You can easily wash your silk pillowcase and sheets at home either by hand or machine. In fact, a silk pillowcase requires very little extra care. With a few simple guidelines, you can keep your silk pillowcase and sheets as luxurious and beautiful as the day you purchased them.
Washing Your New Silk Pillowcase: Getting Started
- Read the care label on your silk. You will find it is best to hand or machine wash it.
- Do NOT dry clean your silk pillowcase or sheets. This is not necessary and dry cleaning chemicals are not ideal for silk fabric that comes in direct contact with your skin and hair night after night.
- Choose the right detergent for silk. Commercial detergents can be very harsh, so avoid the “name brand” detergents you’d find in the supermarket or big box store. Look for a detergent that is specially formulated to clean delicate silk fabric without damaging it. Note: avoid any “biological” detergent that has laundry enzymes in it; these enzymes break-down protein-based stains, but can damage protein-based fabrics like silk and wool if they are used for regular washing. Choose a pH-neutral, gentle detergent that is made for washing silk like Heritage Park Silk and Wool Laundry Detergent.
How to Machine Wash Your Silk Pillowcase
- Wash your silk pillowcase and sheets in a SILK ONLY load. You never want your delicate silk to mix with any other fabrics.
- Pre-treat or pre-soak stains with laundry detergent or silk-safe stain remover.
- Turn your silk pillowcases inside out, and put your silk items in fine mesh laundry bags. These laundry bags will protect your silk pillowcase and sheets from damage caused by the agitator in your machine and from the metal of the drum, which can sometimes snag and tear delicate silk.
- Use only the recommended amount of detergent.
- Wash your silk in cool water on a delicate or hand wash cycle in your machine.
- Do not wring out your silk pillowcase; if it is still wet after the wash cycle, use a clean towel to blot excess moisture.
How to Hand Wash Your Silk Pillowcase
- Pre-treat or pre-soak stains with laundry detergent or silk-safe stain remover.
- Fill a clean sink, tub, utility sink or wash basin with cool water.
- Add the recommended amount of detergent and swish to dissolve.
- Submerge your silk pillowcase or sheets under the water and gently agitate with your hand (don’t rub or scrub).
- Rinse your silk pillowcase thoroughly. Don’t wring it out; use a clean towel to blot excess moisture.
Products to Avoid When Washing A Silk Pillowcase or Sheets
Silk is naturally smooth to the touch and does not require any additional treatment during the washing process. You should NEVER use fabric softener or bleach on silk. Fabric softener will leave an unpleasant residue and bleach will turn silk yellow or otherwise discolor it.
How to Dry Your Silk Pillowcase and Sheets
For best results, do not dry your silk pillowcase or silk sheets in the dryer, where the heat can damage the silk fiber. Instead, hang your sheets to dry outdoors or even inside, away from direct sunlight, which can cause silk to fade. If you absolutely must put silk in the dryer, we recommend using only the air setting with no heat; the movement will dry your silk pillowcase quickly. Never use dryer sheets or dryer balls with a silk pillowcase.
Tip – How to Wash Silk Pillowcase
Ironing Silk: How to Do It Safely
Silk is a protein-based natural fiber that will wrinkle after washing. However, your silk pillowcase and silk sheets will release their wrinkles after a few nights of use. In general, putting silk sheets back on your bed and smoothing them will go a long way toward releasing wrinkles.
If you do choose to iron your silk, follow these steps:
- Turn your silk pillowcase or sheets inside out and iron on the “wrong” side.
- Iron sparingly on the coolest available setting.
- You can use a light steam to allow the iron to glide smoothly over the fabric.
