While you should always read the care label on your silk items before washing them to check for washing instructions, there are a few golden rules to washing silk that you can follow too.
Here are some of the answers to common questions about machine washing and hand washing silk.
- Never wash silk with chlorine bleach. It could damage the natural fibres
- Avoid drying silk in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure can cause damage or fading
- Never tumble dry silk – the heat can also cause damage or shrinking
- Use a mild, non-biological detergent like Persil Silk. A detergent specially designed for the purpose is best for washing silk
- Always check if the item is colour-fast before washing. Dab an inconspicuous area of the silk with a white, wet cloth to see if any colour runs from the item. If colour sticks to the white cloth, we recommend that you do not hand wash or machine wash your item – take it to a professional dry cleaner instead
Can you wash silk in the washing machine?
If your item’s care label doesn’t feature the ‘dry clean only’ symbol or the ‘hand wash only’ symbol, then it’s okay to use the washing machine to do the job for you!
Here’s how:
- Pop your item in the washing machine – we recommend placing any silk items inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase to avoid snags or damage caused by the drum.
- Select a cool, delicate cycle (do not set the wash temperature to any higher than 30°C).
- Choose the shortest spin cycle and add the appropriate dose of a mild detergent, like Persil Silk & Wool.
- Dry your item as with the above method.