The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Silk sheets are luxurious and comfortable for sleeping.
Because silk sheets are usually quite expensive, you’ll want to care for them properly.
With some attention to water temperature and detergent selection, your silk sheets can last for many years.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Silk sheetscan be machine- or hand-washed.
Use a gentle touch with no twisting or wringing; gently squeeze out the water.
While silk fabric is strong when it’s dry, the fibers are much weaker when wet.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Silk sheets hold up quite well under repeated machine-washing using a gentle cycle and mild detergent.
Here’s a foolproof method for washing your silk sheets.
It will include instructions on water temperature, drying, and ironing.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Warning
Do not use chlorine bleach to whiten or disinfect silk sheets.
It will permanently damage the fibers and the silk may dissolve in a strong chlorine bleach solution.
Read labels and avoidstain removersthat contain bleach to avoid discoloring and weakening the fibers.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Let the detergent work for at least 15 minutes to begin lifting the stain before washing.
Set the water temperature tocold.
Choose one recommended for silk or wool (wool washor Castile soap).
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Add Distilled White Vinegar
Skip a commercial fabric softener and adddistilled white vinegarto the rinse cycle.
Vinegar helps remove any soapy residue left in the fibers and leave them silky.
This will prevent snags and abrasion from stiffer fabrics.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Don’t overload the washer the sheets should be able to “swim” in the water.
Silk pillowcases should be turned inside out before washing.
Dry the Sheets
Hot temperatures in an automatic dryer are not compatible.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Tumble dry silk sheets on thelowest heat settingof your dryer.
Remove the sheets while still slightly damp and allow them to finish drying on a drying rack.
But ironing is not mandatory, as silk sheets generally flatten out smoothly once put onto a bed.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Deep-set sweat stains can be removed with a solution of white vinegar and water.
An enzyme-based detergent can be used to get out blood stains.
Extremely stubborn stains can usually be successfully treated by a dry cleaner.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Silk Sheets Care and Repairs
Silk fabrics can fray or rip at the seams.
There are also no-sew fabric adhesive products that can repair a rip.
Bedding sheets labeled “100 percent silk” or “100 percent Mulberry silk” are the real thing.
Bedding manufacturers often add the word “silky” to sheets made from finely woven polyester or other fibers.
Fabric softener is not necessary with this naturally soft fabric.
Fabric softeners can leave an unpleasant residue on the sheets.
Hand-washing is certainly allowable, but it is not necessary.
Bleach can damage silk fabric and turn it yellow.
Care Guide for Silk Sheets and Pillowcases.Fine Linen and Bath.
