How to Wash Silk: The Complete Care Guide for Every Silk Item

Silk is easier to care for than most people think. The fear of ruining it keeps expensive silk items sitting in closets unworn, or sent to dry cleaners when they don't need to be. Most silk products can be safely washed at home if you follow a few rules.

This guide covers washing instructions for every type of silk item — bonnets, scarves, eye masks, gloves, pillowcases, and clothing.

The Golden Rules of Silk Care

Before we get into specific items, here are the universal principles:

1. Always Use Cool Water

Silk proteins denature (break down) in hot water. The max temperature for silk is 30°C (86°F). Room temperature water is ideal. Hot water causes silk to shrink, lose its sheen, and become rough.

2. Use pH-Neutral Detergent

Silk has a natural pH of around 4-6. Alkaline detergents (most regular laundry soaps) strip the sericin coating that gives silk its smoothness. Use:

• Baby shampoo (pH ~5.5) — the easiest option
• Dedicated silk wash (like Eucalan or The Laundress Delicate Wash)
• Any detergent labeled "pH-neutral" or "for delicates"

Never use: bleach, OxiClean, enzyme-based detergents, or fabric softener. Bleach destroys silk protein. Fabric softener leaves a coating that dulls the natural sheen.

3. Never Wring or Twist

Silk fibers are strong when dry but lose about 20% of their strength when wet. Wringing wet silk breaks fibers and creates permanent distortion. Instead, gently press water out between clean towels.

4. Air Dry Flat, Away from Sunlight

UV radiation breaks down silk protein and causes yellowing. Lay silk items flat on a clean towel in a shaded area. Never hang wet silk — it stretches under its own weight.

5. Iron on Low with a Pressing Cloth

If you need to remove wrinkles, iron on the lowest setting (silk/delicate) with a clean cotton cloth between the iron and the silk. Or use a steamer — even better, as there's no direct contact.

How to Wash a Silk Bonnet

Frequency: every 7-10 days (more often if you use hair products)

1. Fill a basin with cool water. Add a few drops of baby shampoo or silk wash.
2. Submerge the bonnet and gently swish it around for 1-2 minutes. Don't scrub.
3. Drain the soapy water. Rinse with cool, clean water until all soap is gone.
4. Lay the bonnet flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel up gently to press out moisture.
5. Reshape the bonnet and lay flat to dry.

Tip: If your bonnet has an elastic band, avoid stretching it while wet. The elastic recovers better if it dries in its relaxed state.

For more detail, see our silk bonnet washing guide.

How to Wash a Silk Eye Mask

Frequency: every 7-10 days

Same process as bonnets. The key difference: eye masks come into contact with eye cream, makeup residue, and natural oils, so they benefit from slightly more frequent washing.

If there's a stubborn stain (mascara, eyeliner), dab it with a small amount of silk-safe stain remover before soaking. Don't rub — blot gently.

Read our full sleep mask care guide.

How to Wash Silk Gloves

Frequency: every 5-7 uses

Silk sleeping gloves accumulate hand cream residue, so they need washing more often than other silk items.

1. Turn gloves inside-out.
2. Soak in cool water with pH-neutral detergent for 5 minutes.
3. Gently massage the fabric, paying attention to the fingertips and palm area.
4. Rinse thoroughly in cool water.
5. Press between towels and lay flat to dry.

Tip: If cream residue builds up and makes the silk feel stiff, add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the rinse water. This dissolves oils and restores softness.

How to Wash a Silk Scarf

Frequency: after every few wears, or when soiled

Silk scarves are generally the easiest silk items to wash because they're a single flat piece of fabric.

1. Fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of silk detergent.
2. Lay the scarf in the water. Let it soak for 3-5 minutes.
3. Gently agitate with your fingers — don't twist or scrub.
4. Rinse in cool water. For colored scarves, add a splash of white vinegar to the final rinse to help set the dye.
5. Roll in a towel to remove moisture, then lay flat to dry.

For detailed instructions, read our silk scarf washing guide.

How to Wash Silk Scrunchies

Frequency: every 1-2 weeks

1. Place scrunchies in a mesh laundry bag (optional but recommended).
2. Fill a small bowl with cool water and a drop of baby shampoo.
3. Soak for 2-3 minutes, gently squeezing to work suds through.
4. Rinse under cool running water.
5. Squeeze gently (don't wring) and lay flat to dry.

See our full guide: how to wash silk scrunchies.

How to Wash Silk Clothing

Frequency: after each wear (or every 2 wears for items not worn directly against skin)

Check the care label first. Some silk garments have finishes, linings, or embellishments that require dry cleaning. If the label says "dry clean only," follow it. If it says "dry clean" (without "only"), you can usually hand wash safely.

1. Turn the garment inside-out.
2. Fill a basin with cool water and silk-safe detergent.
3. Submerge and soak for 5 minutes. Gently press the fabric — no rubbing, twisting, or scrubbing.
4. Drain and rinse with cool clean water 2-3 times until all soap is gone.
5. Roll in a clean towel to absorb moisture.
6. Lay flat on a drying rack or clean towel. Reshape while damp.

For silk shirts and dresses: Use a steamer to remove wrinkles after drying. It's faster and safer than ironing.

How to Remove Stains from Silk

Act fast. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than set ones.

Oil stains (makeup, food oil, hand cream): Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder on the stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes to absorb the oil. Brush off gently, then hand wash normally.

Water stains: Dampen the entire silk item evenly, then lay flat to dry. Water stains happen when one area dries at a different rate — re-wetting the whole piece equalizes the drying and removes the mark.

Wine or juice: Blot (don't rub) immediately with a clean cloth. Apply a small amount of diluted white vinegar to the stain, let sit for 5 minutes, then hand wash.

Ink: Dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Test on an inconspicuous area first. Ink is one of the hardest stains to remove from silk — if the stain persists, take it to a professional cleaner.

For more stain solutions, see our oil stain removal guide and detailed stain guide.

Common Mistakes That Ruin Silk

1. Using hot water. Even once. Hot water permanently changes silk's texture.
2. Machine washing without a mesh bag. The agitation tangles and frays fibers. If you must machine wash, use a mesh bag on the delicate cycle with cold water — but hand washing is always safer.
3. Hanging wet silk. Gravity stretches wet silk. Always lay flat.
4. Using bleach or enzyme detergent. These break down the protein structure of silk.
5. Drying in direct sunlight. UV causes yellowing and weakens fibers.
6. Spraying perfume directly on silk. The alcohol in perfume can stain and damage silk. Spray perfume on your skin, not your scarf.

Storage Tips

• Store silk in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Use breathable fabric bags, not plastic. Plastic traps moisture and can cause mildew.
• Cedar blocks repel moths naturally without the chemical smell of mothballs.
• Don't hang silk items for long periods. Fold them flat with tissue paper between layers to prevent creasing.

Related Reading

• Best Silk Bonnets for Sleeping in 2026 — Find the right bonnet, then come back here to learn how to care for it.
• Best Silk Gloves for Sleeping — Silk sleeping gloves need slightly different care due to cream residue.
• Is Mulberry Silk Real Silk? — Understanding silk grades helps you care for it properly.

Shop Silk Products

All Muriersilk products are made from 100% 6A grade mulberry silk. Browse our collections:

• Silk Bonnets
• Silk Eye Masks
• Silk Gloves
• Silk Scarves
• Silk Scrunchies