and place the repellent on top of the clothes. For long-term storage, air it in the shade once or twice a year.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/wash_02.html
https://www.qtec.or.jp/
https://www.zenkuren.or.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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