When you first bought the silk pillowcase you might think they are so delicate that it would require you to use dry-cleaning methods in order to get it cleaned. But, in most of the situations, you will be buying silk pillowcases and even bedsheets that can be easily washed at home using simple cold water and gentle detergent which is made for delicate fibers like silk.
One more thing to take care of is the heat; when you are cleaning silk pillowcases, make sure the fabric does not get in direct contact with heat, such as sunlight or dryer.
This is just the overall basic technique that you will be using to wash your silk pillowcases.
But do you know the science behind the cautions, such as putting it in cold water or not keeping the pillowcases out in the direct sunlight?
Well, today, with this blog, we are going to show you the best ways to wash your silk pillowcases and the reason behind cleaning them in that way. Furthermore, we will also share vital tips on drying your silk bedding and silk pillowcase care. So let’s find out methods of silk fabric maintenance to make your silk bedding last long.
Understanding Silk
Before we talk about the washing, cleaning and drying steps of silk pillowcases, we need to discuss silk as a fabric for your bedding. See, silk is known to keep your body cool by wicking away extra moisture from it.
This will keep you warm on cold nights. At the same time, it is pretty lightweight and known to be a breathable fabric. Thus, it allows good air circulation to the skin and hair, keeping your body temperature in check during hot summer nights.
Moreover, silk bedding does not dry your skin like other fabrics like cotton and linen. It is proven that with the use of silk pillowcases, you can even slow down the appearance of wrinkles and the effects of aging. It also prevents or lowers the chances of skin diseases like eczema and dermatitis.
All the benefits that we have discussed here come from the natural abilities that silk fabric possesses. So overall, silk is the best naturally grown fabric for a good night’s sleep.
Preparing to Wash Silk Pillowcases
Now that you know why silk is best for bedding, let’s move to the main course of our blog, which is a silk bedding care and washing guide. Before you do anything, you need to prepare both your washing machine and your silk pillowcase for cleaning.
First, you need to pre-soak your silk pillowcases and silk bedding in a cold water for about 10 to 15 minutes. After that, turn the pillowcases inside out and once again immerse them in cold water for another 10 to 15 minutes.
The next step involves you to take out the pillowcases from the cold water in such a way that the pillowcases don’t have too many wrinkles on them.
After you take out silk pillowcases from the water, you should inspect them for rips, tears, stains, or any other signs of damage that you need to take care of during the washing process.
In addition to this, you will also need to set your washing machine to delicate or mild cycle. When it comes to silk pillowcase care and washing you need to choose the most delicate setting in your washing machine to make the washing process as light as possible.
Hand Washing Silk Pillowcases
There are two ways of washing your silk pillowcases and silk bedding: either you can wash them by hand, or you can use a washing machine.
Hand washing is considered to be the preferred way of cleaning silk bedding because of the silk’s delicate nature. With hand washing you can increase the life of your silk pillowcase very minutely in comparison to cleaning them using a washing machine.
For hand washing, you fill a bucket or a sink with cool water, then add mild detergent which doesn’t have any toxins in the bucket.
After that, soak your silk pillowcases and bedding in the mix for about 15 to 30 minutes.
Once the above step is done, take your silk pillowcases out and rinse them in cold water once again.
Finally, if needed, gently spot clean areas that you feel require some extra work.
Machine Washing Silk Pillowcases
When it comes to machine washing there are simple rules of best practices for silk pillowcase care that you need to follow in order to get the best results. Furthermore, it is the fastest way to travel between the two, so it saves you a lot of time
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Check for the stains on your silk pillowcases and silk bedding. If you do find any of them, put some mild detergent on them and rub the stain gently.
Also, be cautious about not using any fabric softener. Furthermore, to protect your silk bedding, you can also use a mesh laundry bag.
After that, put your machine on a delicate wash and feed your washing machine with cold water.
Let the machine cycle which can probably last for about 15 to 45 minutes depending on the machine setting.
Drying Silk Pillowcases
The last task of washing silk pillowcases and bedding is drying them properly so no wrinkles can be found on them when you place them up in storage.
The drying process and care for silk pillowcases are the same for both hand washing and machine washing. So, no matter which washing technique you choose, you have to follow the drying instructions written down below:
Air Dryer
Air drying is the best choice for keeping the silk fabric protected and clean. With air drying your pillowcases will be thoroughly dry and will have no bacteria. With air dryer we mean to hang your silk pillowcases on a wire, not use any machine dryer that use heat as a medium to dry out clothing.
With air drying, you will reduce the chances of your silk pillowcases getting wrinkled and shrunk. Use any air dryer that you have, but place it indoors because if you do keep it in direct sunlight, the color on your fabric will fade away for sure. Lastly, do not use clippers on silk pillowcases when drying them on cloth wire; it can cause temporary and even permanent imprints on your silk fabric.
Tumble Dryer
The second option is a tumble dryer; it isn’t the best method if we are speaking in terms of care of silk pillowcases. But again, if you don’t have much time, you can use it quickly to dry out your silk pillowcase. Select the delicate cycle and add a dryer sheet to your dryer; the sheet will help keep your silk soft and reduce static.
Ironing and Steaming Silk Pillowcases
To iron your silk pillowcase and bedding, you first need to put your pillowcases inside.
Also, put your ironing or steam machine in the lowest heat setting.
Use the light touch to make sure that you are not pressing the fabric too much, resulting in overheating.
During the ironing, you need to hold iron in your dominant hand and use the other hand to pull the silk pillowcase so it can remain in taut shape.
Move your iron in a circular motion as you go on with the ironing process, keep in mind to iron both the sides and do take extra care of creases and wrinkles.
Once you are done ironing your silk pillowcases, place them over the hanger so they can be air-dried.
Conclusion
With the correct washing techniques, you will be able to keep your silk pillowcase feel and look luxurious, thus, giving your bedroom its staple pristine looks. Remember to wash your silk pillowcases and bedding at least once every 10 days. On the other hand, if you are using silk pillowcases or bedding for babies, then the cleaning cycle has to be shrunk down to just 6 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular detergent to wash silk pillowcases?
No matter the type of detergent you use, the one thing you need to keep in mind is that it should be toxin-free. Or you can use any of the gentle laundry soap which is specifically formulated for silk.
How often should I wash silk pillowcases?
The fibers of silk are much more resistant to absorption than linen or cotton pillowcases. As a result, you can take up to 10 days before cleaning your silk pillowcases in a washing machine. Even if you don’t sweat that lot, you should still stick to 10 days washing cycle to keep the silk pillowcases in their best shape.
Can I bleach silk pillowcases to remove stains?
No, it is strictly prohibited to use bleach to remove stains because it is a pretty harsh chemical, and if you use it, you are going to destroy the fibers of your silk pillowcase. Instead, use gentle detergent and leave it on the stain for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then, hand wash and dry your silk pillowcase, which is the usual way to clean off most of the stains.
Is it safe to tumble-dry silk pillowcases?
You can do it but there are a number of things to keep in mind while doing so. First, you have to keep the machine setting to gentle and you also have to turn the silk pillowcase inside out first before you use the tumble drying method. Still, we would ask you to avoid it at all cost, and use it only if it is the last option for you.
How should I store silk pillowcases when not in use?
You need to store your silk pillowcase and sheets in a breathable bag away from sunlight so the color of the pillowcase does not fade away. In addition to this, you can use cedar balls or lavender sachets to keep the silk pillowcases protected from getting bacteria.