01
Caring for Your Silk.
To avoid any accidents, always wash pieces of the same colour and the same fabric together, and never add an item with a zip, hook or velcro to the same load. A mesh laundry bag is the simplest protection there is.
Use a pH-neutral detergent made for silk or wool. Steer clear of abrasive or powder detergents, and never use bleach or fabric softener — softener coats the fibre and takes away the very sheen you paid for. Most standard detergents contain enzymes designed to break down protein stains, and silk is a protein.
Set your machine to its delicate cycle, 30°C maximum, on the lowest spin. Hand washing in cold water is gentler still, and takes five minutes.
How often should you wash? Pillowcases every three to four days, since they collect skin oils and hair products every night. Duvet covers and sheets every one to two weeks.
02
Drying.
The simplest way is also the best one: let your washed silk air dry. Never wring or twist it the fibres stretch when wet and do not return. Press the water out between two towels, then lay it flat or hang it over a line, giving it a gentle shake first to smooth out the folds. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators: sunlight yellows silk and weakens the fibre permanently.
The tumble dryer is the one thing to avoid entirely, at any heat setting. Heat is what damages silk fastest, and the damage does not undo. Air drying takes a little longer and costs the fabric nothing.
A small habit that pays off: take your linens out as soon as the cycle ends rather than leaving them to sit. Reshaping them while still damp keeps the surface even and means far less ironing later.
03
To Iron, or Not to Iron.
Part of the charm of washed silk is its gently relaxed, lived-in look. So there is no need to reach for the iron unless you truly want to. Most creases fall out on their own if you reshape the piece while it is still damp.
That said, if your idea of a perfect bed means a crisply finished set, set your iron to the silk setting one dot, 110°C maximum and work while the fabric is still slightly damp. Let the warmth relax the fibres rather than pressing them flat.
Always work on the reverse side to protect the surface sheen, and never rest the hot plate in one spot. A handheld steamer does the job beautifully too, smoothing the fabric while it still hangs and touching nothing.