How to Wash a Silk Pillowcase: A Step-by-Step Care Guide

Here is how to wash a silk pillowcase: turn it inside out, place it in a delicates bag and machine wash on a cold, delicate cycle below 30°C with a pH-neutral or delicate detergent. Skip the fabric softener, bleach and tumble dryer, dry it flat on a laundry stand away from direct heat, and iron inside out on low heat if needed.

That is the whole routine, and it is exactly what our silk care instructions recommend. Below you will find each step in detail, how to care for a silk pillowcase so it keeps its sheen, and quick answers to the questions we are asked most.

How do you wash silk pillowcases? The short answer

If you are wondering how to wash silk pillowcases without second-guessing every cycle, these six steps cover it:

1. Turn inside out and place inside a delicates bag.
2. Machine wash on a cold, delicate cycle, below 30°C.
3. Use a pH-neutral or delicate detergent.
4. Do not use fabric softener, bleach or the tumble dryer.
5. Dry flat on a laundry stand away from direct heat.
6. Iron inside out on low heat.

If you remember one rule, make it this one: cold, delicate cycle, never hot.

Why silk needs a gentler wash

Mulberry silk is a natural protein fibre with a long, smooth filament, and that smooth surface, with less friction than cotton, is the reason to choose silk over cotton or satin.

The care rules are there to protect that surface: cool water, a pH-neutral detergent and no heat. The same principles apply to all your silk. Keep it cool, keep it gentle and never wash it hot, whether it is a pillowcase, a robe or a scrunchie.

How to wash a silk pillowcase in the washing machine

For pillowcases, the washing machine is the method our care guide sets out, and our 22 momme silk is made for it. Every pillowcase in our silk pillowcases collection takes the same wash.

What you need

• A delicates bag
• A pH-neutral, delicate or silk-safe detergent
• A laundry stand for drying flat

Machine-wash steps

1. Turn the pillowcase inside out and place it inside a delicates bag.
2. Choose a cold, delicate cycle, below 30°C. Never hot.
3. Add a pH-neutral or delicate detergent.
4. Leave out the fabric softener and bleach.
5. When the cycle finishes, lay the pillowcase flat on a laundry stand to dry (see drying, below).

Shop the 22 momme Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

What detergent to use on silk

The brief is short: pH-neutral, and delicate or silk-safe only. Fabric softener and bleach stay out of the drawer every time. If a detergent is not labelled as suitable for silk or delicates, choose one that is.

Can you hand wash a silk pillowcase?

Our care guide gives the washing machine as the method for pillowcases, so that is the one we recommend for your Silk Works pillowcase. If you do choose to wash by hand, the same core rules apply: cool water below 30°C, a pH-neutral or silk-safe detergent, no fabric softener or bleach, and dry flat away from direct heat.

How to dry a silk pillowcase

Silk never goes in the tumble dryer. Dry your pillowcase flat on a laundry stand, away from direct heat, so no radiators and no heated airers. Choose a spot in the shade.

Can you iron a silk pillowcase?

Yes. Iron your pillowcase inside out on low heat. This applies to pillowcases and silk loungewear only. Scrunchies and eye masks are hung to dry and not ironed.

Keeping your silk pillowcase at its best

How often to wash a silk pillowcase

Wash it as often as you would any pillowcase; regular cool washes are all it needs to stay fresh. Keeping a second pillowcase in rotation means one is always on the bed while the other dries. Our Set of 2 Silk Pillowcases makes that easy, or browse all our silk pillowcase sets.

How to bring back the shine

If your silk looks a little flat, a vinegar rinse brings the shine back:

1. Fill a basin with cool water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar per litre of water.
3. Submerge the silk for 3 to 5 minutes, swishing gently.
4. Rinse with cool water (optional).
5. Dry flat in the shade.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing hot, or on anything other than a cold, delicate cycle.
• Adding fabric softener or bleach.
• Using the tumble dryer.
• Drying on a radiator or anywhere near direct heat.
• Skipping the delicates bag.
• Ironing on high heat, or on the right side instead of inside out.

Washing silk eye masks and scrunchies

Smaller silk pieces have their own routine. Our care guide gives scrunchies and eye masks a cool hand wash rather than the washing machine.

How to wash a silk sleep mask

1. Use cool water, below 30°C.
2. Always use a pH-neutral or silk-safe detergent.
3. Gently agitate, avoiding twisting or wringing.
4. Hang to dry away from direct heat.
5. Do not iron.

Shop the Audrey Silk Eye Mask, or browse all our silk eye masks.

How to clean a silk scrunchie

The same cool hand wash: water below 30°C, a pH-neutral or silk-safe detergent and a gentle swish, with no twisting or wringing. Hang to dry away from direct heat. Do not iron.

Shop the Large Silk Scrunchie, or browse all our silk scrunchies.

Robes, pyjamas and camisoles from our silk loungewear collection take the same cool machine wash as your pillowcase.

Why it's worth the care

Our Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is Grade 6A, 22 momme mulberry silk, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, with a hidden zip. That weight gives it the substance to go in the washing machine while keeping its smooth, lustrous surface. Look after it with a cool wash and it gives you, night after night:

• Less friction than cotton, for smoother overnight hair and easier brush-through
• Silk that prevents frizz
• Sleep creases that are less likely to set in
• Night creams that stay on the face
• A comfortably cool feel and softer mornings

Read more about silk pillowcase benefits, or the wider benefits of silk.

Silk pillowcase washing FAQs

Can I machine wash my silk pillowcase?

Yes. Machine washing is the method our care guide sets out for pillowcases: inside out, in a delicates bag, on a cold, delicate cycle below 30°C. The full steps are above and on our silk care instructions page.

Can I put a silk pillowcase in the tumble dryer?

No. The tumble dryer is on our never list, along with fabric softener and bleach. Dry flat on a laundry stand, away from direct heat.

What is the best detergent for a silk pillowcase?

A pH-neutral detergent that is labelled delicate or silk-safe. No fabric softener and no bleach.

Can you iron silk pillowcases?

Yes, inside out on low heat.

How often should I wash a silk pillowcase?

As often as you would any pillowcase. A second pillowcase makes it easy to keep one on the bed while the other dries.

Is the wash the same for all my silk?

Cool, never hot: below 30°C with a pH-neutral or silk-safe detergent, and never in the tumble dryer. Pillowcases and loungewear go in the machine on a cold, delicate cycle, while scrunchies and eye masks are hand washed. Our silk care guide covers each product.

Elevate your beauty sleep

There is nothing quite like resting your head on pure mulberry silk, and looking after it takes a few minutes a week. Explore our full range of silk pillowcases, or pair a pillowcase with a silk eye mask in our Beauty Sleep Set.

Still deciding? Read is a silk pillowcase worth it?