How to Wash Mulberry Silk: Step-by-Step Guide


Fill a basin with lukewarm water and mix in a few drops of pH neutral silk detergent. Submerge the silk in the water and let it soak for 3 minutes. Use your hands to gently agitate and wash the silk in the water until all the dirt and stains have been removed. Rinse the silk under cold water and roll it in an absorbent towel to remove excess water. Hang or lay flat on a drying rack to air dry. 


This is: How to Wash Mulberry Silk

how to wash mulberry silk banner image with a picture of a man washing a mulberry silk shirt in the tub full of soapy water

Our article How to Wash Mulberry Silk: Step-by-Step Guide will provide you with detailed instructions on how to wash mulberry by hand. 


Contents:

Read our silk care guides, below, to ensure that you are using the proper methods when caring for your silk garments, fabrics, bedding, or upholstery. 

discount code for mens silk shirts
discount code for mens silk shirts

How to Wash Mulberry Silk

Before attempting to wash clothing made from mulberry silk, it is important that you first check the garment's care label. Check the care label to see if the garment has special care requirements, if it is meant to be dry cleaned only, or if it is allowed to be hand washed at home. 

 

Carefully follow the 7 steps below to learn how to hand wash mulberry silk properly. 

Things You'll Need


  • a basin, container, sink, or tub
  • silk detergent or detergent for delicates 
  • an absorbent towel 
  • mulberry silk cloth


1. Fill a Basin With Lukewarm Water


Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water. The water should be no hotter than 25°C/77°F. At this temperature if your put your hand in the water, it should feel slightly warmer than room temperature, since room temperature is typically 20°C to 23°C (68°F to 73.5°F)

photo of a basin sitting under a tap and being filled with lukewarm water

2. Add pH Neutral Silk Laundry Detergent


Add a few drops of pH neutral silk laundry detergent or detergent for delicates. 

photo of a hand pouring ph neutral silk laundry detergent into a basin filled with water

3. Soak the Silk


Submerge the mulberry silk in the water and leave it to soak for 3 minutes. 

photo of a man submerging a silk shirt in water

4. Agitate the Silk


Use your hands to gently agitate the mulberry silk in the water. Continue washing until you feel the mulberry cloth has been adequately cleaned. 

photo of a man washing and agitating a silk shirt in water with his two hands

5. Rinse Under Cold Water


Once you have finished washing your mulberry silk garment in the water, remove it and rinse with cold water. Continue rinsing the silk until the water runs clear and all the soap has been removed.  

photo of a man rinsing a silk shirt under cold water

6. Towel Roll


Lay your mulberry silk flat and evenly on a soft, absorbent towel. Proceed to gently roll the towel up (sushi roll style) and apply pressure to the top of the roll in order to remove excess water.

photo of a man towel rolling a wet silk shirt

7. Air Dry


Hang or lay flat to air dry in a cool place out of contact with direct sunlight. Never dry your silk in the sun and never tumble dry silk in the dyer.

photo of a blue silk shirt air drying outside

Watch our Step-by-Step Video Tutorial 



Washing Mulberry Silk: Do's and Don'ts


The Do's


  • Use pH neutral detergent made for silk or delicate clothing
  • Use cold to lukewarm water
  • Wash gently 
  • Turn your silk garment inside out 
  • Air Dry (hang dry or lay flat to dry)
  • Wash together only with other silks and delicates


The Don'ts


  • Do not tumble dry or use the dryer
  • Do not wash silk together with heavy abrasive clothing containing zippers and ornaments
  • Do not use bleach or powder detergent
  • Do not twist, pull, or wring mulberry silk
  • Do not wash mulberry silk with hot water
  • Do not dry in direct sunlight



How to Wash Silk Mulberry Silk FAQ

Can mulberry silk be machine washed?

Yes, mulberry silk can be machine washed if the garment's care label allows for it. If the care label says "dry clean only" then do not attempt to machine wash your mulberry silk at home.

How often should you wash mulberry silk?

It depends on what the mulberry silk is being used for. If you have mulberry silk pillowcases you may want to wash them once every week or 10 days. If you have a mulberry silk scarf you may only need to wash it twice a year. 

What detergent is safe for mulberry silk?

pH neutral liquid washing detergent for silk is safe to use when washing mulberry silk. Most detergents labeled silk detergent or detergent for delicates will be a pH neutral mixture. 

How do you wash a mulberry silk pillowcase?

To wash a mulberry silk pillowcase first fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water and add in a few drops of silk detergent. Turn the pillowcase inside out and submerge it in the water for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, use your hands to agitate the pillowcase in the water. Once finished, rinse the pillowcase under cold water and air dry in a cool place.

What does delicates mean?

Delicates refers to clothing items or fabrics that require special care. The delicate setting on your washing machine uses a more gentle wash cycle, which is perfect for natural fibers like silk and cotton.