Silk fibers require special care because they are natural protein fibers that can be easily damaged by UV light, causing the fibers to weaken and lose their luster. This is particularly true during washing and ironing, where attention must be paid to the washing method, type of detergent used, twisting, and drying. Detergents with strong stain-removal properties should not be used, as their alkalinity can damage the silk fibers, making the fabric stiffer. Moreover, due to silk’s low resilience to wrinkles, it is difficult to iron smoothly. As a result, most people prefer to have their silk garments dry-cleaned at professional cleaners rather than washing them themselves. For these reasons, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Ariyakrua and the research team from the Faculty of Industrial Textiles and Fashion Design at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon developed a silk laundry detergent made from coconut water and 100% natural extracts. This product is safe, environmentally friendly, and was developed under the Silk Laundry Detergent Innovation from Natural Extracts Project, supported by a research grant from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
Assist. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Ariyakrua noted that traditional methods using coconut water have been found to make silk fragrant and soft. The research focused on natural extracts that affect silk washing, including:
1. Coconut Water (Alcohol Sugar): Penetrates silk fibers effectively.
2.Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil: Contains saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as organic acids that integrate with silk’s protein fibers, enhancing softness without altering the fabric’s original properties.
3.Lye Water from Ash: Contains sodium hydroxide, which cleans stains and improves the sheen of silk after washing.
Four detergent formulas were developed:
Formula 1: 100% Coconut Water
Formula 2: 100% Lye Water from Ash
Formula 3: Coconut Water: Lye Water from Ash (1:1)
Formula 4: Coconut Water: Coconut Oil: Lye Water from Ash (1:1:1)
All formulas include Dehyton DC-AS (Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate) as a cleaning agent. The team tested the physical properties of silk before and after washing with these natural extracts, assessing wrinkle recovery, sheen, softness, roughness, and drape. They compared house silk and factory silk fabrics with plain weave and patterned weaves, evaluating color, solution stability, and pH levels.
The best-performing formula was found to be Formula 4 (Coconut Water: Coconut Oil: Lye Water from Ash in a 1:1:1 ratio).
