Silk can either be washed by hand or in the washer. If you decide on using the washer, set the machine to the gentle cycle, and place the silk pillowcase in a mesh laundry bag. This will protect it from snags or rough spots in the machine.
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.
Dryers and silk do not go together.
Silk should never, under any circumstances, be placed in the dryer. Once you have washed your silk, simply hang or lay flat to air dry in a cool place that is out of contact with direct sunlight.
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.
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.
Using too much detergent can leave residue on the fibers, making them feel rough and stiff. This is because detergents can strip the natural oils from the silk, which help to keep the fibers soft and smooth. To avoid this, use a gentle detergent and follow the recommended amount for the size of your load.
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.
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.
Washing on the wrong cycle.
Hot water can also damage silk. Do this instead: Wash silk on a silk or delicate cycle and cool water. Here are some guidelines for washing silk sheets; you can machine wash in cool to lukewarm water.
Pop your item in the washing machine – we recommend placing any silk items inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase to avoid snags or damage caused by the drum. Select a cool, delicate cycle (do not set the wash temperature to any higher than 30°C).
A silk pillowcase should be washed regularly and changed as often as you change your bedsheets. 'Typically we clean pillowcases and sheets together on a weekly or twice weekly schedule,' says Wayne Edelman. If you can, you should swap out your pillowcases for fresh once every few days.
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.
Silk that is washed in hot water will also shrink. A silk garment will also reduce in size if it dried in a hot dryer.
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.
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.
Silk clothing can be damaged in a number of ways, but one of the most common causes of damage to this expensive fabric is mishandling it while cleaning. This is particularly true when attempting to remove difficult stains. Because of its vulnerability to strong chemicals, bleach should never be used on silk fabric.
Silk cannot be tumble dried - True
Silk is best dried flat on the type of airer designed for this purpose. Hanging it on a washing line or a clothes hanger may stretch the fibres, making the piece misshapen. Exposure to UV light may also cause discolouration.
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.
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.
Silk should be washed in cold or lukewarm water not exceeding 75°F or 24°C. Silk will only shrink in hot water and the degree of shrinkage will depend on the type of silk fabric being used.
Woolite Delicates Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent is the best detergent for silk! Not only does this formula protect fabric fibers from damage due to over-washing, but it also contains no harsh ingredients that could cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is actually a great idea for anyone with oily hair.
To restore silk's smooth appearance and feel, you can try washing your pillowcases in a simple solution of one-fourth cup of distilled white vinegar and a gallon of water, following the hand-washing technique. A handheld steamer can also work to remove wrinkles from silk.