How to Wash a Silk Pillowcase Without Ruining It
Start with the care label on your exact silk pillowcase. Blissy and Brooklinen both publish cold, gentle washing guidance, but their drying instructions differ. A universal “all silk can go in the washer” or “all dryers are forbidden” rule can override the instructions for the item you own.
In this guide
Read the label before selecting a method
Confirm that the fabric is silk rather than a synthetic satin weave, then read the washing and drying symbols on the sewn-in label. If the label requires hand washing or professional cleaning, follow that method. If a brand page and an older item’s label differ, ask the maker before proceeding.
Current example: Blissy
Blissy’s Help Center recommends turning the pillowcase inside out, putting it in a mesh laundry bag, and using a cold gentle cycle with a mild, silk-safe pH-balanced detergent. It says to avoid chlorine bleach and fabric softener.
Blissy prefers air drying. Its current guidance permits a no-heat or lowest-heat dryer setting for no more than 20 minutes if air drying is not possible, with a mesh bag. That limited exception should not be generalized to every silk pillowcase.
Current example: Brooklinen
Brooklinen’s mulberry-silk guide permits cold delicate machine washing with pH-neutral detergent and also describes cold hand washing. It directs users to lay the pillowcase flat to dry.
Use Brooklinen’s drying instruction for its pillowcase rather than importing Blissy’s limited dryer allowance. The two brands illustrate why the label matters more than a generic silk-care rule.
For a label that permits machine washing
Use the specified cold and delicate settings, a suitable silk detergent and the amount directed for the load. A mesh bag can help protect fabric from snags. Keep rough fasteners and unsuitable laundry out of the load.
Remove the pillowcase promptly and dry it by its permitted method. Do not assume that extra detergent, a hotter cycle or a longer heated dry improves the result.
For a label that permits hand washing
Use the temperature and silk-safe detergent specified by the maker. Handle the wet fabric gently, rinse as directed, and avoid aggressive scrubbing or wringing. Follow the drying instruction on the label rather than stretching or twisting the case back into shape.
Frequency and accidental damage
Blissy recommends weekly or at least every-other-week washing; use the guidance for your own item and wash sooner if it is soiled. That is a brand care recommendation, not a medical schedule.
If the case becomes rough, shrinks, bleeds color or tears, stop experimenting with heat or household chemical remedies. Ask the manufacturer about the item. A rinse or home treatment cannot be promised to reverse damage.
Sources checked for this guide
Checked October 16, 2026. Consult the linked source for current guidance.
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FAQ
Can I put every silk pillowcase in the washing machine?
No. Blissy and Brooklinen permit specified machine-wash methods, but follow the exact care label for your item.
Can silk ever go in the dryer?
Use the item’s instructions. Brooklinen says lay flat to dry; Blissy prefers air drying but publishes a limited no-heat or lowest-heat allowance. Neither instruction should be generalized to all silk.
What detergent should I use?
Choose the silk-safe detergent specified by the maker. Both examples here call for mild or pH-neutral care rather than a harsh general-purpose routine.
Can washing reverse heat damage?
Recovery is not guaranteed. Contact the maker if the fabric shrinks, roughens or changes after washing.
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