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How to Wash Silk Pillowcases?
We all know the benefits of sleeping on a silk pillowcase, but we may not know how to wash and care for it. "How to wash my silk pillowcase?" It is one of the most frequently asked questions by our customers.
Inside this article :
Three options to wash silk pillowcases
There is no doubt silk is a luxurious and delicate fabric that needs us to pay special care when to laundry it, but it does not mean we must do the dry cleaning every time, or you could not wash it by machine. Good news is that you could easily wash your silk pillowcases at home by hand or in the washing machine according to correct instructions. Which way is the best option? Let’s check the differences below for you to make the right decision.
Available Methods | Cost | Time | Safe or not |
Dry cleaning | High | Hours to days in the shop(waiting and delivery time) | Safe but it may shrink certain types of silk. Please check the care label. |
Hand washing | Very low | 15m-30m at home | The safest way but please follow the instructions below |
Machine washing | Very low | 15-30m at home | Safe but please follow the instructions below |
Five warnings before washing:
Either by hand or in a washing machine, please keep in mind the following five precautions before washing.
Never mix items made of other fabrics with silk pillowcases during laundry. The silk pillowcase may reduce its luster and be damaged by the hard material or sharp accessories.
Never mix silk pillowcases in different colors during laundry. If mixed, there may be color bleeding.
Never use chlorine bleach or any detergent that contains chlorine bleach which will deadly ruin the silk pillowcase because silk fiber will dissolve in chlorine bleach.
Never use water more than 30°C / 86°F to wash silk. Otherwise, it will cause color bleeding and destroy the silk fiber's inside structure.
Never soak silk in water for more than 5 minutes, which may cause shrinking, pilling, and color fading.
How to choose the correct detergent?
As silk is a natural protein fiber, you should choose a gentle detergent specially formulated for silk to maximize its life. Consider factors such as skin sensitivities, type of fabric, and load size. Read labels and choose a detergent with the right balance of cleaning power and gentleness. Make the right choice for your clothes and household.
What you should avoid when choosing the detergent?
Avoid using too acidic or too alkaline detergents because they will cause those fibers to rough and harden.
Avoid using bleach, fabric softener, or any brightener detergents because they will reduce the gloss of the silk fiber or destroy the silk fiber.
Avoid using enzyme-based detergent detergents because they will damage the integrity of the silk fiber.
Products that are not compatible with your washing machine, as they may harm the machine.
Products that do not fit the specific needs of your household, such as using a regular detergent for delicate or special care items.
Comparisons of three top silk detergents on Amazon
*Remarks below in red mean you need to double-check with the sellers before purchasing.
Consideration points | The Laundress New York 16 OZ. | Heritage Park Silk & Wool Detergent 32 OZ. | Woolite Delicates 16 OZ. |
Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 (2506 ratings) | 4.5 out of 5 (391 ratings) | 4.7 out of 5 ( 975 ratings) |
Price | $20.00 | $23.00 | $4.47 |
Size | 16 OZ | 32 OZ | 16 OZ |
Price/OZ | $1.25 | $0.72 | $0.28 |
For Use With | Silk, synthetics and blends | Natural fibers like silk and wool | Silk, wool and synthetics |
PH Neutral | Not sure | Yes | Not sure |
Enzyme-free | Not sure | Yes | Yes |
Toxin-free | No petroleum, phosphates, phthalates and artificial color | No chlorine/dyes/brighteners/sulfates/bleach/phosphates | No chlorine/bleach/phosphates |
Hypoallergenic tested | Not sure | Yes | Yes |
Dermatologist & Pediatrician tested | Not sure | Yes | Not sure |
How to remove stains before washing?
After sleeping on the silk pillowcase for nights, you may discover yellow spots caused by sweat and other stains from makeup or skin-care products. Please pre-treat those stains before you wash them.Color bleeding test: If you have a silk swatch (Promeed does prepare it for every customer when shipping the silk pillowcase), please wet it and check whether the color runs out. If you could not find the swatch, please use a wet white and clean cloth as a replacement, and press it on a small area of your silk pillowcase to do the test.
If any color comes off, it is better to get your silk pillowcase dry cleaned.
If no color runs out, spray some gentle silk detergent on the stained areas, and wait no more than 5 minutes to let the detergent work on stains.
Start hand washing or machine washing the silk pillowcase as instructed.
How to wash silk pillowcases by hand?
What you need: A clean sink or washtub
Gentle detergent for silk
Distilled white vinegar (optional)
Lukewarm water max 30°C / 86°F
One clean and dry towel
Instructions:
Pour a proper amount of silk detergent according to the label recommendations into the lukewarm water (max 30°C / 86°F)
Mix the detergent slightly with your hands to dissolve it
Turn the silk pillowcase inside out
Soak the silk pillowcase no more than 5 minutes
Gently swirl and squeeze the silk pillowcase. Do not wring or twist it
Dump out the water and detergent and rinse the silk pillowcase in changes of new clean lukewarm water
Add 2-3 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to remove the detergent residue. (Optional)
Let the silk pillowcase soak for about 1 minute
Gently swirl and squeeze the silk pillowcase. Do not wring or twist it
Lay the silk pillowcase flat on a clean and dry towel. Make sure all the corners are flat.
Roll up the towel with the silk pillowcase inside of it. Gently press the water out of the silk pillowcase.
How to wash silk pillowcases by machine?
Hand washing silk is the safest method because you can see and control the whole process. While if you have no time to hand wash it, machine wash is also available according to the following instructions.
What you need:
Front-load washers (considering top-load machines can be rough on fabrics)
Gentle detergent for silk
Lukewarm water max 30°C / 86°F
Mesh laundry bag
Instructions:
Choose the silk or delicate cycle on your washer
Set the water temperature max 30°C / 86°F
Make sure the spin speed is low
Put the silk pillowcase in a mesh laundry bag to prevent tearing
Wash the silk pillowcase separately from other items, and do not mix colors
Do not soak the silk pillowcase for more than 5 minutes
Promptly take the silk pillowcase out from the washer once the cycle finishes
How often to wash silk pillowcases?
Although silk pillowcases are anti-bacterial, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to wash them regularly. As your hair and face touch directly to the silk pillowcase every night, there will have stains and dirties on the surface of the pillowcase. Please wash your silk pillowcase every week, and keep one extra piece at hand for exchange.
How to dry silk pillowcases?
Never use a hot dryer because the heat will destroy the silk fibers and cause color fading. Hanging the silk pillowcase to air dry is the safest way.
What you need:
A clothesline or a drying rack
Cautions:
Avoid direct sunlight or any heat sources
Avoid using a wooden drying rack as it will leave stains on the silk
How to iron silk pillowcases?
Iron silk pillowcases only when there are stubborn wrinkles, and please follow the instructions below.- Use silk setting at the lowest temperature
- Put a clean white dry cloth between the silk pillowcase and iron to prevent scorching
- Turn the silk pillowcase inside out
- Do not wet the silk pillowcase as it will leave marks
How to store silk pillowcases?
As silk is a very absorbent fiber, you need to store your silk pillowcase in a cool and dry place to prevent moisture damage.
Cautions:
- Do not fold your silk pillowcase tightly because that will cause stubborn wrinkles
- Use a breathable plastic bag for long term storage
- Avoid direct sunlight or any heat sources
- Use moth repellent, lavender sachets or cedar balls
How to choose the right silk pillowcase?
As the No.1 beauty secret and its multiple benefits to hair and skin, a silk pillowcase is a must investment to every woman. Please take the following tips into consideration when you decide to buy a silk pillowcase, which will help save your money and find the right silk pillowcase.- Material: 6A premium 100% mulberry silk with Oeko-Tex certification
- Momme options: 19mm (standard) / 22mm(premium) / 25mm (luxury)
- Closure: YKK zipper or envelope
- Seam: Minimum seams to reduce friction
- Craftsmanship: the 3rd generation mulberry silk series (the newest technology)
- Label: printed label (tales and scratch-free). Do not choose the silk pillowcase with an embroidery logo because it is easy to be torn.
- Price: Normally between US$20-US$70 depending on mms, sizes, and quality. If less than US$20, it is probably fake or low-quality silk. If it is over US$70, it is probably with a high margin.
