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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Use the silk setting on your iron, or set the temperature to around 148°C (300°F). We want to avoid water droplets at all costs, thus avoiding the steam setting at all costs! Use a pressing cloth to avoid putting heat directly on the pattern on both sides of double-sided silk when ironing.
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.
You used the wrong drying method
Drying silk on high heat or in direct sunlight can cause the fibers to become stiff and lose their softness. It is best to air-dry silk by laying it flat on a clean, dry surface or hanging it up in a well-ventilated area.
First, you need to fill a large basin with lukewarm water and put a couple of tablespoons of baby shampoo. Next, you need to put the shrunken silk or linen in the basin, allow it to soak for 30 minutes, and rinse. After that, you need to place the garment flat on a towel and roll it until it becomes damp.
Use a Low-Heat Setting on the Dryer
If your dryer has a no-heat, low-heat, cool or air-fluff setting, you can try dewrinkling silk using that setting without the risk of heat damage. Keep the drying time as short as possible, checking the item every five to 10 minutes to see if the wrinkles have lifted.
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 also weakens when wet and can degrade in heat but this doesn't mean it is not washable. It just means that you need to wash it a certain (easy!) way to keep your silk garment as fresh as new for much longer. Better to be safe than sorry!
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.
Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, but it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. It has a good moisture regain of 11%. Its elasticity is moderate to poor: if elongated even a small amount, it remains stretched. It can be weakened if exposed to too much sunlight.
Sun and Water Damage. Silk is highly susceptible to damage from the elements. Even a tiny bit of water can leave a visible stain that's impossible to get rid of. And sunlight weakens the fibers of silk, resulting in tearing and fading.
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.
Dry Cleaning Only Fabrics
There are several fabrics that just don't respond well to washing with water. Linen, wool, rayon and silk may lose its shape or quality when washed in water. Dyes in silk and rayon can easily bleed.
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.
' The good news is that ironing silk without damaging it is possible. The trick is to understand how to iron silk gently to avoid any damage. Iron your silk while it's still damp after washing and remember to turn the garment inside out first.