Saree Care · All Varieties · The Swiss Laundry
\nThe complete saree
care guide.
\n Every Indian saree is a different fabric with different vulnerabilities. Find your saree variety below — each has a dedicated guide covering cleaning, pressing, stain first aid and Kolkata storage.
\nEvery saree variety.
Cared for correctly.
\n Every Indian saree is a different fabric with different construction and different vulnerabilities. A Banarasi has pure zari that tarnishes on water contact. A Jamdani has fine muslin that permanently creases if folded for storage. A Tussar will watermark from a light rain splash. Treating them all the same is how sarees get damaged.
\nThis hub links to detailed care guides for each major saree variety. Find your saree type below — each guide covers cleaning, pressing, stain first aid, storage and the specific mistakes that cause permanent damage to that particular fabric.
\nThe Swiss Laundry has dry cleaned Kolkata’s sarees since 2013 — Puja sarees, wedding sarees, and everyday silk. Doorstep pickup available across 30+ areas.
Six saree guides
\nEvery saree variety.
Every care need.
\n Each saree type below has its own detailed guide — cleaning method, pressing temperature, stain first aid, storage and the specific vulnerabilities of that particular weave and fibre.
\nThe master reference — all silk saree types, care by variety, storage, pressing and the common mistakes that cause permanent damage.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Banarasi\n Banarasi Saree Care\nPure silk and pure zari. 6 Banarasi varieties, zari chemistry, stain first aid, Kolkata monsoon storage. The most comprehensive Banarasi guide available.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Kanjivaram\n Kanjivaram Saree Care\nThe heaviest Indian silk with pure zari. Korvai border construction, pressing at 110°C maximum, protecting the zari from Kolkata humidity.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Tussar\n Tussar Silk Care\nWild silk with a matte earthy texture — the most watermark-prone of all Indian silk types. How to protect, store and handle Tussar correctly.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Jamdani\n Jamdani Saree Care\nUNESCO-recognised fine muslin with supplementary weft. Roll — never fold. The most physically fragile Indian saree. West Bengal’s own heritage textile.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Chiffon & Georgette\n Chiffon & Georgette Care\nThe care method depends entirely on fibre content — silk chiffon is dry-clean-only, polyester can be washed. Ironing is the most dangerous step.
\n \n Read guide \nQuick reference
\nCore rules for
every saree.
\n These apply across all silk and fine saree types regardless of variety.
\nDirect answer: which silk types can be carefully hand-washed and which cannot. Verdict table by silk type.
\n \n Read guide \n\n AEO guide\n What Does Dry Clean Only Mean?\nThe care label symbol explained. Which fabrics require it and what happens if you ignore it.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Stain guide\n Stain Removal Guide\n40 stain types including India-specific stains — haldi, sindoor, ghee — and what to do immediately on a saree.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Seasonal\n Durga Puja Clothes Care\nThe essential Kolkata saree care guide — 5-day Puja timeline, sindoor treatment, post-Puja cleaning before storage.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Seasonal\n Wedding Clothes Care\nPre-wedding cleaning, day-of care for all bridal garment types, post-wedding treatment and long-term storage.
\n \n Read guide \n\n Local service\n Saree Dry Cleaning Kolkata\nProfessional saree dry cleaning in Kolkata. All varieties. Doorstep pickup across 30+ areas.
\n \n Read guide \nQuestions
\nQuestions.
Answered.
\n All silk sarees must be dry cleaned — Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Tussar, Jamdani, Chanderi, chiffon silk, georgette silk and all varieties. Water permanently damages silk and tarnishes metallic zari thread.
After every 1–2 wears. Always before storing for the season. A saree worn at Puja or a wedding should be dry cleaned within 2 weeks — sweat residue causes permanent yellowing in storage.
Dry clean first. Undyed cotton muslin wrapping — not plastic. Store flat and vary fold lines annually. Cedar or neem for moths. Silica gel during Kolkata monsoon.
Yes — plain cotton sarees without zari or metallic borders can be machine-washed. Cotton sarees with zari borders, metallic embroidery or silk thread work — dry clean.
Jamdani — fine muslin that creases permanently if folded, and must be rolled for storage. Kanjivaram and Banarasi are also care-intensive due to pure zari that tarnishes from atmospheric humidity. All three require dry cleaning and careful Kolkata monsoon storage.
Saree care
in Kolkata.
Professional dry cleaning for all silk sarees. Doorstep pickup across 30+ areas in Kolkata.
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