It’s easy to wash silk bedding at home, but there are special precautions you need to consider when doing so. Pure silk bed linen, including pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets, is machine washable on a delicate or hand-wash cycle at no more than 30 degrees, using a pH-neutral silk detergent. However, silk-filled duvets and pillows are the exception and should not be machine washed.

As silk specialists with over 20 years’ experience making our own bedding, this guide covers how to wash silk bedding of every type, how to dry and store it, and how to fix the problems that come up along the way. If you need a silk-safe detergent to start with, our Gingerlily Liquid Silk Wash is made for exactly this.

Silk care at a glance

Temperature: 30 degrees celsius (86 degrees fahrenheit) or below, always.

Machine wash: yes for pure silk bed linen, on a delicate or hand-wash cycle, ideally in a mesh laundry bag.

Hand wash: yes, in cool water with gentle movement, never rubbing or wringing.

Detergent: pH-neutral and silk-safe. No bleach, no optical brighteners, no fabric softener.

Drying: line dry or lay flat, away from direct sunlight. Avoid the tumble dryer.

Silk blankets, throws and bedspreads: dry clean where the label advises, or spot clean only. A light throw can be hand washed.

Table of contents

1. How to wash silk bed linen
2. Can you wash a silk duvet?
3. How to wash silk mattress toppers and protectors
4. How to wash silk bedspreads, blankets and throws
5. How to wash silk pyjamas and accessories
6. How to dry silk bedding
7. What detergents should you use for silk?
8. How often should you wash silk bedding?
9. How to store silk products
10. Common silk care problems and how to fix them

How to wash silk bed linen

You can machine wash silk bed linen. Wash it at 30 degrees or below on a delicate or hand-wash cycle, using a gentle pH-neutral detergent, then line dry it away from direct sunlight. It does require a little extra attention to make sure you are not using the wrong detergent or the wrong setting, and the sections below cover each item in turn.

Can you machine wash silk, or should you hand wash it?

Silk can be machine washed or hand washed, and both are safe. Pure silk bed linen is machine washable provided you use a hand-wash or delicate cycle at 30 degrees with a silk-safe detergent, while hand washing is the gentlest option of the two. 

To hand wash, fill a basin with cool water, add a little pH-neutral detergent, submerge the item and move it gently through the water for a few minutes. Do not rub, scrub or soak it for long, then rinse in cool water until the water runs clear. Machine washing is more convenient; hand washing gives you more control over delicate or embellished pieces.

How to wash silk pillowcases and duvet covers

Shop the look: Ivory Silk Pillowcase

Here at Gingerlily, all of our silk pillowcases and duvet covers are crafted with the finest 6A grade mulberry silk to ensure you experience the most luxurious feel, which also means they need a little more care than a regular cotton pillowcase. Our ivory silk pillowcase, for example, is made from 100% mulberry silk, so it should be washed gently to protect the silk proteins that give silk its benefits for skin and hair.

To wash a silk pillowcase or silk duvet cover:

1. Turn the item inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag to protect it from snagging.
2. Select a hand-wash setting, or a delicates cycle if your machine does not have one.
3. Wash at 30 degrees or below with a silk-safe, pH-neutral detergent.
4. Wash silk separately, or at least with similar colours, to avoid colour transfer.
5. Remove it promptly and line dry away from direct heat and sunlight.
6. Silk duvet covers are larger and benefit from being hung to dry, as this helps drop out any creases left after washing.

How to wash silk sheets

Washing silk sheets follows exactly the same principles. Silk sheets are thin and wash quickly, so a low-temperature delicate cycle with a gentle detergent is all they need. For larger flat and fitted sheets, hang them out to dry rather than folding them over a rail, as this helps remove any creases that remain after washing and avoids setting a fold line into the fabric.

What temperature and setting should you wash silk on?

Wash silk at 30 degrees celsius or below, on a hand-wash or delicate cycle with a low spin. Heat is what damages silk, hardening the fibres and dulling the sheen, so cooler is always safer. If you are unsure, cold water and a short gentle cycle will never do harm. The same 30 degree rule applies whether you are washing a silk pillowcase, silk sheets or a silk duvet cover.

Can you wash a silk duvet?

This depends entirely on which kind of duvet you mean, and it is the most common source of confusion in silk care. How to wash silk duvet covers and how to care for a silk-filled duvet are two very different things.

A silk duvet cover is machine washable, exactly like your other pure silk bed linen. Wash it at 30 degrees on a delicate cycle with a silk-safe detergent and line dry it.

A silk-filled duvet is different and should not be machine washed. The silk floss inside is a natural fibre that can clump, shift or break down when soaked and agitated, and washing it at home risks permanently ruining the filling. The good news is that it very rarely needs cleaning at all. Gingerlily silk-filled duvets and pillows are naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, and provided you use them inside a removable, washable cover, they should almost never require laundering.

To care for a silk-filled duvet:

• Always use a washable duvet cover, and wash the cover rather than the duvet.
• Air it regularly by hanging it outside on a dry day, out of direct sun. This freshens the filling and helps it keep its loft and plumpness.
• Spot clean any spill or stain by hand, working gently on the affected area only, then leave it to dry.
• If it genuinely needs a thorough clean, have it professionally laundered rather than attempting it at home.

The same applies to silk-filled pillows and to washing a mulberry silk duvet of any weight.

How to wash silk mattress toppers and protectors

Silk mattress toppers and protectors follow the same rule as silk-filled duvets. Do not machine wash them. They do not need frequent cleaning, as they are naturally resistant to mites and help prevent sweating.

To freshen a silk mattress topper or protector, simply hang it outside to air, which also helps it keep its shape and plumpness. For a spill or stain, hand wash the affected area and leave it to dry. For anything more thorough, have it professionally laundered.

How to wash silk bedspreads, blankets and throws

Shop the look: Windsor Silk Bedspread in Charcoal

Silk bedspreads, blankets and throws are usually dry clean only. Because of the blend of fabrics, the thickness and the delicate stitching, machine washing can cause significant damage to the look and feel of the fabric. Our Windsor silk bedspread, for example, is beautifully soft with delicate stitching and measures around 240cm by 240cm. That combination of size and delicacy means washing it at home would cause it to lose its shape and harden the silk.

If you are wondering how to wash silk blankets and throws at home, the answer depends on the weight and construction. So can you wash a silk blanket at home? For a light silk throw, gentle hand washing in cool water can work if the care label allows it, but always check the label first, never wring it, and dry it flat rather than hanging it, as the weight of the water can stretch the fabric. For anything quilted, embroidered or heavy, dry cleaning is the safer choice. If you get a spill or a stain, gently spot-clean the area and leave it to dry, which removes the mark without affecting the integrity of the silk.

How to wash silk pyjamas and accessories

Much like our silk bed linen, silk dressing gowns, pyjamas and accessories can be laundered on a low-temperature wash and should only be washed with silk-safe, soft detergents. Wash your silk nightwear individually to avoid colour transfer and any damage from other fabrics. If you want to preserve the natural sheen and delicate feel, iron your silk nightwear on a medium heat with plenty of steam.

How to dry silk bedding

Line dry silk bedding or lay it flat, away from direct sunlight and direct heat. Avoid the tumble dryer.

Can you put silk sheets in the dryer? We would not recommend it. Tumble drying exposes silk to the heat and mechanical action that damage its fibres, dull its sheen and can shrink it. If you have no alternative, use a gentle air or no-heat setting and remove the item while it is still slightly damp.

The best way to dry silk pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers is to line dry them, but keep them out of harsh direct sunlight, as too much exposure can damage the fibres and dull the colours of your silk bed linen. Never wring silk to remove water. Instead, lay the item flat on a clean, dry white towel, roll the towel up and press gently to blot out the excess moisture, then hang or lay it flat to finish drying.

What detergents should you use for silk?

Use a gentle, pH-neutral detergent made for silk or delicates. The type of detergent matters more than almost anything else. Silk is made from delicate, natural fibres, and washing it in detergents that are too acidic or too alkaline will cause those fibres to harden.

Along with avoiding harsh detergents, avoid fabric softener, bleaching agents and any type of optical brightener, as these discolour and damage silk fibres. Enzyme-based biological detergents should also be avoided, as enzymes break down natural protein fibres like silk over time.

Shop the look: Liquid Silk Washing Detergent

We recommend the Gingerlily Liquid Silk Wash, which has been specifically designed as a gentle, mild detergent for cleaning silk bedding and linen without damaging the fibres the way most other detergents can.

How often should you wash silk bedding?

Wash silk pillowcases every week, and silk sheets and duvet covers every one to two weeks, in line with how often you would wash any other bed linen. Pillowcases sit against your skin and hair every night, so they benefit from the most frequent washing. Silk-filled duvets, pillows and mattress toppers should not be washed on a schedule at all; airing them occasionally is enough.

It is also worth washing new silk bedding before you use it for the first time, which removes any residue from manufacturing and packing and leaves the fabric at its softest.

How to store silk products

When you are not using your silk products, store them carefully so they are not damaged while out of use. Without the right storage, silk can develop mould, discolouration and permanent damage. Store silk in cotton bags or cotton boxes and fold it with acid-free tissue paper.

Avoid putting silk into plastic boxes, as this traps moisture, encourages yellowing and creates a prime environment for insects. Cotton bags and acid-free tissue paper prevent dulling and fading over time. You can also add lavender or scented sachets to keep everything smelling fresh.

Common silk care problems and how to fix them

Even with careful washing, a few issues come up regularly. Here is how to resolve them.

• Creases after washing - Hang the item while slightly damp and most creases will drop out. If they do not, iron on a medium heat with plenty of steam, on the reverse side.
• A dulled or lost sheen - This is usually caused by heat, harsh detergent or optical brighteners. Switch to a pH-neutral silk detergent and wash cooler.
• Stains and spills - Blot immediately with a clean white cloth, never rub. Spot clean gently by hand and leave to dry naturally.
• Yellowing - Most often a storage problem. Move silk out of plastic and into cotton bags with acid-free tissue paper.
• A silk-filled duvet that feels flat or heavy - Air it outside on a dry day to restore loft and let moisture evaporate.
• Snagging or pulled threads - Use a mesh laundry bag in the machine and remove rings and jewellery when handling silk.

Build the bed of your dreams with Gingerlily

While silk takes a little more care when it comes to washing, the benefits of sleeping on silk are endless. From regulating body temperature to being kind to your skin and hair, there are many reasons to make the switch. If you want to learn more about the health benefits that silk provides, you can read through our journal and discover what silk can do for you.

At Gingerlily, every product is crafted with the finest mulberry silk, so whether you are looking for silk bed sheets or silk bedspreads, experience the full luxurious benefits of this delicate fabric and browse our complete collections. For everything you need to keep it looking beautiful, our Liquid Silk Wash is the place to start.

Related reading

Gingerlily’s Complete Guide to Mulberry Silk

What is Momme Silk? Gingerlily’s Guide to Momme

Silk Bedding for All Seasons: Your Year-Round Guide

Is Silk Bedding Better for Your Health?

Caring for Your Silk