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.
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. A light steam will enable the iron to glide smoothly over the fabric.
But when it comes to washing silks, it's strongly advised that you avoid the laundry room and find time to hand-wash in cool water. 'Washing silk in hot or even warm water can cause shrinkage to your bedding,' explains James. 'It's best to hand wash your silk in cold water which is anything 86 Fahrenheit or below. '
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.
Place all silk items in a fine mesh laundry bag to help keep the silk from tearing or pilling. Wash silk in the delicate or gentle cycle in cool water. Temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can damage your silk bedding.
If you frequently sleep with wet hair, we suggest investing in a silk pillowcase. Silk doesn't retain moisture well, thereby allowing your hair to dry faster. More importantly, it's slick and produces less friction when compared with a cotton or flannel pillowcase.
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 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.
Some detergents are simply too harsh for silk and will leave it feeling rough and scratchy. Choose a gentle detergent specified for washing delicate fabrics, which will clean well while protecting the fibers.
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.
While the benefits of silk pillowcases are sometimes overstated, it is true that they have a cool, luxurious feel. This can make them a good investment for hot sleepers, as well as those who have sensitive skin or frizzy hair.
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.
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.
We recommend using a gentle or delicate cycle, cool or cold water, and placing your pure silk bed linen in fine mesh bags to protect the delicate fabric. Lastly, we suggest using a mild detergent specially formulated to wash silk.
Are silk pillowcases worth it? Yes! Not only do they feel great to sleep on, silk pillowcase benefits also include smoother hair and smoother skin.
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.
If you have oily hair, a silk pillowcase may not be the best choice, since a cotton pillowcase will absorb oil better, according to Aguirre. Silk pillowcases will be more beneficial if you have dry hair, or are experiencing breakage.
If you have short hair, sleep with it down since tying it up would cause too much friction and pressure on your scalp. If you have long hair, you're going to want to tie it up to protect your strands, especially the ends, from getting snagged or pulled as you sleep.
Satin feels cool to the touch, whereas silk warms up with body heat. For those who prefer to sleep on a cool surface, satin is the better choice. Satin is easy to launder and will look beautiful for years. Silk's thin, delicate fibers usually require hand washing and hanging to dry, and will degrade over time.
Mildew grows in moist, warm places that are not well ventilated or lack sunlight, discoloring silk. The smell of mildew on silk products may make you feel disconcerted before you can see it. Fortunately, you can remove it with hydrogen peroxide.
You can use any silk or wool-safe detergents because of their pH-neutral nature. If you don't have it on hand, just use a few tiny drops of your hair shampoo as detergent for your silk pillowcase.
A key factor when choosing pillowcases for acne is the type of fabric used. Smoother fabrics like silk and Tencel are generally less abrasive, meaning they are less likely to irritate acne-prone skin.