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!) Avoid harsh liquid and powdered detergents, as these products coat and weaken the natural fibers.
Use a detergent for delicates. Studio by Tide Delicates Liquid Laundry Detergent has been specifically designed to take care of silk. Check for colorfastness. Some silk garments may bleed in the wash, so test a damp area by dabbing with a wet, white cloth to see if any color leaks onto it.
*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. Spot test with a small drop in a less visible area to make sure the material will not be damaged.
Rule Number One: use shampoo to wash your silks, not dish liquid, woolite, or laundry detergent. Silks (and wool) are protein fibers, just like your hair, so use shampoo. You don't ever want to use Biz on silks. The enzymes are very bad for these protein fibers.
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!)
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.
A good alternative is a non alkaline soap or even baby shampoo! Do not soak. Wash your silk gently through the soapy water for a just a few minutes. Rinsing can take a bit of time, but adding a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the water is recommended as it neutralizes alkali traces.
Myth: Silk Blouses are Dry Clean Only.
The right way: Fill a clean sink with lukewarm or cold water and a small amount of delicates-friendly liquid detergent, like Tide Free & Gentle Liquid. Lightly agitate for three to five minutes, rinse well, and dry flat. Get more tips on How to Wash Silk here.
Dish soap is also highly concentrated, so it might take several rinses to properly remove it from your clothes, wasting water. Even then, you might feel a waxy residue on the pieces or notice that towels or fleece pieces seem matted rather than fluffy.
As with any cover, it's important to wash your silk pillowcases once a week to avoid bacteria buildup.
All Woolite® products are liquid detergents and are specially formulated for the machine to not cause shrinking, stretching, or fading on washable suede, linen, cotton, washable wool, silk, rayon, polyester, cotton/polyester, nylon, nylon/spandex and rayon/spandex.
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.
White distilled vinegar can be an effective and ecofriendly addition to your rinse. Half a cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse water will help silk keep its sheen as well as kill odor causing bacterias.
Do's: Use a gentle detergent and gentle agitation when washing silk items. Treat stains by using a mild detergent and gently rubbing with your fingers. Don'ts: Avoid chlorine bleach, direct sunlight, hot water, and vigorous scrubbing. Recommended detergent: ARM & HAMMER™ Clean Burst Liquid Laundry Detergent.
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.
Use a pH neutral soap: a detergent designed for delicates, an olive oil soap or even baby shampoo will work well. You can use fabric conditioner, or hair conditioner works well on silk or wool.
Description: Neutral liquid detergent is without optical white, perfume and dyes, reducing the risk of allergy and hypersensitivity problems.
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).
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.
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.
These detergents are usually dye- and perfume-free and do not contain harsh cleaners. Most mild detergents are bleach-free. The packaging labels will identify if the product is considered a mild detergent.
Use gentle laundry detergent like Woolite. Only use cold water. Machine wash on the delicate or gentle cycle or hand wash. Use white vinegar instead of fabric softener.