Yes! Silk kimono are a nightmare to wash and they will absolutely shrink in water. I got a vintage omeshi kimono (unlined) that reeked of perfume, mold and old age (can't smell a kimono online, sadly). I don't live in Japan, so getting it professionally cleaned wasn't an option. After airing for days and a brief bask in sunshine the stink wouldn't go away. I figured since it was cheap and unwearable, I would experiment. A spritz with febr*ze amplified the stink 1000x, so I will never do that again. Finally, I threw it in a garment bag and tossed it in the washing machine. Let me tell you, the color stayed, but that kimono came out 1/3 its original size LOL!!! It also had a completely different texture - super stiff and coarse. I aired it out again, and after all of that it STILL reeked, just now in miniature form and with the texture of a potato sack. So, yeah. You live, you learn. And sometimes the kimono you order are stinky LOL
I didn't realize you could iron silk kimono! This makes things a lot easier for me now. I received a secondhand silk kimono and the shipper did a horrid job packaging it, so now the entire kimono is wrinkled beyond belief. Thought I'd have to have a cleaner do it and risk them ruining it. So relieved to know I can do it myself. Thank you! 💚
I love your washing basin, you specially ordered it for your home. I used to use thread to mark spots on my Yukata and also other clothes but as I have so many spots to clean I started using very small safety pins as they do not leave marks on your fabric, but safety pins could leave marks on Silk so be careful. Also Benzine is toxic so do not breath in the fumes so use in a well ventilated area. You mentioned taking a Kimono apart and washing it. I have a favorite book that I found in my local library. It is called"昭和の家事” "Housework of the Showa era" It was written by the daughter of the women who shows how life was for housewife's in the Showa period(1926-1988) in Japan. Cleaning the house, cooking etc., but what I love about the book is that she shows how Kimono's are unpicked apart, washing the fabric, starching the fabric with homemade starch and drying using Bamboo stick and wooden board drying method. She also shows how to make a Childs kimono using an old KImono. Lastly she makes a cover Futon for your bed as in the old days you made your own sleeping Futon set. There is a book, a DVD and a film in the "昭和の家事” "Housework of the Showa era" series. I haven't visited yet but you can visit a museum in Tokyo where they introduce the above subject matter. A link so you can get a quick glimce of what it was like in the old days. www.showanokurashi.com/012.htm Billy I suggest you visit you nearby library when you can and request the book, even if you library does not have it then can get it for you from other libraries. I think you will really enjoy reading the book!!
The only thing I'm confused about is how in so many videos of professional cleaners that they are literally washing the strips of silk from the dissembled kimono in a vat of flowing water...? If you're using plain cold water, how is this any different?
I have a beautiful vintage silk kimono, my cat peed on it, it was ruined so I took the chance and cleaned it myself. I soaked it in cold water and oxi clean. It cleaned it very well without damaging it. I just got a new white kimono today and it’s a bit off white from age. I plan on trying the same thing tonight, I’ll do a test patch first though of course.
As an update. I have about 80-100 silk kimono and I’ve been cleaning them with oxi clean. I’m learning that it works really great depending on if your kimono has embroidery or not. If it does it sometimes destroys it. But I think the water does that not the oxi clean.
@@Black_Samurai-fish It absolutely is the Oxi-clean - oxygen based cleaners will disintegrate any protein based fibres, ie silk or wool. The water needs to be slightly ACIDIC for silk, eg. lemon juice or white vinegar.
😱 Never use any kind of bleach or oxi clean on silk! There are silk detergents for that. I would also advise to never ever wash silk kimono at all unless you want to ruin them forever. Just submerging them in water alone ruins them in many ways you may not realize. I already wrote this in another comment, but it changes the texture, the luster, and often shrinks. The lining is usually a different kind of silk or may not be silk at all, so then you have issues with the lining and exterior shrinking at different rates, plus silk thread can shrink and snap.
I just bought another Kimono that has a stain on it from Market place for 20 dollars. I didn't care about the stain. After watching this I am going to try and clean it myself. Thank You again.
I'm really happy to watch this, I was able to pick up a few Kimono that were not 'perfect' for sale in the USA so they were in a box for a bulk price. Most have a few stains, usually on the lining, and one has a few minor holes from poor storage, so this was super helpful.
It was great meeting you online again, Billy! This video was super important, although, I would love if you cover more on the kimono cleaning subject in the future. For now, you managed to at least remove my fear of ironing my kimono. Thank you!
Thank you for this video! Absolutely so useful and helpful in making me feel like I can take care of my own kimono at home. It also makes me feel better that it's normal not to wash often, only when necessary, as I'm so used to washing my western clothes fairly often. Thanks again!
Hi Billy, this video is so helpful. I've just returned from Japan and I have bought a vintage kimono. Seems that it is silk and has gold in it (thank goodness I've seen your video before ironing it)! I wanted to ask how to clean some gold ink that has bled to the beige background on the kimono? Does ink ever come off when spot cleaning or it's a lost cause? As you mentioned, the stain doesn't bother me, otherwise, I wouldn't bought it but if I can clean it, that would be great. Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much! I literally pounced on your video as soon as I saw the thumbnail, I have been dying to know how to maintain the kimono I have recently aquired and you perfectly took us though the steps, the details, and the reasons. Thank you so much!
Oh--I wondered how kimono were cleaned in old days. So much info! Thank yhou. I always wondered about the painted silks and they look like a padding inside.
This video has been very helpful. My first experience in "washing" was with a greyish/pink bokaski chirimen hoari with collar stains. I used Naptha to remove collar stains and it worked fairly well. However, the Naptha left an annoying odor, so I washed the whole haori in cold water. A lot of dirt (maybe some dye?) came out with water and the collar was cleaner also. Hung up on kimono hanger, dripped-dried ok. After it was dry, I noticed the hem suffered from uneven shrinkage with the lining and the chirimen. I was lucky to undo the hem and re-sew so lining matched up. Since the haori is bokashi, any dye bleeding just blended in. It was harrowing because I really wasn't sure how it would turn out. Since then, dry cleaning is my go to, especially for silk patterns. Thank you for a great video with excellent advice! Aloha !!
I was taught that you never ever let yukata sit submerged in water for too long, and it shouldn't be folded when you wash because dye bleed can easily transfer through all the layers of the kimono that way. I throw my washables (cotton, linen, wool and polyester) in the washing machine on delicate cycle with cold water and hang dry (but not in full sun!). The important thing is that your kimono gets rinsed evenly. Always wash with a mild detergent like Woolite and spot clean deeper stains before washing. White and light colored cotton and linen can handle spot cleaning with oxy clean. I have used a little lemon juice and water to freshen up white cotton. NEVER put bleach based products on any kimono, even if it's cotton, bc bleach actually destroys the fabric over time and makes it yellow. I question the use of benzine in this video bc it's a known carcinogen and outlawed in several places. It's basically a dry cleaning chemical that breaks down oil and more concentrated forms of Benzine are used as paint thinner. There are so many safer choices to spot clean silk that are available nowadays. Cold water mixed with white vinegar is one. Vodka is another though it can lift darker dye. For more oily stains there are a number of silk detergents. Also you can use a steamer on a lower setting to spot clean, get wrinkles out and freshen an entire kimono because the steamer never touches the surface. Just make sure it's a reliable steamer that isn't going to spit water droplets on the garment.
Thank you so much for this Billy, it’s a very helpful video 🙏🏼 I’ve had some hits and misses with cleaning over the years. My partner managed to remove mayonnaise that a waitress blobbed on my back at a restaurant using some white spirits, an iron and a roll of kitchen towel. It worked very well although I doubt it’s something that should be recommended on a regular basis 😆 I had a very blue kimono run sweaty dye onto a white obi which I haven’t managed to find a solution for yet. The white salty sweat stains on the back of that kimono are also a problem. I’ve been told to try vodka for the sweat stains, what do you think about this? Any tips for blue dye on a white obi? (BTW, sadly Benzine is not available in Australia 😭)
thanks for the video. I have some Jenny doll yuzen kimonos. I think I'll take them to the professional dry cleaner to have them cleaned. It scares me a little because they are very delicate. After watching the video I prefer not to wash them in case I damage them.
I probably won't try washing my kimono by myself but the irnoning part... I have some kimono in mind that need a press ! Thank you very much for that video !
Hi, Billy! Thank you for the great video, as always. Do you think you'll do more cleaning or maintaining videos? In particular, I would love to see a video about cleaning and maybe refreshing obi. I was gifted one that is mainly cream/off-white with other color smaller details, so OF COURSE the stains on it are really noticeable. I like it well enough to want to maybe help it and make it look nicer, so any advice is appreciated. Obi fabric is much thicker, so I'm worried about cleaning it, as I don't want to damage the material (or, god forbid, the m-word). Looking forward to your next video!
The worst thing I've ever done to my first houmongi is trying to wash the collar off make-up base... It was a disaster. Never recommend that))) I wish I knew all that stuff back then XDDD Thanks a lot for the video, Billy! It will save LIVES (of the kimonos, of course ;)).
Do you store your silk and wool kimono with moth balls? Is there any good way to get rid of the mothball smell? I bought some second hand kimono and can’t get rid of the horrible smell.
I’ve a video on my channel telling you more about the storage and answering some questions about storage. Feel free to check that out! Anyway, against smell: airing the kimono is my only recommendation. I’ve once aired a haori for half a year 😂😂 and the smell disappeared!
We had flooding in our house and my kimono (2 of them) got water damage. They're packed in storage right now, but I don't know if I need to send them away like I had to for an obi I have that's worth a lot of money (the type of obi, plus the silk, plus the age (vintage) meant the cleaners sent it to be professionally done for me. It cost a lot, but as the obi is worth around $5000 at the closest estimate I could get, it was worth it...) My yukata were fine as they were wrapped up in the cellophane they came in, tho the boxes were damaged. If I can do it at home, it would be helpful, but if not... Well, I will have to do what I have to do lol (save up and get them done properly by professional...) Eta: I've seen the washing benzene here 😳 I asked hubby what it was for but he didn't know. Now I can tell him. 😁
When the damage is really bad, always send it to a professional. We had a bad flooding in Kumamoto Prefectur last year, too, and some professionals offered a special cleaning service for kimono that were damaged. It was very sweet. Even if Kimono are not worth a lot, they often have an emotional value (memories!).
@@BillyMatsunaga one is really damaged. It... I actually cried because as you said, even if it's not expensive, it's the memories, what they mean to someone, and it's why I didn't want to mess it up by trying myself to fix it. So they were packed up. Once our things are shipped here (we're still looking for a house. There are not many available for families here, it seems), I will send them to be properly cleaned. Thank you for the advice and knowledge you share. 💖
@@BillyMatsunaga I unpacked my kimono bolts & unfortunately they smell musty from the dampness of our old house in Germany. So this came in handy - I used your directions to wash a chirimen bolt and it's now drying (flat). now 2 more (one silk, one... I can't read but appears to be mixed? idk) to go... So many thanks again for your tutorial. 🥰
Is it possible to iron any silk with the iron on the hottest setting (three dots), if the cotton fabric is laid between the silk and the iron, or is there a difference, for example between rinzu and chirimen silk? Kimono aside, I have a silk blouse (and seen more silk clothing) with the pictograms showing that it is allowed to be hand-washed, but is allowed to be ironed only with the low (one dot) temperature. That is why I am asking.
I am relieved to see you handwash your kimono like I have, it made me feel less nervous. I look forward to more videos.. Since we don't have a washmachine where I live nor nearby (nor a specialty cleaners), I have some thick oversize towels I carefully put the kimono in and roll and let the towel soak up the water, cotton and linen take up more water then silk so I find I need to do this several times with those. So I can hang it up. My iron has a silk setting and does a good job ironing silk with ironing cloth, I think it's hot setting is too high as I found out with some cotton mix (non kimono) even with a ironing cloth. I do have a question, I see in videos a sort of white coat(?) worn over a kimono when doing craft being used. It is never shown in full. What is it? What could on sew to make one or something similar, I always have to change to western clothes as I have no good solution.
You talk about 割烹着 (kappōgi). They’re super sweet!! I want to make one, too. We’ll see when I come around to actually do it... 🙈 About the silk setting in your iron: that’s usually too low temperature. You should work on silk as hot as you can (and this is advice from a professional kimono tailor 😉 in sewing school the irons are taped to the highest setting, so couldn’t even change it if you wanted to)
@@BillyMatsunaga Thank you for the explanation, that makes for much easier ironing knowing that, instead of ironing two or three times on stubborn kimonos; I appreciate all the help I can get and also for giving me the word for the kappogi.
I have 8 awase kimonos that I bought in diff colours thinking I could use them as…robes 😂 anyway, I’m struggling to think how I can clean them but I think I really have to rethink my strategy of using them thanks for this video
How would you recommend getting wrinkles out of kimonos and obis with gold? And how would you get out water stains from silk? Thank you for all of your amazing videos.
Steam with steamer or for kimono, iron on the inside very carefully with low heat but make sure you have the gold design laying on a pillowcase or other clean cloth that doesn't shed. Don't leave the iron in one place- make sure u are constantly moving it. Obi with gold are more difficult to iron. All you can do is try to iron very lightly with a protective cloth. Steamers are way more practical imo. When I worked in a store that sold antique clothing from the Victorian era to the 1970's we cleaned and dewrinkled EVERYTHING with a steamer because it did not damage delicate fabrics or couching. The steamer doesn't have to physically make contact with the garment to work its magic.
Also I forgot to add that you should always only use distilled water in your iron or steamer. I don't think Billy mentions this in the video but distilled water is less likely to make a water mark since it lacks minerals. It also avoids crusty mineral buildup in your iron or steamer.
What about washing wool kimono? My experience with wool fabrics in other garments and sewing suggests, lukewarm water, mild wool detergent and absolutely no temperature shocks or agitation, would that work for kimono? Another thought, would adding salt to the water help prevent dye run, like it can with new fabrics?
To be safe I would spot clean but if it's really dirty you can wash it. I've washed wool kimono and a whole wool kimono fabric bolt in the washing machine. Wool is mostly self-cleaning but as long as you use cold water and mild detergent like Woolite, put the machine on the delicate cycle or handwash, it should be fine. Never ever dry in the dryer. Hang dry and do not iron until thoroughly dry.
Thank you thank you thank you🎉 -Lenore Talon . Can I save an old silk kimono by painting over stains? I found an old kimono I feel a need to save. Miss your kimono guidance. One mor question. Are you allowed three napkins instead of one? -LT
Thank you for this video Billy! I'm wondering though how to redo the pleat that guides me when I fold the yukata ? For the collar, I can manage with the center but the others are tricky ...
Hi, how do you spot clean a dark shibori piece? The stain is quite old, it is a vintage haori. I am worried that the shibori will come undone if I attempt to clean it. Any advice? 😊 thanks a lot!
I once wash my obi in water and the red color bleed onto the white part and unable to washout. Should I dry clean them at instead of using ưater and wash by hand?
Thank you so much, Billy!! I have a yukata that I have been putting off washing, to see how you recommend doing it. The hem got wet in the river (long story) and the blue dye ran into the white areas. T_T I really enjoyed your last video, too, on the vintage kimono sewing books. I have a couple of modern kimono sewing books in Japanese, but I haven't found any that teach you how to sew an awase, or how to alter a kimono to better fit your size (e.g. lengthen the sleeves), or replace the lining. Do you know of any books that are in print that cover these topics?
Unfortunately no books will show you this. Kimono sewing books are usually text books starting with the basics. You’ll need sewing teacher when you want to be taught these kind of things on point. I’ll also try to add some content little by little. But as I’m not going to sewing school because if COVID I’m lacking of confidence 😪
Anything you can share is more than I would have access to where I live. Thank you! I have another question. I have a yukata that is made of crinkly fabric. Do you have any tips for how to get creases out without ironing all the crinkles flat?
Can't really get Benzene in the US... its about 80$ for a bottle on amazon and theres no where else that it can be ordered. is this the only cleaning product you've ever found to work on kimono?!
@@angelwings06 Depending on the material, if they are very well pinned and dried with the pins it's ok for practice. For having crisp pleats, I iron them (folded up). But I have also sewn some of my pleats. The pins and the bag prevent everything from getting too tangled and wrinkly.
Such a nice video, really help me out.✨ I was just wondering the „washing banzin“ is that maybe the same as „waschbenzin“ in Germany? Because I would love to order some „washing banzin“ for my antik babys to make them nicer.:)
Hello, I've read benzene is a carcinogen (if washing benzene is the same as benzene). It's not sold where I live. Is there an alternative way to wash it workout benzene? A product that can be used in the EU and found on Amazon?
Cotton- Use Woolite or any mild detergent. It has to say mild on it. For silk, just spot clean with a mix of vinegar and distilled water, or pure vodka. If you really have to wash something like maybe a nagajuban or underkimono collar, you can use baby shampoo.
In Addition you should never iron or wash any item that is made with shibori techniques 😩 I know it sounds logical but still 🙃 also Obis are very tricky because they are sometimes made with paper threads, lacquer etc. as well as stiffening that could wash out and make the whole item floppy ( and you never know what’s inside until you unpick them ) 👍 I learned that the hard way and ruined a gorgeous Fukuro Obi 😭
I live in a subtropical climate where there are torrential thunderstorms every afternoon in the summer. I had won a really cool fukuro obi that had a motif of clouds and lightning bolts on Ebay and it arrived on my doorstep completely submerged in water inside the plastic mailing package. It was a gold base with black, blues, orange, and red accents. All of the dye bled and migrated and it lost all stiffness. There's no way to fix it. Instead of throwing it out I just call it my storm obi and wear it with my more experimental ensembles or in situations where I don't want to risk messing up a nicer obi.
So if you use benzene to clean oil-based stains on silk, what do we use to spot-clean water-based stains, like sweat stains on kimono lining? My layering was defeated by a long car ride haha
A mixture of 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 cups room temp water. Pure vodka also works bc it evaporates quickly. Always blot stains with a towel directly underneath the fabric you're treating and do not rub. If it's the lining, I'm afraid you will have to open up one of the seams to get behind the fabric. Kniwing how to sew comes in handy.
I forgot to add that you always need to use distilled water. This is very important as minerals in tap water (and as you can see, sweat) is what makes water stains. But migrating dye can also make water stains, for example if the lining is red, trying to clean it may make more stains.
huh, interesting. It sounds like the kimono are made with fabric that has not been washed after the making of it? Why not make the plant fiber kimonos out of pre-washed fabric? The modern dyes are very colourfast, one first wash to get most of the fabric change out of the way would make further cleaning and washing a less risky endeavor. I handwash very seldom, but from the times I have had to wash anything made of animal fibres (wools mostly), I have learnt that the type of washing detergent makes a big big difference. Most of our modern washing detergents are made with 'maximum stain removal minimal effort' in mind, not fabric or dye preservation. Exactly how that works is more chemistry than I can understand. Another tip from washing wools is to remove most of the water from the garment by losely rolling it up with one or more big towels and then pressing at the bundle. Works for most of everything that is to fragile for the washing machine not just wool.
A little googling seems to say benzene is sold as lighter fluid, does that sound right? I feel like a total savage throwing my yukata in the washing machine heehee.
@@BillyMatsunaga I think it's a little difficult, there seems to be confusion between benzene and benzine. This product will not be easy to source in USA. P: Maybe I will look for similar dry cleaning solvents.
I guess many hand-painted vintage silk kimono would suffer color loss or transfer if you wash in water, however if you don't care about "keeping the art", it might not be a problem to wash in water and iron it, like your process other silk items. I would like to buy some second-hand ones but I really can't tolerate the thought that I can't wash it at home, haha.
Kimono are not meant to be washed while still tacked together. When they professionally wash kimono they take them apart and rinse the pieces in flowing cold water, then steam them at specific temps to lock the dye back in. Traditionally dyed silks were put in the Kamogawa river because it had a fast flowimg current so any dye bleed is swept away. Most kimono just don't accumulate as much dirt or sweat as western clothing bc you wear so many garments underneath and it's designed with open armpits. When kimono is worn correctly the collar never touches the skin. In my experience the places kimono have the most wear and tear are the tips of the sleeves. Most often secondhand kimono are garments that were saved for special occasions and only worn occasionally, or never worn at all. I've collected vintage kimono for years and rarely run across pieces that were actually dirty, badly stained or unwearable, and those that were had all been stored improperly. Nobody would pass down a kimono that wasn't clean. In the old days worn or stained kimono were picked apart, and they'd throw away the ruined sections and recycle anything left over into clothes for the kids, futon comforters, obi, furoshiki, and crafts. Nothing was wasted. I just steam my kimono from time to time with a steamer if they really need freshening up, otherwise they just air out on a kimono hanger for a week and they are good to go. Never, ever submerge a silk kimono in water while it's sewn together because aside from dye bleed it can permanently change the texture of the fabric, remove its luster, snap stitches and make it shrink. Even if you don't care about the design, or if it's just one overall color, it will ruin the entire garment.
I was washing an antique kimono. And suddenly the color bleed a lot.. It was a deep purple, white red pattern. And the lining is red. It bleed a lot... Now the kimono became eggplant purple and the patterns turn to pink color... 😐 since then, i never ever wash em. I just wash plain/solid color kimono (even it bleeds lil bit)
I was convinced that one Haori I bought was polyester but now that I tried to wash a corner with wool washing detergent it had gone hard so I guess it's silk after all ._.
![[Topic] How to wash YUKATA [Answered by Ikeda] English sub](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wLFgW07Wjg8/mqdefault.jpg)
Cleaning Billly is such a fashion icon
I hope so!! 😂😂
Yes! Silk kimono are a nightmare to wash and they will absolutely shrink in water. I got a vintage omeshi kimono (unlined) that reeked of perfume, mold and old age (can't smell a kimono online, sadly). I don't live in Japan, so getting it professionally cleaned wasn't an option. After airing for days and a brief bask in sunshine the stink wouldn't go away. I figured since it was cheap and unwearable, I would experiment. A spritz with febr*ze amplified the stink 1000x, so I will never do that again. Finally, I threw it in a garment bag and tossed it in the washing machine. Let me tell you, the color stayed, but that kimono came out 1/3 its original size LOL!!! It also had a completely different texture - super stiff and coarse. I aired it out again, and after all of that it STILL reeked, just now in miniature form and with the texture of a potato sack. So, yeah. You live, you learn. And sometimes the kimono you order are stinky LOL
Hahaha! Yes, yes and yes! All of this happened to me, too 😂
I didn't realize you could iron silk kimono! This makes things a lot easier for me now. I received a secondhand silk kimono and the shipper did a horrid job packaging it, so now the entire kimono is wrinkled beyond belief. Thought I'd have to have a cleaner do it and risk them ruining it. So relieved to know I can do it myself. Thank you! 💚
Yeah, I’m so happy when this video helps! 💜
Basically, to wash a kimono properly you must to be an art restorer...
I love your washing basin, you specially ordered it for your home. I used to use thread to mark spots on my Yukata and also other clothes but as I have so many spots to clean I started using very small safety pins as they do not leave marks on your fabric, but safety pins could leave marks on Silk so be careful. Also Benzine is toxic so do not breath in the fumes so use in a well ventilated area.
You mentioned taking a Kimono apart and washing it. I have a favorite book that I found in my local library. It is called"昭和の家事” "Housework of the Showa era" It was written by the daughter of the women who shows how life was for housewife's in the Showa period(1926-1988) in Japan. Cleaning the house, cooking etc., but what I love about the book is that she shows how Kimono's are unpicked apart, washing the fabric, starching the fabric with homemade starch and drying using Bamboo stick and wooden board drying method. She also shows how to make a Childs kimono using an old KImono. Lastly she makes a cover Futon for your bed as in the old days you made your own sleeping Futon set.
There is a book, a DVD and a film in the "昭和の家事” "Housework of the Showa era" series. I haven't visited yet but you can visit a museum in Tokyo where they introduce the above subject matter. A link so you can get a quick glimce of what it was like in the old days. www.showanokurashi.com/012.htm
Billy I suggest you visit you nearby library when you can and request the book, even if you library does not have it then can get it for you from other libraries. I think you will really enjoy reading the book!!
The only thing I'm confused about is how in so many videos of professional cleaners that they are literally washing the strips of silk from the dissembled kimono in a vat of flowing water...? If you're using plain cold water, how is this any different?
I missed miss billy every week because she always make a video once a week
That apron,sooo cuuuteee😍😍😍😍
Thank you ❤️
I have a beautiful vintage silk kimono, my cat peed on it, it was ruined so I took the chance and cleaned it myself. I soaked it in cold water and oxi clean. It cleaned it very well without damaging it. I just got a new white kimono today and it’s a bit off white from age. I plan on trying the same thing tonight, I’ll do a test patch first though of course.
!!! the cat part is so real
As an update. I have about 80-100 silk kimono and I’ve been cleaning them with oxi clean. I’m learning that it works really great depending on if your kimono has embroidery or not. If it does it sometimes destroys it. But I think the water does that not the oxi clean.
@@Black_Samurai-fish It absolutely is the Oxi-clean - oxygen based cleaners will disintegrate any protein based fibres, ie silk or wool. The water needs to be slightly ACIDIC for silk, eg. lemon juice or white vinegar.
😱 Never use any kind of bleach or oxi clean on silk! There are silk detergents for that. I would also advise to never ever wash silk kimono at all unless you want to ruin them forever. Just submerging them in water alone ruins them in many ways you may not realize. I already wrote this in another comment, but it changes the texture, the luster, and often shrinks. The lining is usually a different kind of silk or may not be silk at all, so then you have issues with the lining and exterior shrinking at different rates, plus silk thread can shrink and snap.
I just bought another Kimono that has a stain on it from Market place for 20 dollars. I didn't care about the stain. After watching this I am going to try and clean it myself. Thank You again.
I'm really happy to watch this, I was able to pick up a few Kimono that were not 'perfect' for sale in the USA so they were in a box for a bulk price. Most have a few stains, usually on the lining, and one has a few minor holes from poor storage, so this was super helpful.
It was great meeting you online again, Billy! This video was super important, although, I would love if you cover more on the kimono cleaning subject in the future. For now, you managed to at least remove my fear of ironing my kimono. Thank you!
Of course there’s more to come 😉 stay tuned!
Thank you for this video! Absolutely so useful and helpful in making me feel like I can take care of my own kimono at home. It also makes me feel better that it's normal not to wash often, only when necessary, as I'm so used to washing my western clothes fairly often. Thanks again!
Hi Billy, this video is so helpful. I've just returned from Japan and I have bought a vintage kimono. Seems that it is silk and has gold in it (thank goodness I've seen your video before ironing it)! I wanted to ask how to clean some gold ink that has bled to the beige background on the kimono? Does ink ever come off when spot cleaning or it's a lost cause? As you mentioned, the stain doesn't bother me, otherwise, I wouldn't bought it but if I can clean it, that would be great. Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much! I literally pounced on your video as soon as I saw the thumbnail, I have been dying to know how to maintain the kimono I have recently aquired and you perfectly took us though the steps, the details, and the reasons. Thank you so much!
Thank you ❤️
very informative! I’ve been finding this particular topic forever and could never find it x.
Thank you. I’ve learned so much from you already. It’s hard to resist a used kimono that is a work of art.
Oh--I wondered how kimono were cleaned in old days. So much info! Thank yhou. I always wondered about the painted silks and they look like a padding inside.
I am also guilty of airing out my kimono for ages ^^; But rather than "laziness", I like to call it "interior decor" ^^;
I just bought two summer kimonos when I was in Tokyo. This was great info
Cleaning Billy ! Love it 😊
This video has been very helpful. My first experience in "washing" was with a greyish/pink bokaski chirimen hoari with collar stains. I used Naptha to remove collar stains and it worked fairly well. However, the Naptha left an annoying odor, so I washed the whole haori in cold water. A lot of dirt (maybe some dye?) came out with water and the collar was cleaner also. Hung up on kimono hanger, dripped-dried ok. After it was dry, I noticed the hem suffered from uneven shrinkage with the lining and the chirimen. I was lucky to undo the hem and re-sew so lining matched up. Since the haori is bokashi, any dye bleeding just blended in. It was harrowing because I really wasn't sure how it would turn out. Since then, dry cleaning is my go to, especially for silk patterns. Thank you for a great video with excellent advice! Aloha !!
Thank you Billy for this very helpful video! 😊
I was taught that you never ever let yukata sit submerged in water for too long, and it shouldn't be folded when you wash because dye bleed can easily transfer through all the layers of the kimono that way. I throw my washables (cotton, linen, wool and polyester) in the washing machine on delicate cycle with cold water and hang dry (but not in full sun!). The important thing is that your kimono gets rinsed evenly. Always wash with a mild detergent like Woolite and spot clean deeper stains before washing. White and light colored cotton and linen can handle spot cleaning with oxy clean. I have used a little lemon juice and water to freshen up white cotton. NEVER put bleach based products on any kimono, even if it's cotton, bc bleach actually destroys the fabric over time and makes it yellow. I question the use of benzine in this video bc it's a known carcinogen and outlawed in several places. It's basically a dry cleaning chemical that breaks down oil and more concentrated forms of Benzine are used as paint thinner. There are so many safer choices to spot clean silk that are available nowadays. Cold water mixed with white vinegar is one. Vodka is another though it can lift darker dye. For more oily stains there are a number of silk detergents. Also you can use a steamer on a lower setting to spot clean, get wrinkles out and freshen an entire kimono because the steamer never touches the surface. Just make sure it's a reliable steamer that isn't going to spit water droplets on the garment.
Thank you so much for this Billy, it’s a very helpful video 🙏🏼
I’ve had some hits and misses with cleaning over the years. My partner managed to remove mayonnaise that a waitress blobbed on my back at a restaurant using some white spirits, an iron and a roll of kitchen towel. It worked very well although I doubt it’s something that should be recommended on a regular basis 😆
I had a very blue kimono run sweaty dye onto a white obi which I haven’t managed to find a solution for yet. The white salty sweat stains on the back of that kimono are also a problem. I’ve been told to try vodka for the sweat stains, what do you think about this? Any tips for blue dye on a white obi?
(BTW, sadly Benzine is not available in Australia 😭)
I have one I’m going to use paint on. Terrible to loose a beautiful kimono
thanks for the video. I have some Jenny doll yuzen kimonos. I think I'll take them to the professional dry cleaner to have them cleaned. It scares me a little because they are very delicate. After watching the video I prefer not to wash them in case I damage them.
Thank you so much Billy , you finally made this video 😍 this helped me a lot.
I learn a lot from you thank you for making these videos.^^
I probably won't try washing my kimono by myself but the irnoning part... I have some kimono in mind that need a press ! Thank you very much for that video !
Hi, Billy! Thank you for the great video, as always. Do you think you'll do more cleaning or maintaining videos? In particular, I would love to see a video about cleaning and maybe refreshing obi. I was gifted one that is mainly cream/off-white with other color smaller details, so OF COURSE the stains on it are really noticeable. I like it well enough to want to maybe help it and make it look nicer, so any advice is appreciated. Obi fabric is much thicker, so I'm worried about cleaning it, as I don't want to damage the material (or, god forbid, the m-word).
Looking forward to your next video!
The worst thing I've ever done to my first houmongi is trying to wash the collar off make-up base... It was a disaster. Never recommend that))) I wish I knew all that stuff back then XDDD
Thanks a lot for the video, Billy! It will save LIVES (of the kimonos, of course ;)).
You find fabulous earrings and kimonos to wear.
Very, very helpful! Thank you!
Do you store your silk and wool kimono with moth balls? Is there any good way to get rid of the mothball smell? I bought some second hand kimono and can’t get rid of the horrible smell.
I’ve a video on my channel telling you more about the storage and answering some questions about storage. Feel free to check that out!
Anyway, against smell: airing the kimono is my only recommendation. I’ve once aired a haori for half a year 😂😂 and the smell disappeared!
Cute apron! Gloves whilst handling chem is really important. The fabric absorbed the chemical, so did your hands.
Well, if my hands would have touched it of course 😉
We had flooding in our house and my kimono (2 of them) got water damage. They're packed in storage right now, but I don't know if I need to send them away like I had to for an obi I have that's worth a lot of money (the type of obi, plus the silk, plus the age (vintage) meant the cleaners sent it to be professionally done for me. It cost a lot, but as the obi is worth around $5000 at the closest estimate I could get, it was worth it...) My yukata were fine as they were wrapped up in the cellophane they came in, tho the boxes were damaged. If I can do it at home, it would be helpful, but if not... Well, I will have to do what I have to do lol (save up and get them done properly by professional...)
Eta: I've seen the washing benzene here 😳 I asked hubby what it was for but he didn't know. Now I can tell him. 😁
When the damage is really bad, always send it to a professional. We had a bad flooding in Kumamoto Prefectur last year, too, and some professionals offered a special cleaning service for kimono that were damaged. It was very sweet. Even if Kimono are not worth a lot, they often have an emotional value (memories!).
@@BillyMatsunaga one is really damaged. It... I actually cried because as you said, even if it's not expensive, it's the memories, what they mean to someone, and it's why I didn't want to mess it up by trying myself to fix it. So they were packed up. Once our things are shipped here (we're still looking for a house. There are not many available for families here, it seems), I will send them to be properly cleaned. Thank you for the advice and knowledge you share. 💖
@@BillyMatsunaga I unpacked my kimono bolts & unfortunately they smell musty from the dampness of our old house in Germany. So this came in handy - I used your directions to wash a chirimen bolt and it's now drying (flat). now 2 more (one silk, one... I can't read but appears to be mixed? idk) to go... So many thanks again for your tutorial. 🥰
How you wash your yukata is how I hand wash too! Also, thread marking the satins is a brilliant idea, thanks so much :)
Lifesaving! Been looking for something like this since last year, thank you very much!
I live in Texas where there is no kimono cleaner i have a silk furisode kimono pink with cherry blossom pattern how can i clean it safely
Is it possible to iron any silk with the iron on the hottest setting (three dots), if the cotton fabric is laid between the silk and the iron, or is there a difference, for example between rinzu and chirimen silk? Kimono aside, I have a silk blouse (and seen more silk clothing) with the pictograms showing that it is allowed to be hand-washed, but is allowed to be ironed only with the low (one dot) temperature. That is why I am asking.
You can iron any silk like this 😉
This is awesome! Thank you so much!
I am relieved to see you handwash your kimono like I have, it made me feel less nervous. I look forward to more videos..
Since we don't have a washmachine where I live nor nearby (nor a specialty cleaners), I have some thick oversize towels I carefully put the kimono in and roll and let the towel soak up the water, cotton and linen take up more water then silk so I find I need to do this several times with those. So I can hang it up.
My iron has a silk setting and does a good job ironing silk with ironing cloth, I think it's hot setting is too high as I found out with some cotton mix (non kimono) even with a ironing cloth.
I do have a question, I see in videos a sort of white coat(?) worn over a kimono when doing craft being used. It is never shown in full. What is it? What could on sew to make one or something similar, I always have to change to western clothes as I have no good solution.
You talk about 割烹着 (kappōgi). They’re super sweet!! I want to make one, too. We’ll see when I come around to actually do it... 🙈
About the silk setting in your iron: that’s usually too low temperature. You should work on silk as hot as you can (and this is advice from a professional kimono tailor 😉 in sewing school the irons are taped to the highest setting, so couldn’t even change it if you wanted to)
@@BillyMatsunaga Thank you for the explanation, that makes for much easier ironing knowing that, instead of ironing two or three times on stubborn kimonos; I appreciate all the help I can get and also for giving me the word for the kappogi.
I have 8 awase kimonos that I bought in diff colours thinking I could use them as…robes 😂 anyway, I’m struggling to think how I can clean them but I think I really have to rethink my strategy of using them thanks for this video
How would you recommend getting wrinkles out of kimonos and obis with gold? And how would you get out water stains from silk? Thank you for all of your amazing videos.
Steam with steamer or for kimono, iron on the inside very carefully with low heat but make sure you have the gold design laying on a pillowcase or other clean cloth that doesn't shed. Don't leave the iron in one place- make sure u are constantly moving it. Obi with gold are more difficult to iron. All you can do is try to iron very lightly with a protective cloth. Steamers are way more practical imo. When I worked in a store that sold antique clothing from the Victorian era to the 1970's we cleaned and dewrinkled EVERYTHING with a steamer because it did not damage delicate fabrics or couching. The steamer doesn't have to physically make contact with the garment to work its magic.
Also I forgot to add that you should always only use distilled water in your iron or steamer. I don't think Billy mentions this in the video but distilled water is less likely to make a water mark since it lacks minerals. It also avoids crusty mineral buildup in your iron or steamer.
I like these videos very much! I have a question, what do Japanese people sleep in?
Pyjamas! Like everyone 😉
@@BillyMatsunaga what would historical pijamas have looked like?
What about washing wool kimono? My experience with wool fabrics in other garments and sewing suggests, lukewarm water, mild wool detergent and absolutely no temperature shocks or agitation, would that work for kimono?
Another thought, would adding salt to the water help prevent dye run, like it can with new fabrics?
To be safe I would spot clean but if it's really dirty you can wash it. I've washed wool kimono and a whole wool kimono fabric bolt in the washing machine. Wool is mostly self-cleaning but as long as you use cold water and mild detergent like Woolite, put the machine on the delicate cycle or handwash, it should be fine. Never ever dry in the dryer. Hang dry and do not iron until thoroughly dry.
Ik this is late, but can you wash yukata with colored liquid detergent?? I have been worried about this dying my yukata purple.. 😅😅😅
Thank you thank you thank you🎉
-Lenore Talon . Can I save an old silk kimono by painting over stains? I found an old kimono I feel a need to save. Miss your kimono guidance. One mor question. Are you allowed three napkins instead of one? -LT
Thank you for this video Billy! I'm wondering though how to redo the pleat that guides me when I fold the yukata ? For the collar, I can manage with the center but the others are tricky ...
Hi, how do you spot clean a dark shibori piece? The stain is quite old, it is a vintage haori. I am worried that the shibori will come undone if I attempt to clean it. Any advice? 😊 thanks a lot!
I just got a silk haori and I would love to wear it more often but hopefully this will help me
I find baby shampoo works really well on all my stains.
The 'push' methods gently agitates the water through the fabric dislodging the dirt. However it is very delicate on the fabric
I once wash my obi in water and the red color bleed onto the white part and unable to washout. Should I dry clean them at instead of using ưater and wash by hand?
OOPS! Where is the information on the soap bar that you used?
Was too busy when I published the video, will add the information today
Can you also talk about Obi, please? Is it possible to clean it by yourself? thx
I really like the silk kimono you're ironing, it has very mine shade of blue☺️ Do you have a photo wearing it somewhere? I'd like to see it on you!
Of course! But for such things you’ve to follow me on Instagram 🙈
can we have an video about your kimono/yukata jewelry accessories, like your earrings and such?
Thank you so much, Billy!! I have a yukata that I have been putting off washing, to see how you recommend doing it. The hem got wet in the river (long story) and the blue dye ran into the white areas. T_T
I really enjoyed your last video, too, on the vintage kimono sewing books. I have a couple of modern kimono sewing books in Japanese, but I haven't found any that teach you how to sew an awase, or how to alter a kimono to better fit your size (e.g. lengthen the sleeves), or replace the lining. Do you know of any books that are in print that cover these topics?
Unfortunately no books will show you this. Kimono sewing books are usually text books starting with the basics. You’ll need sewing teacher when you want to be taught these kind of things on point.
I’ll also try to add some content little by little. But as I’m not going to sewing school because if COVID I’m lacking of confidence 😪
Anything you can share is more than I would have access to where I live. Thank you! I have another question. I have a yukata that is made of crinkly fabric. Do you have any tips for how to get creases out without ironing all the crinkles flat?
Can't really get Benzene in the US... its about 80$ for a bottle on amazon and theres no where else that it can be ordered. is this the only cleaning product you've ever found to work on kimono?!
That's how sensei told me to wash my Hakama...I am too lazy though. I pin it and put in a bag in the washer. ;P
I haven't had to wash mine yet. Do yours come out relatively flat that way, or did you have to iron them? 🤔
@@angelwings06 Depending on the material, if they are very well pinned and dried with the pins it's ok for practice. For having crisp pleats, I iron them (folded up). But I have also sewn some of my pleats. The pins and the bag prevent everything from getting too tangled and wrinkly.
@@Elanoranime Thank you! 😁
washer is okay when polyester. sewing the pleats saves a lot of work
Such a nice video, really help me out.✨
I was just wondering the „washing banzin“ is that maybe the same as „waschbenzin“ in Germany?
Because I would love to order some „washing banzin“ for my antik babys to make them nicer.:)
Hello, I've read benzene is a carcinogen (if washing benzene is the same as benzene). It's not sold where I live.
Is there an alternative way to wash it workout benzene? A product that can be used in the EU and found on Amazon?
Cotton- Use Woolite or any mild detergent. It has to say mild on it. For silk, just spot clean with a mix of vinegar and distilled water, or pure vodka. If you really have to wash something like maybe a nagajuban or underkimono collar, you can use baby shampoo.
In Addition you should never iron or wash any item that is made with shibori techniques 😩 I know it sounds logical but still 🙃 also Obis are very tricky because they are sometimes made with paper threads, lacquer etc. as well as stiffening that could wash out and make the whole item floppy ( and you never know what’s inside until you unpick them ) 👍 I learned that the hard way and ruined a gorgeous Fukuro Obi 😭
I live in a subtropical climate where there are torrential thunderstorms every afternoon in the summer. I had won a really cool fukuro obi that had a motif of clouds and lightning bolts on Ebay and it arrived on my doorstep completely submerged in water inside the plastic mailing package. It was a gold base with black, blues, orange, and red accents. All of the dye bled and migrated and it lost all stiffness. There's no way to fix it. Instead of throwing it out I just call it my storm obi and wear it with my more experimental ensembles or in situations where I don't want to risk messing up a nicer obi.
So if you use benzene to clean oil-based stains on silk, what do we use to spot-clean water-based stains, like sweat stains on kimono lining? My layering was defeated by a long car ride haha
A mixture of 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 cups room temp water. Pure vodka also works bc it evaporates quickly. Always blot stains with a towel directly underneath the fabric you're treating and do not rub. If it's the lining, I'm afraid you will have to open up one of the seams to get behind the fabric. Kniwing how to sew comes in handy.
I forgot to add that you always need to use distilled water. This is very important as minerals in tap water (and as you can see, sweat) is what makes water stains. But migrating dye can also make water stains, for example if the lining is red, trying to clean it may make more stains.
huh, interesting. It sounds like the kimono are made with fabric that has not been washed after the making of it? Why not make the plant fiber kimonos out of pre-washed fabric? The modern dyes are very colourfast, one first wash to get most of the fabric change out of the way would make further cleaning and washing a less risky endeavor.
I handwash very seldom, but from the times I have had to wash anything made of animal fibres (wools mostly), I have learnt that the type of washing detergent makes a big big difference. Most of our modern washing detergents are made with 'maximum stain removal minimal effort' in mind, not fabric or dye preservation. Exactly how that works is more chemistry than I can understand. Another tip from washing wools is to remove most of the water from the garment by losely rolling it up with one or more big towels and then pressing at the bundle. Works for most of everything that is to fragile for the washing machine not just wool.
How would it be to use steam for cleaning?
For silk: of course no water and especially no steam.
Is it safe to steam a silk kimono?
can someone tells me how to clean or wash silk shibori obiage ? thank you
A little googling seems to say benzene is sold as lighter fluid, does that sound right?
I feel like a total savage throwing my yukata in the washing machine heehee.
You should google for “washing benzine”. Washing them in the washing machine is totally fine 😉
@@BillyMatsunaga I think it's a little difficult, there seems to be confusion between benzene and benzine. This product will not be easy to source in USA. P: Maybe I will look for similar dry cleaning solvents.
@@GO01 hydrogen peroxide mixed with a bit of dish soap works really well for removing oil based stains too. So it should work as a good substitute
@@Kaori_Suzuki Interestingly enough that's a good way to kill pests on orchids too :D
I guess many hand-painted vintage silk kimono would suffer color loss or transfer if you wash in water, however if you don't care about "keeping the art", it might not be a problem to wash in water and iron it, like your process other silk items. I would like to buy some second-hand ones but I really can't tolerate the thought that I can't wash it at home, haha.
Kimono are not meant to be washed while still tacked together. When they professionally wash kimono they take them apart and rinse the pieces in flowing cold water, then steam them at specific temps to lock the dye back in. Traditionally dyed silks were put in the Kamogawa river because it had a fast flowimg current so any dye bleed is swept away. Most kimono just don't accumulate as much dirt or sweat as western clothing bc you wear so many garments underneath and it's designed with open armpits. When kimono is worn correctly the collar never touches the skin. In my experience the places kimono have the most wear and tear are the tips of the sleeves. Most often secondhand kimono are garments that were saved for special occasions and only worn occasionally, or never worn at all. I've collected vintage kimono for years and rarely run across pieces that were actually dirty, badly stained or unwearable, and those that were had all been stored improperly. Nobody would pass down a kimono that wasn't clean. In the old days worn or stained kimono were picked apart, and they'd throw away the ruined sections and recycle anything left over into clothes for the kids, futon comforters, obi, furoshiki, and crafts. Nothing was wasted. I just steam my kimono from time to time with a steamer if they really need freshening up, otherwise they just air out on a kimono hanger for a week and they are good to go. Never, ever submerge a silk kimono in water while it's sewn together because aside from dye bleed it can permanently change the texture of the fabric, remove its luster, snap stitches and make it shrink. Even if you don't care about the design, or if it's just one overall color, it will ruin the entire garment.
I was washing an antique kimono. And suddenly the color bleed a lot.. It was a deep purple, white red pattern. And the lining is red. It bleed a lot... Now the kimono became eggplant purple and the patterns turn to pink color... 😐 since then, i never ever wash em. I just wash plain/solid color kimono (even it bleeds lil bit)
I was convinced that one Haori I bought was polyester but now that I tried to wash a corner with wool washing detergent it had gone hard so I guess it's silk after all ._.
Awesome
How do we make oiran hair?
how do you get wrinkles out of a kimono with gold?
Still waiting for the arai Hari 🥲
Personally i always use a steamer for mine because no confidence with a iron.
☝️Warm water is fixing stains in linen and cotton...
I am superseded she doesn't use starch.