How to Wash Silk Sheets If You Hate Wrinkles
I’ve long professed my loyalty to silk sheets, but I’m less likely to reveal how painful it is to wash and smooth them. They are finicky, fragile, and so shiny that every wrinkle gets bigger, almost defeating the purpose of having something so uncomfortably luxurious. ( Almost. ) Luckily, there are ways to wash and dry these heavenly sheets to keep them soft and presentable.
How to wash silk sheets
The first thing you need to know about washing silk sheets is that you should do it when you first receive them, before you fall asleep on them. The good news, according to Mulberry Park Silks , is that they become less prone to wrinkles the more you wash them. (More on wrinkles later.)
Here is what you should do:
- Wash sheets and pillowcases by hand in cold water.
- Turning pillowcases inside out
- If you want to use the washing machine, be sure to use the cold delicate setting.
- Do not wash them with items that are not made of silk; try washing the sheets and pillowcases by yourself
- You can use a mesh laundry bag, but this is not required.
- Use a gentle silk detergent or, if not available, a mild pH neutral detergent.
When it’s time to dry those bad guys, opt for line drying. However, according to Mulberry Park Silks and Manito Silk , the key is to keep them out of sunlight as it can discolour the color, especially on dark sheets. If you choose to tumble dry them, use the lowest temperature or set it to “air” but take them out before they’re completely dry. Whether you hang them up immediately after washing or after a short time in the dryer, check them often; silk dries quickly.
Although silk is hypoallergenic and resistant to mildew and dust mites, it’s important to wash your sheets as often as you would any other, regardless of fabric type. Regular, appropriate washing will suit them as long as you follow these steps and don’t use bleach, fabric softener, or optical brightener.
How to iron silk sheets
As mentioned, these things get wrinkled— very wrinkled. This tendency will lessen as they are washed, but for a while you will have relatively stiff bedding with wrinkles.
According to Manito Silk, “Any wrinkles will disappear” as soon as you put them back on the bed. After extensive field testing, I disagree, but you can try. I use a steamer to get them crispy, but be aware that if it gets them wet and you put them on the bed like this, you are essentially begging them to shrivel up again. Instead, keep them hanging for a while after you’ve steamed them to dry straight.
They can also be ironed, but carefully:
- Make sure pillowcases are turned inside out and sheets are turned upside down.
- Iron only where needed
- Use the coolest setting on your iron
- Just think about ironing the pillowcases
If you want to store them, choose a breathable bag and keep them away from sunlight. Put scented sachets or cedar balls in your bag to keep them fresh. Manito Silk also recommends laying folded sheets and pillowcases under the weight of towels to keep them smooth, but be prepared, again, to steam or smooth out more severe creases.
My most egregious mistake was washing mine in a regular load with everything else and then having the audacity to feign surprise when they came out crumpled, pilled and full of weird marks. This behavior cost me three sets of sheets, but you can be better than me.