Pure silk fibre is the strongest known natural fibre, however, it loses 30% of it's tensile strength when wet, so it becomes a delicate fabric during washing. Wet silk needs a little more care, so it is important to know how and when to wash silk.

This is your "how to guide" for washing silk pillowcases, silk bed sheets, silk sleep masks, silk clothes and silk garments.

Silk is often recognised as the finest and most luxurious fabric in the world.

Sleeping in silk is an investment in your sleep, health and beauty as its benefits are numerous. Silk garments and silk clothes emulate not just style and class but are ultra-soft, breathable and thermoregulating, providing the utmost comfort.

Silk is a precious and expensive fabric and so it is important to follow its care instructions to ensure the longevity of the silk's natural properties.

It's crucial that you only use a 'delicate' liquid detergent that's specifically designed for silk/wool and is clearly marked on the label.

'Delicate detergents' differ from the standard / eco / non-bio / bio / detergents, even ones that claim to be 'gentle'.

Delicate detergent should be pH neutral, without enzymes, without optical brighteners, without bleaches and uses different surfactants to dislodge dirt / oils / stains from the fabric than standard detergents use.

Delicate detergents are also designed to operate at lower water temperatures (max 30ºC / 86ºF).

Delicate detergents shouldn't leave any residue on the silk fibres, ensuring the soft natural beauty of the silk protein fibres are preserved.

When washing silk, you should always refer to the manufacturer's care label/instructions. The guide below will give more specific instructions for washing Mayfairsilk.

As a general rule, separate your whites, lights and dark silk fabrics and run a separate wash.

It is important to buy silk items from a reputable brand that ensures colour fastness so that your machine washed items do not bleed colour.

How to wash silk effectively with the 3 most common approaches:

2.1 Washing silk in a washing machine

Machine washing silk is easy with the progress of modern technology.

Turn inside out the delicate garment or sheet and machine wash on a delicate cycle / gentle wash cycle, in cold to tepid water (wash temperature < 30ºC / 86ºF).

We recommend using a mesh laundry bag which is also called a delicates laundry bag as they add an additional layer of protection for silk in the washing machine.

2.2 Handwash silk

Many prefer washing delicate garments and silk fabric by hand wash.

For hand washing silk clothing or silk bedding, it is best to add a small amount of delicate detergent and cool water to a washing bowl, swirling and gently rubbing areas that may have perspiration stains or other marks, keep it moving in the water, don't leave to soak.

Pour the detergent water out, and replace with fresh water, swirling the silk. Do this a few times to remove all detergent residue from the silk.

Hand washing silk has been a practice for centuries, long before the invention of the machine washing.  

2.3 Dry clean

If you're hesitant to wash your silk bedding, silk clothing, or silk garment at home, turning to a professional dry cleaner can be a prudent choice. It's crucial to select a well-regarded dry cleaner with positive reviews.

When considering the dry cleaning process, it's essential to choose a cleaner that utilises gentle solvents.

Siloxane-based solvents, like decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) used in the GreenEarth Cleaning system, are preferred for their eco-friendliness and tenderness on fabrics.

Direct your cleaner's attention to specific stain removal areas and ensure they avoid using trichloroethylene, which can harm delicate fabrics, particularly silk. Adhere strictly to care labels that indicate "dry clean only" on silk items.

While dry cleaning silk and other delicate articles can be costlier, it offers a hassle-free and safe cleaning solution.

If you performed a machine wash on a delicate cycle, remove the wet silk garment from the mesh laundry bag and gently squeeze out some of the excess water.

Do not twist or wring as this will distort the garment and stretch the fibres.

Lay a clean dry towel flat on the floor or bench, and position the silk over it. Now place the silk flat on the fresh towel and gently fold the towels with the silk garment inside and press lightly.

Depending on the size of the silk garment or bedding, you might require one or two towels. If needed, repeat the process.

The cotton towels, will absorb the surplus moisture, with each towel capable of soaking up to 27 times its weight in water.

After removing the excess water from the silk bedding or garment with the cotton towels, lift the silk, give a gentle shake and reshape to remove creases and place on a drying rack in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight or heat, as this can makes the fibres weaken.

Beware of hanging over sharp / rough objects (eg. hanging over a door is not recommended), or wooden hangers / rods as the wood stain may leach into the silk.

Do not tumble dry silk.

The creases will naturally relax over a few days, but if you prefer, you can use a hand-held steamer to relax creases (using the silk attachment - we recommend the Fridja F10 Handheld Steamer for Bedding and are now stocking it in our online store).

Alternatively, you can use an iron and ironing board, with the iron set to low heat / delicate. Ensure the silk item is inside out, whilst still slightly damp.

Pillowcases

To effortlessly dress your pillow in a silk pillowcase without subjecting it to stress and potential tearing over time, employ a swift and gentle technique.

Begin by folding the pillowcase into a compact ring, resembling a doughnut.

Now fold your pillow lengthwise into a bow-tie shape, gently inserting it into the looped pillowcase.

Align the pillow’s corners with those of the pillowcase, delicately unrolling the silk fabric with your free hand.

Once unfurled, ensure the pillow corners are perfectly matched with the pillowcase corners, sealing the envelope pocket.

With a gentle shake and a soft fluff, your pillow is perfectly encased, poised, and ready to grace your bed!

Duvet Cover

Each of our meticulously crafted duvet covers comes equipped with corner ties, designed to seamlessly secure to your duvet, ensuring a snug, shift-free fit throughout the night.

To fully utilise this thoughtful feature, ensure your duvet is also furnished with corresponding corner loops or ties.

Fitted Sheet

Slipping on Mayfairsilk's fitted sheets is a breeze, designed with your ease in mind.

Each sheet boasts a generous 35cm deep pocket, accompanied by resilient elastic all around, gracefully accommodating mattresses of substantial depth, including those augmented with mattress toppers. The thoughtful design ensures a snug, smooth fit with minimal effort, providing an inviting, ultra smooth and an irresistibly comforting surface for you to sink into nightly.

With Mayfairsilk, prepare to experience not only unparalleled luxury but also the joy of effortless living.

If you encounter stubborn stains that resist removal through regular washing and pre-treatment with delicate detergent, consider Vanish Oxi Action Multi Power Gel that has been formulated to be safe on silk.

Ensure to only use the exact version of Oxi Action linked above, or Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White Gel for white delicates - as only these two versions are designed to be safe on silk and your other delicates.

Do not use any other version of Oxi Action - and there are many - as these are not safe for use on silk. Check the labelling.    

These two Oxi Action Gels are excellent at tackling tough stains while preserving the integrity of your silk items, serving as a reliable backup for maintaining your silk’s pristine condition.

Our testing has found these products work well on stains, but it's always best to test on a small area first.

1. 1. Pour 2ml of Vanish gel directly onto the stain and gently rub.

2. 2. Leave the product in contact with the stain for 10 mins max.

3. 3. After pre-treatment, wash as usual with an extra dose of Vanish Oxi Action Gel.

4.  
5. For more details on using the Vanish Oxi Action gel for stain removal read their tips here.