How do you Wash Silk Pillowcases?   

October 9, 2021

We get asked a lot about washing our silk pillowcases. People think they need a complicated washing regime or have to fork out on expensive dry cleaning, and that just isn't the case.

Keeping silk clean isn't as difficult as you might think.

We have our care instruction s on our website, but I wanted to talk about how I wash my own silk pillowcases.

Is silk machine washable?

You'll be delighted to hear that they are machine washable. We recommend you use a mesh laundry bag and put it on a delicate setting at 30◦c. It's also best to wash with other silk products. All Lexi and Teal pillowcases are between 22-25 momme which is fine to put in a washing machine. If the momme is below 20, you should always hand wash the silk.

If you prefer, you can also hand wash your silk pillowcases. Use warm water and avoid harsh scrubbing or wringing out. Silk is extremely durable but is more delicate when it's wet, so you need to treat it with care while washing.

I'm extremely aware of our impact on the planet and try to be environmentally friendly. So I tend to use an eco-friendly detergent or soap nuts when I wash my silk pillowcases.

Eco-Friendly Detergent 

The eco-friendly detergent I use is Ecover concentrated liquid detergent which is widely available in supermarkets. Because I prefer to hand wash my silk, I use a small amount of detergent in a bowl filled with warm water and let the items soak for 24 hours.

Soap nuts 

Have you heard of soap nuts? I hadn't until a few years ago. They are harvested from soapberry trees and contain natural soap. The trees are native to India and have been used there for 100s of years to wash clothes.

And don't worry, because they are actually a berry, not a nut, they are perfectly safe to use even if you have a nut allergy.

There are 2 ways in which you can use soap nuts.

You can put 3-4 whole nuts in a muslin bag and pop them in the washing machine with your wash. You can re-use them several times until the shells become soft and grey. Then you simply put them in your compost bin. They work best if the machine isn't too full of laundry because they need room to move around the drum.

You can also create a liquid soap by soaking the nuts in water. I do this for my own silk pillowcases, and it's not as complicated as it sounds. Place 2-3 whole nuts in hot tap water and leave them to soak for a few hours. When you can see a brownish liquid, squeeze the nuts and put them to one side (you might be able to use them again). Then fill a bowl with warm water, add 4 tbsp of the soap nut liquid to it and soak the pillowcases for 24 hours.

Top Tip!

No matter what gentle soap you use, your silk should always be rinsed really well. I use the rinse cycle on my washing machine with a low spin speed. It saves me so much time.

Drying Silk

Always let your silk dry naturally. Don't wring any water out, and don't hang in direct sunlight or use a tumble dryer. It will dry pretty quickly, ready for your next blissful bedtime.

Will they need ironing?

Not necessarily. If you dry them flat, probably not. But, I like to iron mine. If you're ironing your silk pillowcases, make sure they are inside out and always always always use a low heat.

Enjoy a good night's sleep with Lexi and Teal

As with anything luxurious, it's worth taking the time to look after your silk pillowcases. You've invested in them, and they should last a long time. Making sure they are washed correctly will ensure your pillowcases won't need to be replaced for years, and you'll continue to reap the benefits of sleeping on silk.

To start enjoying sumptuous sleep, go to our online shop.