The detergent you use must not have protease, enzymes, alcohol, bleach, or any alkalines in it: these will dissolve silk and any other protein-based natural fabric, such as wool. So when clothing directions say to use a gentle detergent, they mean a detergent without those ingredients.
You can machine wash your silk on a low-temperature, gentle cycle. Use the time-reduction setting on your machine, if you have it. Wash like colours together. Use a delicate detergent such as Ecover Delicate Laundry Liquid.
This means that heavy-duty detergents meant for cotton or synthetic fibers just simply won't do. “To increase the longevity of your silk garments, we recommend handwashing them in cold water with a quarter teaspoon of gentle organic detergent and fabric softener for no more than five minutes,” offers Kes.
Silk reacts to alkaline detergents. These can cause the silk to become rough and even cause the fabric to break down.
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.
*For best results, use a little less than two teaspoons (9.5 mL) of Dawn® Platinum in a top-loading washing machine—be sure not to use too much, and don't use on delicate fabrics like silk.
Avoid using baby soap or shampoo to treat stains. Soap is made from lye and plant fats, ingredients that can damage your silk, leave behind residue, or remove one of silk's best features—its sheen. To prevent permanent damage, before washing silk, always perform a water test and a color bleeding test.
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!
Don't scrub or soak the material for too long as it is sensitive. To help your silks regain their lustre, in lukewarm or room temperature water, add some distilled vinegar and mix well. Soak the silk pieces in this water and for a maximum of 10 minutes and then remove from vinegar water.
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.
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).
Add a few drops of a mild detergent; the ones you'd use when machine washing will work here. If you're traveling or don't have a gentle detergent, you can safely wash silk with shampoo.
The Shining Silks expert care wash is a liquid detergent carefully crafted to take care of your silks, chiffons, georgettes and crepes. The pH balanced formula which is designed to be gentle on silk and retains the shine of the silk.
Whichever washing method you choose, remember that a gentle but effective liquid toxin-free laundry detergent is the best detergent for silk pillowcases (and for your health!)
Hand wash silk clothes in cold water
Fill a clean sink or small tub with lukewarm water and a small amount of delicate-friendly liquid detergent. Lightly agitate for three to five minutes and rinse well. If the care label advises machine washing, choose a gentle, cold-water cycle.
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.
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.
Test for Colorfastness
Sadly, dyed silk fades, so test your garment for colorfastness before washing. Dab an inconspicuous area, like the inside seam, with a damp clean cloth or Q-tips. If the color bleeds, take your garment to the cleaners.
White vinegar removes soap, restores shine and softens silk. Add 1/4 cup (50 ml) white vinegar to the basin of cold water. Gently move the garment around in the water to thoroughly rinse it. Empty the basin, then fill it one more time with cold water, and give the silk one last rinse.
Shrinking Silk
Silk can shrink if it is pre-washed for more than approximately five minutes. Letting a silk garment sit in water for a long time before washing causes its fibers to tighten and twist, thus producing a shrinking effect. Silk that is washed in hot water will also shrink.
Product Description. Woolite® Delicates laundry detergent is a gentle washing liquid, specially formulated to take care of your delicate garments in the wash.It can be used for machine washing in the gentle cycle, or for hand washing delicate fabrics such as silk and wool.
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.
It is best to wash all silk products in cold water. Don't use bleach, which will harm the fabric and cause it to yellow, or fabric softener which can leave residue on the fabric.