A Guide to Washing Silk Pillowcases
Silk pillowcases are highly valued among the beauty community. They are associated with various skin and hair benefits. These little guys are expertly designed to be with you for a lifetime or two. However, caring for a silk pillowcase is a little different from caring for other kinds of fabric. Silk fabric tends to be very crisp and delicate so you have to handle it with utmost care.
In this guide, we will show you how to correctly wash and care for your silk pillowcase.
METHOD 1: HAND-WASHING
Add a little water and detergent/shampoo to a pail/sink, and soak your silk pillowcases in cold water for 10 minutes. Remove it and rinse. Go for a gentle touch with no twisting or wringing.
METHOD 2: MACHINE-WASHING
Even though pure silk pillowcase is highly recommended to be hand-washed, some silk is actually machine washable, depending on the silk’s density, measured using the metric; momme. A momme above 20 indicates it's safe enough to go in the washing machine. The Buttersilk Pure Silk Pillowcases, for example, are 22 Momme, so they're guaranteed safe to be machine-washable.
Before washing: Turn silk pillowcases inside out and place them in a mesh laundry bag before putting it in the washing machine.
Choice of detergent: Use a gentle detergent with a low pH level. Harmful chemicals like bleach and alkaline can cause silk fibres to harden and stain. There are also detergents specialised for silk that you may consider to purchase in the market.
Temperature: Never wash your silk pillowcases in high temperatures, as it can wear off the silk fibres. When using a machine, keep the temperature at 30 degrees celsius or under. When hand-washing, only use cold water.
Wash Cycle: Set your wash cycle to the most delicate setting with low spin speed.
PRETREAT STAINS
As silk promotes a deep restorative sleep, you may notice drool/saliva stains with prolonged usage. These stains can easily be removed with the following instructions:
Simply dab some liquid detergent onto the stained area with your fingers. Let the detergent work on the area for at least 15 minutes before tossing it in the washing machine. This will give it sufficient time to break apart the stain molecules so it can easily be removed during the wash.
DRYING
The best way to dry your pillowcase is on a drying rack, away from direct heat sources and sunlight. This means no tumble drying. Avoid wringing or twisting your silk fabric as this can result in intense wrinkling.
IRONING
Your silk pillowcases can be ironed as long as your iron is set to the lowest temperature setting at all times. Flip your silk pillowcase inside out and iron on the dull side (back) to avoid any damage on the sheen side (front). You may even use a thin sheet of cotton as a barrier between your iron and the silk fabric for extra precaution.
STORING
Store in a ventilated storage place and avoid direct sunlight.
With proper caring and washing, your silk pillowcases can actually last a lifetime or two, making it a worthy investment.