Written by Anya, Founder of The Silk Collection · Updated August 2026
Wash your silk pillowcase on a cold, silk or delicates cycle at 30°C or below, inside out in a protective laundry bag, with a small amount of pH-neutral silk detergent. Skip bleach and fabric conditioner. Dry flat or hang away from direct sunlight, and never tumble dry. Hand-washing is gentler still.
In this guide
Care at a glance · Hand-washing · Machine-washing · Wrinkles and ironing · Stains · FAQs
Your Silk Care Guide
Here is your ultimate guide to Silk Care, with our top tips on how to make your silk pillowcase and accessories last for years to come.
A couple of our most commonly asked questions are: 'how easily can I wash silk pillowcases?' and 'are your silk pillowcases machine-washable?', so here you will find our top tips on how to easily wash your mulberry silk pillowcases and silk accessories (and yes, our silk pillowcases are machine-washable!).
Here at The Silk Collection, we've been crafting pure mulberry silk pillowcases for years, with thousands of you making the switch to silk. These are the same care steps we follow at home and include with every order.
Mulberry silk is a delicate fabric and needs to be looked after carefully for long-term use. Our 100% silk pillowcases and accessories are crafted from the highest quality silk (grade 6A fibre) with a luxury thickness of 22 momme, which means that our silk is high-quality, durable and designed to last. Due to the quality of the silk we use, our mulberry silk pillowcases are machine-washable on a cool delicates wash. However, for best results we recommend hand-washing silk pillowcases when you can.
Key takeaways - how to wash a silk pillowcase
- Only use a silk-friendly detergent
- Do not use any bleach or fabric conditioner
- Wash in cool water (30°C or below)
- Hand-wash is best (but our silk pillowcases are machine-washable!)
- Line dry and avoid any heat or sunlight when drying
- To keep the silky feel, iron on a silk setting after washing
Silk care at a glance
Your silk care, condensed into one reference you can screenshot and keep by the washing machine.
| Do | Don't | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Cool water, 30°C or below | Warm or hot water |
| Detergent | A silk-friendly, pH-neutral liquid detergent | Bleach or fabric conditioner |
| Machine washing | Pillowcases only, inside out, in a protective laundry bag on a silk or delicates cycle | Machine-washing scrunchies, eye masks or other accessories |
| Drying | Dry flat or hang, away from direct sunlight and heat | Tumble drying, wringing or twisting |
| Ironing | A low temperature silk setting while the silk is still damp, or a steamer | A hot iron directly on dry silk |
Silk care guide
Below you can find our step-by-step guides for both hand-washing and machine-washing your silk pillowcases, silk scrunchies, silk eye masks, silk headbands and silk face masks. Scrunchies have a few quirks of their own, so we cover how to wash silk scrunchies step by step as well.
How to hand-wash silk
Use the below instructions to hand-wash all silk items from our collection, including:
- Silk pillowcases (although these are also machine-washable - see instructions below)
- Silk eye masks
- Silk scrunchies
- Silk robes
- Silk heatless curlers
- Silk hair wraps
- Silk headbands
Step 1
Immerse item for a couple of minutes in cold water with a few drops of silk-friendly detergent. Then rinse with cold water.
Step 2 (Optional)
Add a spoonful of distilled white vinegar to one litre of cold water and rinse the item to keep the silky sheen. To finish, rinse again in cold water.
Step 3
To dry, spread the item out on a towel and roll up gently to absorb excess moisture. Do not wring or twist the fabric.
Step 4
Dry flat or hang, avoiding direct sunlight.
How to machine-wash silk (silk pillowcases only)
Step 1
Turn your silk pillowcase inside out and place in a protective laundry bag.
Step 2
Add a small amount of liquid, silk detergent (pH neutral).
Step 3
Wash on a cold, silk or delicates cycle at 30°C or below.
Step 4
Dry flat or hang to dry, avoiding direct sunlight. Do not tumble dry.
Proper care is what makes silk last, and our customers put it better than we can.
★★★★★
“I love my pillowcases! They are so soft, luxurious and spoiling. Sleeping on silk is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It really does feel amazing. The quality is far superior to other brands and if washed as advised they last and last. I’ve given lots as presents and they are always hugely appreciated.”
How do I remove wrinkles? Can you iron silk?
When your silk pillowcase is dry, it is likely that it will have a few wrinkles as this is standard with real silk. Our favourite way to get rid of these wrinkles and restore the pillowcase to its lovely shine is to use a steamer.
If you have a steamer, this is a great way to iron out any creases in the silk pillowcase.
Alternatively, you can iron the silk pillowcase while still damp using a low temperature silk setting. We recommend ironing through a damp cotton cloth or using the steam setting.
How to remove stains from silk
It happens to all of us - so what do we do if we accidentally stain our silk pillowcase or silk accessories? Here are our top tips on how to minimise the stain:
-
Act Quickly: The sooner you address a spill, the better your chances of removing it completely.
-
Blotting: Gently blot (don’t rub) the stain with a cold, damp cloth to remove as much of the spill as possible.
-
Specialised Silk Stain Remover: For tougher stains, use a stain remover specifically designed for silk and make sure to follow their instructions carefully
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Natural Alternatives for Light Stains: For light stains, a mixture of lukewarm water and a few drops of mild detergent can be effective. Another option is to use a small amount of distilled white vinegar diluted in water. After applying the solution, rinse the area thoroughly with cold water.
What to avoid when washing silk
Two things come up more than anything else.
The first is to keep a dedicated mesh laundry bag in the same drawer as your bedding, so the pillowcase never goes into the drum unprotected. A loose wash alongside zips and towels is the quickest way to shorten a pillowcase's life, and the bag makes the right way the easy way.
The second is that silk dries far more quickly than you expect. Hung indoors, away from radiators and direct sunlight, a pillowcase is usually ready the same day, so the tumble dryer is not needed.
★★★★★
“I have now gone back and bought more of these pillowcases - the quality of the silk is lovely. The colour (oyster) is exactly what I wanted to go with the rest of my bedding. They also wash really well. Highly recommended!”
The silk you are caring for
Every pillowcase we make is crafted from 22 momme, Grade 6A mulberry silk and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which independently tests the finished fabric against harmful substances. From our own experience with 22 momme silk, washed the way we describe here, our pillowcases keep their sheen and softness through years of regular use. Our focus is on creating better basics, made from the highest quality silk, to elevate the steps in your routine you are already doing. No extra steps or complications. Just better quality materials.
If you are still weighing up whether silk deserves a place on your bed, our honest guide to whether silk pillowcases are worth it walks through the decision, and if you want to check the silk you already own, our guide to real silk vs fake silk shows you the simple tests. And every order comes with 30-day returns.
Your silk washing questions, answered
How often should I wash a silk pillowcase?
Every one to two weeks works well for most people, following the cool 30°C wash described above. If you wear overnight skincare or have oilier skin, lean towards weekly.
Are silk pillowcases machine-washable?
Ours are. Turn the pillowcase inside out, place it in a protective laundry bag, add a small amount of pH-neutral silk detergent and wash on a cold, silk or delicates cycle at 30°C or below.
Is it better to hand-wash or machine-wash silk?
Hand-washing gives the best results and suits every silk item we make. Machine-washing is reserved for pillowcases only. Scrunchies, eye masks, robes, hair wraps, headbands and heatless curlers should always be washed by hand.
Can a silk pillowcase go in the tumble dryer?
No. Heat is the one thing silk will not forgive. Dry flat or hang to dry, away from direct sunlight and any heat source, and it will be ready again the same day.
What detergent should I use on silk?
A liquid detergent made for silk or delicates, pH neutral, in a small amount. Never use bleach or fabric conditioner, as both damage the fibre.
Can you iron a silk pillowcase?
Yes, while it is still damp, on a low temperature silk setting, ideally through a damp cotton cloth. A steamer is the gentlest option and our favourite way to restore the shine.
What should I do if I stain my silk pillowcase?
Act quickly and blot rather than rub, using a cold, damp cloth. For tougher marks, use a stain remover made specifically for silk, or a small amount of distilled white vinegar diluted in water, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
What if my silk pillowcase snags?
Do not pull the thread. Smooth the fabric around the snag with your fingers and, if a loose end remains, trim it close with sharp scissors rather than tugging. Washing inside out in a laundry bag is the best way to prevent snags in the first place.
Why does my silk pillowcase wrinkle after washing?
A few wrinkles after washing are completely normal and one of the signs you are sleeping on real silk rather than polyester satin. A steamer or a cool iron while damp brings back the smooth finish. Our real vs fake silk guide covers the other tells.
A last word from us
We hope you found this guide on how to wash silk helpful! If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out to us at info@thesilkcollection.co.uk.
For more on looking after your silk, from scrunchies to robes, browse the rest of our Silk care journal.
