A 19 momme mulberry silk pillowcase earns its keep by being on the bed every night and in the wash every few days. Wash it the wrong way and the sheen goes dull. The good news: the method is short, and it takes five minutes once you know the settings.
The quick answer
Hand wash in cold water with a pH-neutral silk detergent, or machine wash at 30°C maximum on the delicate cycle, in a mesh bag, on the lowest spin. Never use bleach or fabric softener. Never wring. Press the water out between two towels and air dry flat, away from direct sunlight. Never tumble dry, at any temperature.
Why silk needs different rules
Silk is a protein fibre. Treat it like other protein fibres — silk, wool — and it keeps its lustre. Treat it like cotton — hot water, standard detergent, tumble dryer — and it dulls in weeks. That single fact explains every instruction on this page. Maison Veloura pillowcases are 100% mulberry silk, 19 momme, silk on both sides.
How often should you wash a silk pillowcase?
Every three to four days is ideal, weekly at minimum. The painless way to keep that rhythm is a rotation: one pillowcase on the bed, one clean and ready. We break down the count in how many silk pillowcases you really need.
The same method applies to both sizes we sell: 50×70 and 65×65.
Machine washing silk, step by step
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Prepare it. Turn the pillowcase inside out so the lustrous face of the cloth is protected during the cycle. Close the hidden zip.
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Bag it. Place it in a mesh laundry bag. This is the single most effective habit against snags.
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Set the machine. Delicate or silk cycle, cold water up to 30°C, the lowest spin speed your machine offers.
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Choose the right detergent. A pH-neutral detergent made for silk or wool. Most standard detergents contain enzymes designed to break down protein stains, and silk is a protein. One wash will not ruin it; twenty will.
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Wash it alone. A single zip or hook in the drum will pull the weave.
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Take it out promptly. Remove the pillowcase as soon as the cycle ends and reshape it while damp. Leaving it crumpled in the drum sets deep creases.
Never use: bleach, oxygen bleach, stain removers, or fabric softener. Softener coats the fibre and takes away the sheen, and the damage does not undo.
Hand washing, the gentler route
Fill a basin with cold water and a capful of pH-neutral silk detergent. Submerge the pillowcase and swish for two to three minutes. Do not rub, do not scrub. Rinse in clean cold water until the water runs clear.
Never wring or twist silk. The fibres stretch when wet and do not return. Press the water out between two towels instead.
Drying silk the right way
Air drying is not a preference, it is the rule. Lay the pillowcase flat on a rack or hang it smoothly over a line, away from radiators and always in the shade. Direct sunlight yellows silk and weakens the fibre. Darker shades in our five — Obsidian Black, Blush Pink, Sand Beige — show sun fade sooner than Pearl White.
Never tumble dry, at any temperature. Heat is what damages silk fastest. No low-heat workaround.
How to prevent snags and pulls
Wash it separately from anything with zips, hooks or velcro. One open zip in the drum can mark the silk.
Keep the mesh bag habit even for quick cycles.
Rings and rough nails catch the floating threads that give silk its sheen. The same threads are what snag.
Alcohol marks silk. Keep perfume and similar products off the fabric.
Pets. Claws catch. A folded throw over the pillows during the day is enough.
Ironing and storage
Most creases fall out if you reshape the pillowcase while it is still damp. If you want a crisp finish, iron on the silk setting — one dot, 110°C maximum — on the reverse side, while the fabric is still slightly damp. A handheld steamer held at a distance works even better and touches nothing.
Store silk clean, completely dry and folded flat in a drawer, away from light and damp. Avoid airtight plastic.
The same rules sit on our care guide. Use either page; they should match.
Frequently asked questions
Can you machine wash silk pillowcases?
Yes. Delicate cycle at 30°C maximum, mesh bag, lowest spin, pH-neutral silk detergent. Hand washing is gentler and takes five minutes.
What detergent should I use for silk?
A pH-neutral detergent made for silk or wool, with no enzymes, no bleach and no optical brighteners. Standard detergents contain enzymes that break down protein, and silk is a protein.
Why has my silk lost its shine?
The three usual causes are fabric softener, hot water and tumble drying, and all three are irreversible. Cool water, a silk detergent and air drying in the shade keep the sheen.
Can I tumble dry silk?
No, at any temperature. Heat is what damages silk fastest. Air dry flat or over a line, always in the shade.
Why is my silk pillowcase snagging?
Usually contact with something sharp: a zip in the same load, jewellery, rough nails or pet claws. The floating threads that create the sheen are also what catch. Mesh bag, separate wash.
Cared for this way, 19 momme mulberry silk keeps its lustre. Our silk pillowcases are 50×70 and 65×65, five shades, with free worldwide shipping. If you still need the size, start with EU vs US.
