Styling handwoven stoles is quite easy, yet they offer a very beautiful, elegant, and sophisticated look—both formal and casual. Drape a new handwoven stole with your Western as well as Indian outfits—it can turn heads.
However, the key is to keep these stoles new-like forever. With proper care and maintenance, you can keep your handcrafted stoles new-like for a long time with proper maintenance and care.
A bit of TLC (tender, love, and care) can keep them in the most pristine condition. Read on to know the top 5 maintenance tips for your stoles.
5 Best Maintenance Tips To Keep In Mind
Start by knowing the material of your stoles. It is important to ensure that you are taking proper care of it. If you have a handwoven stole or many, then these maintenance tips can be really helpful for you:
- Clean or wash them gently
Avoid using machines or harsh detergents to clean or wash the stoles. If you are washing at home, then simply opt for hand wash. But don’t be too harsh while washing. Be very careful and gentle.
Too much rubbing can damage the delicate fabrics, ruining the stoles and the intricate work in them. If the stole is made of silk, dry cleaning is the best option to consider. Washing them at home can ruin the silk threads. - Air drying is the right way
After washing, you will have to dry the stoles. But how to dry them? The answer is air drying. Don’t use machine dryers, and also avoid direct sunlight for drying these stoles. Direct sunlight or dryers can produce heat that can fade the colours of your stole over time.
So, keep the stoles in a shaded area to dry. One more thing that you need to keep in mind here is – lay the stoles flat on a clean towel to dry. Avoid hanging the wet stoles as it can stretch the fibres, altering the shape of the stole. - Store the stoles properly
Once the stoles are washed and dried, you have to store them in the right way. Here, you have to be utmost careful in handling and storing the stoles. Folding can cause permanent creases on the stoles.
So, avoid folding. Instead, you can just roll the stole properly and keep it inside a garment bag. Avoid storing in plastic bags. You can even use a good-quality hanger for hanging the stoles. - Be very careful when applying perfumes
When going out, we all apply fragrances—be it perfumes or deodorants. However, you must make sure to apply these before you drape the stole.
Don’t spray deodorants and perfumes over the stoles. No matter how expensive your perfumers are, the chemicals in them can be harmful for your stoles. - Instant spot cleaning is essential
No one is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. In case you spill some food or drinks on your stoles by mistake, you have to act quickly to minimise damage. What you can do is gently blot the area where you spilled.
Use a dry and clean cloth to absorb the grease or liquid as much as possible. Then, you can use a mild detergent to spot-clean that area before it leaves a permanent stain.
Conclusion
Following these 5 tips will help you properly take care of your handwoven stoles and keep them new-like. Some of these handcrafted stoles may have vibrant colours and intricate designs. If you keep all these maintenance tips in mind, then you can safeguard the colours and designs completely, ensuring your handcrafted stoles look as gorgeous as a new one.
