How to Wash Silk Pillowcases by Hand: 8 Simple Steps!

Silk pillowcases are soft, luxurious, and great for skin and hair health. 

Washing a silk pillowcase by hand can be done quickly and easily with a few supplies from around the house. It takes about 15 minutes to wash a silk pillowcase by hand, plus the time needed to air dry. 

Carefully follow the instructions below to properly wash silk pillowcases by hand.

1. Fill a container with lukewarm water not exceeding 77°F/25°C.
2. Add detergent for delicates or silk detergent. The detergent should be pH neutral. Never use bleach or regular laundry detergent to wash silk pillowcases.
3. Submerge the pillowcase in the water. 
4. Let soak for 3 minutes. 
5. Use your hands to agitate the pillowcase in the water. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes or until you feel that the pillowcase has been adequately cleaned.
6. Remove the pillowcase from the container and rinse under cold water. Rinse the pillowcase until all the soap has been removed and the water runs clear. 
7. Lay the pillowcase evenly on an absorbent towel and gently roll it up sushi roll style. Apply pressure to the roll to help remove excess water. Continue until the pillowcase goes from being soaking wet to slightly damp. 
8. Air dry the pillowcase. Hang the pillowcase or lay flat to dry, in a cool, dark place out of contact with direct sunlight. Never put your silk pillowcase in the dryer.  

The best way to dry a silk pillowcase is to air dry. Hang your silk pillowcase or lay flat on a drying rack so it won’t develop any wrinkles during the air drying process. 

If you’ve just hand washed your silk pillowcase, make sure to first roll the pillowcase in an absorbent towel to remove excess water from the fabric before air drying. When you finally go to air dry the pillowcase, it should be only slightly damp, not soaking wet. 

To do this, lay an absorbent towel on a flat surface, and then lay your silk pillowcase evenly on top. Roll the towel inwards as if you were making a sushi roll, and then apply pressure to the pillowcase by pressing down on the roll. Repeat this process until the pillowcase is damp and ready to be air dried.

Do not put your silk pillowcase in the dryer. The heat and tumble action of the dryer will damage the delicate silk fibers in your pillowcase. Never put any items made from 100% silk into the dryer.  

Continue reading: How to Dry Silk Pillowcases

Related: Can You Put Silk in the Dryer?

Silk pillowcases should be washed once every 7 to 10 days, and once every 14 days at the very least. People with sensitive skin should consider washing their pillowcase more often to avoid irritation. Silk pillowcases are smooth, natural and are very skin and hair friendly. Try to keep your silk pillowcase as clean as possible to avoid cleaning it too frequently. 

Generally speaking, it is best to wash your silk pillowcases by hand. However, some silk pillowcases can be machine washed if the item’s care label allows for it. If you want to machine wash your silk pillowcase, be sure to check the instructions on the care label first. 

To machine wash a silk pillowcase first turn the pillowcase inside out and place it into a mesh laundry bag before putting it into the washing machine. Add detergent for delicates or silk detergent, use the delicate/gentle setting, and wash with cold water. 

Learn how to machine wash silk pillowcases by reading our detailed instructions on how to wash silk pillowcases.