A well-kept kasavu saree outlives its first owner. These are the care rules our weaving families follow with their own heirlooms.
Washing
- First wash: cold water, a spoon of mild detergent, no soaking, no wringing.
- Never machine-wash a zari border — the drum abrades the metal thread.
- Silk kasavu goes to a trusted dry cleaner, full stop.
Drying & Ironing
Shade-dry, always — sunlight yellows unbleached cotton unevenly. Iron at medium heat while faintly damp, zari side down over a soft cloth.
Storing
Wrap in muslin (never plastic), fold with the border inward, and refold along new lines every two to three months so creases don’t become cracks. A dried neem leaf in the shelf keeps silverfish away — better than naphthalene, and it doesn’t perfume the cloth.
Reviving Dull Zari
Gentle wipe with a barely-damp cloth, then buff dry. Never use metal polish — it strips the gold layer.