Home
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How can I Wash Silk?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Silk fabrics require special care to ensure that the fabric does not bleed, shrink, lose its sheen, or tear. If you want to wash silk, make sure to do it carefully to ensure the integrity of the fabric, and be aware that in the case of fabrics marked “dry clean only,” it can be dangerous to hand wash. Dry clean only fabrics may bleed, stain, or shrink significantly if they are washed by hand.

Before you wash silk, it is a good idea to do a spot test first to see if the dye bleeds. Spot test with a cotton ball or soft cloth dipped in cool water and a mild detergent, and pick an area of the garment which is not visible. Gently blot the fabric, allow it to rest a moment, and then blot again with a clean, damp cotton ball or corner of the cloth. If the clean blotter comes away stained with dye, the fabric should be dry cleaned. Likewise, if the fabric appears to have lost its sheen, you may want to dry clean it.

Silk fabric.
Silk fabric.

To wash silk, start by shaking the fabric and lightly brushing it to remove surface dirt. Then, soak it for two to three minutes in cool water with a gentle soap. Do not use detergent, which can make the silk shrink. Swirl it in the soaking water, and gently blot any areas of the garment which are stained. If serious stains are present, use a stain treatment which is labeled for use on silk before the soaking process to loosen the stains so that you can remove them.

Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.

Rinse the silk in several changes of cool water to remove the soap. If you want to ensure that all of the soap is removed, add a glug of plain white vinegar to the rinse water to encourage the soap to precipitate out, and rinse again with plain water before preparing the silk for drying. Once the garment has been rinsed, lay it out on a thick towel and roll the towel up to absorb water. Do not wring the silk, as this will wrinkle and tear the fibers.

Silk cocoons, which can be used to make fabric.
Silk cocoons, which can be used to make fabric.

After you have rolled the silk in the towel, unroll it and lay it out on a flat space to dry, ideally with a fresh towel underneath to soak up water. Keep the silk out of the sun, as sunlight can damage the fibers, and avoid exposing the fabric to heat. If you want to speed the drying process along, you can use an iron on a cool setting to iron the reverse side of the fabric.

Cotton balls are helpful when cleaning.
Cotton balls are helpful when cleaning.

Some silks are safe to run through the washing machine. To wash silk in a machine, use a very mild soap safe for silk, a short cycle, and the “delicates” setting. It is also a good idea to put silk into a lingerie bag or pillowcase for washing so that it is not damaged by the washing machine's agitator. Do not run silk through a dryer, as this can cause it to shrink.

White vinegar can be added to a rinse to make sure all the soap is washed from silk.
White vinegar can be added to a rinse to make sure all the soap is washed from silk.

Although washing silk sounds like a lot of work, this fiber is very durable, and it will endure for years if well cared-for. It is a good idea to wash silk regularly so that it never has a chance to become soiled or stained, rather than to save washing for garments which have gotten dirty, as it can be hard to lift embedded stains.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon197733

I have hand washed a silk top and it has shrunk. is there anything i can do to save this top?

candyquilt

@anon21718-- Take it to a dry cleaner and ask them if they can do polishing and cold press on it. I had them do this on a silk dress, it revived the color and literally looked new. It didn't damage the dress at all.

Some other tips for washing and maintaining silk garments is that you can lay them out in front of a fan on a low setting to dry. It will dry faster but without any damage or wrinkles. If you have silk clothing that you rarely wear and it always sits in the wardrobe, take it out once in a while and fold it in a different way. This prevents it from getting deep wrinkles and prevents fabric damage. I learned these tips from my mom and all of my silks are as good as new.

turquoise

I've personally never sent my silk clothing to the dry cleaners. I've had a bad experience with dry cleaners before so I just wash silk clothing at home by hand. I use an organic laundry detergent. It's all natural so it's gentle and doesn't damage silk clothes at all. You might still want to do a spot test to see if the color will fade.

One time when I was on vacation, I spilled something on a silk shirt and since I didn't have any detergent with me, I washed my shirt with my shampoo. It worked just fine. I wouldn't do that at home but it got the stain out before it really set in.

anon21718

Is there any way to revive a silk sweater if you ran it through the wash?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Silk fabric.
      By: felinda
      Silk fabric.
    • Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
      By: lily
      Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.
    • Silk cocoons, which can be used to make fabric.
      By: phiseksit
      Silk cocoons, which can be used to make fabric.
    • Cotton balls are helpful when cleaning.
      By: Vibe Images
      Cotton balls are helpful when cleaning.
    • White vinegar can be added to a rinse to make sure all the soap is washed from silk.
      By: indigolotos
      White vinegar can be added to a rinse to make sure all the soap is washed from silk.