DON'T dry a silk pillowcase in direct sunlight or in a heated dryer cycle. If you absolutely must use the dryer, use it on the air/no-heat cycle. DO steam silk bedding if you'd like to eliminate wrinkles.
The first thing you need to know about how to dry silk pillowcases is that you should never put them in the dryer. The high heat of a dryer — even on a low setting — will destroy the silk's fiber.
Exposing your garment to long bursts of sunlight can cause the colors to fade or even damage your silk fabrics. Do not tumble dry. Silk is very delicate and the high temperatures of the tumble dryer can shrink or damage your silks. Use a detergent for delicates.
Avoid wooden drying racks which can leech dyes or stains into silk. Your silk should dry in about 45 minutes depending on temperature and conditions. DO iron sparingly, only on the coolest setting with sheets and turn your pillowcases inside out.
Although the Blissy care guidelines say you can put your pillowcase in the dryer on an air-only setting for a bit, we strongly advise hanging your silk pillowcases on a drying rack (or laying them flat on a towel) away from direct sunlight which can fade pure silk.
Use the delicate or gentle cycle. Finally, the answer to the question that is likely on your mind – yes, you can use the dryer! Set your dryer to the lowest temperature and dry your Blissy products for up to 20 minutes. Remove and let them air dry the rest of the way until completely dry.
Blissy recommends that sleepers wash their pillowcase in cool water with mild detergent on the delicate cycle. To protect the fabric, you can place the pillowcase in a mesh laundry bag. Air drying the pillowcase can help extend its lifespan.
Detergent can stiffen silk
Even if you are hand washing your silks are per the instructions, if you are using a detergent, they can become stiff. Using a castile soap like Dr Bronner's instead can help a lot. Even after air drying, though, your silk may still be a bit stiff.
Avoid the dryer
Lay wet silk clothing flat onto a clean, absorbent towel and roll it up in the towel to rid excess moisture. Unroll and repeat using a second dry towel, then lay flat on a drying rack or dry towel.
Yes you can. However, whether your pillowcase is silk or cotton, going to bed with wet hair can attract bacteria. If your silk pillowcase absorbs some of your hair product, you can wash this out as easily as a cotton pillow case in most cases, but keeping in mind that silk is more delicate than cotton.
Silk is a very delicate material and you should generally never tumble-dry it in a dryer. Even on low heat, the warmth can make the fabric shrink, pucker or become otherwise damaged. Instead, air-dry your silk pieces. You can lay them flat or hang them to dry.
The tumble action in the dryer will cause damage to the silk fibers, and the high levels of heat could possibly lead to shrinkage as well. Polyester satin can sometimes be placed into the dryer, depending on if the item's care label allows for it.
Once removed from the towel, lay the silk garment out flat on a drying rack without using any clothes pegs. The silk should be dried in the shade, as direct sunlight can cause its colours to fade. Silk tends to dry quite quickly, and you should fine that your garment is dry within around 30-60 minutes.
If you find that the sheen of your silk clothing has lost its luster or shimmer and appears to have a white film or looks dull, the silk fibers may have become damaged due to improper cleaning or exposure to too much light or heat.
Silk will shrink in the dryer if the dryer is set to tumble dry medium or tumble dry high, however, silk should never be put into the dryer and should flat dry or be placed on a drying rack to dry.
Never wash your satin garments in hot water, as they will shrink. As we said, if you want them to keep their shine, do not use the dryer for your satin-finish garments.
The recommended way to dry silk is by hanging it in a place with good air circulation. Air drying silk best allows the silk to retain its shape afterwards. Avoid contact with direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can damage silk fibers as well as cause colors to fade.
As with any cover, it's important to wash your silk pillowcases once a week to avoid bacteria buildup.
Silk pillowcases are just as likely to collect bacteria as cotton pillowcases. We recommend washing your pillowcase regularly in order to avoid bacteria buildup. Some claims purport that amino acids in silk can help reduce wrinkles and prevent breakage in the hair.
To restore some of the shine and softness that's been lost, you can give your silk pieces a mild white vinegar bath. White vinegar helps to remove any residual soap in the fibres, and also restores lustre and softness to silk.
Turn Pillowcases & Duvets Inside Out
Turning your pillowcases and duvet inside out not only keep the material from shedding or colors from fading but helps thoroughly wash away any accumulated debris.
Make sure to dry pillows completely, as lingering dampness could reintroduce the mildew, bacteria, and dust mites you're trying to avoid. Dry pillows in your dryer on a low heat setting, checking them every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure even drying.
But in reality, silk pillowcases, like other silk items, can usually be washed at home. Unless the item's care label carries a "dry clean only" warning, it can be successfully washed at home if you use cold water, a gentle detergent made for delicate fabrics, and if you avoid using heat to dry the items.