No, you cannot put silk in the dryer on low heat or tumble dry low. Even though the low heat setting may help to avoid shrinking your silk, the tumble motion of the dryer will likely damage the silk fibers significantly.
Don't put silk items in the dryer. Heat can damage delicate silk fibers. If the dryer is absolutely necessary to use only 'air' setting for 15 minutes or less with NO fabric sheets or dryer balls. Remove sheets before completely dry.
Activewear, loosely woven garments, silk, and items embellished with beads or embroidery are best dried on the delicate or gentle cycle. The low heat helps keep your clothes safe during the drying process, as these garments are prone to melting or stretching under high heat.
Never wring out your silk items or toss them in the dryer, says Whitehurst. To remove excess water, place the wet garment on a white cotton towel. Fold the towel over and gently blot. Then, using a padded hanger, hang the blouse or dress over the bathtub to drip dry.
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.
Overexposure to sunlight and heat can also cause damage to the texture and color of a silk garment, so avoid placing them near heat sources or windows that let in a lot of daylight.
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.
Don't forget that silk loses much of its strength when it's wet and wringing it out will damage it. Lay out each wet piece on a clean, dry towel and roll it up. The excess water will soak into the towel. To finish drying, lay the garment flat.
We do not recommend putting your sheets in the dryer. If you must do so, use only the "air" setting for the shortest time possible. Ironing silk sheets is not always necessary; any wrinkles after laundering will smooth and release over time.
“Tumble dry low” means to dry your item in the dryer on a low heat setting or Delicate cycle. Low heat is usually around 125 degrees Fahrenheit and is designed for delicate items like knitwear or sheer fabrics, as well as workout clothes made of high-performance fabric like spandex and lycra.
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.
Tumble dry low (or Delicate/Gentle cycle) is ideal for loosely woven fabrics or anything with embellishment, like beading, sequins and iron-on decals (sports jerseys). It's especially important to dry spandex/exercise clothing on low heat because it helps retain the garment's fit and performance.
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.
To iron silk without damaging it, it's crucial that you use the lowest heat setting on your iron. Many irons have an actual silk setting, in which case this is the best way to go. Simply lay the garment flat on the ironing board, place the press cloth on top, and then iron.
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.
Softening Rough Silk After Washing
Air drying can make silk a bit crispy. Use these tips to soften it up. Gently run an iron over it on the "silk" setting while still slightly damp to soften it up.
Wash silk after every few wearings unless it needs freshening and stain removal. Remember that washing your silk clothes at home may put the garments at risk of color fading if cleaned too often. Dry cleaning usually doesn't fade the color of silk clothing as fast as home washing.
Silk is a delicate fabric, and you'll want to make sure it stays beautiful even after you've cleaned it. Washing it at too high a heat can cause it to shrink and damage it. It may be worth getting your silk garment professionally dry cleaned to avoid damage if it's particularly precious to you.
Silk is a delicate fabric, and traditional laundry detergents can be too harsh and cause damage. Bleach and fabric softener should also be avoided, as they can also cause the fibers to break down over time. Furthermore, silk should be washed in cold water, as hot water can also cause damage.
Similarly, silk can be handwashed, but doing so may change the lustre and drape of the fabric. If you have a silk garment made from particularly delicate silk, like chiffon or georgette, it's best to take it to a dry-cleaner as these fabrics are more likely to be affected by water.
If your silk clothes had only a few wrinkles, then you can try using a hair dryer for a quick fix instead of going for such laborious options. For that, you would need to spray some water on the wrinkled area using a fine mist spray bottle and then use your hair dryer to dry the garment.
While your dryer may come in handy for relaxing wrinkles in other fabrics, the steady heat and agitation could permanently damage your silk and it's definitely not worth the risk! Luckily, silk is a fabric that air-dries super quickly and this will actually keep wrinkles from forming in the first place.
That said, it's worth noting that silk isn't as absorbent as its cotton or linen contemporaries and choosing to wear a silk slip or skirt may result in sweat stains on a very humid day.