How to Wash Silk: The Ultimate Care Guide

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Learn how to clean, dry, & remove stains on 100% silk

Co-authored by Safir Ali and Devin McSween

Last Updated: June 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Hand Washing

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Machine Washing

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Drying

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Removing Stains

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Removing Wrinkles

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Care & Maintenance

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Expert Q&A

Silk is a soft and luxurious material that makes beautiful shirts, dresses, ties, and other garments. Because silk is such a delicate fabric, it’s important to properly wash your garments so they stay looking their best. We spoke with professional dry cleaner Safir Ali to find out how to wash and dry your silk clothes, remove stains, and keep silk in good condition. He says to read your item’s care label and check for colorfastness, then wash it by hand or in the washing machine with cold water and a gentle detergent. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Safir Ali
Professional Dry Cleaner

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Keep reading for more silk cleaning advice!

The Best Ways to Wash Silk

Check the garment’s care tag and dab it with a damp white cloth to ensure it’s colorfast. To hand wash silk, soak and swirl it in cold water with a few drops of gentle detergent. If the silk is machine washable, wash it in a mesh bag on a cold, delicate cycle using gentle detergent.

Section 1 of 6:

Hand Washing Silk Garments

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1
Read the care label and test for colorfastness . Check the care label on your silk garment to ensure it’s safe to wash. Then, dab a damp white cloth or cotton swab into an inconspicuous part of the garment to ensure the dye doesn’t transfer. ^{[2]
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- Most silk garments with tags that say “Dry Clean” are safe to hand wash.
- If the label says “Dry Clean Only,” take it to a dry cleaner instead of washing it at home.
- If any color transfers onto the cloth or swab, your silk garment isn’t colorfast. Take it to the dry cleaners to help protect the garment from fading.
- If you have an especially expensive or high-quality item, Ali recommends taking it to a dry cleaner rather than washing it, as silk can damage easily. ^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Safir Ali
  Professional Dry Cleaner
  
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
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Fill a basin with cold water and add a few drops of gentle detergent. Fill your clean sink or a large bowl with cold water. Then, pour in a few drops of a detergent made for delicate garments or a gentle, fragrance-free detergent . Swirl the water around with your hand to mix in the soap. ^{[4]
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- Avoid heavy detergents that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, as they can damage the silk’s fibers.
- Use baby shampoo or Castille soap if you don’t have a delicate detergent; these soaps are gentle and safe to use on silk. ^{[5]
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Let the garment soak for 3 minutes and then gently agitate it. Submerge the garment in the soapy water and allow it to soak for several minutes; this helps loosen any dirt and debris. Then, gently plunge it up and down and swirl it in the water to wash out any stuck-on residue . ^{[6]
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- The plunging motion simulates a washing machine, but is much more gentle.
- If the entire garment isn’t dirty, Ali recommends spot-cleaning the soiled area. This lowers your chances of damaging the silk. ^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Safir Ali
  Professional Dry Cleaner
  
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
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Rinse the garment in cold water. Remove the garment from the soapy water and hold it under cool, running water. Move the garment around as you rinse it to get out all of the soap. Just stop rinsing when you no longer see soap suds. ^{[8]
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- Drain the sink or pour out the basin of soapy water when you’re done with it.

Section 2 of 6:

Machine Washing Silk Garments

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1
Check the care tag and test for color fastness. Read the care label on your silk garment to ensure it’s safe to machine wash. Then, dab a hidden part of the garment with a damp white cloth or cotton swab to see if the dye runs; if it transfers to the cloth, don’t machine wash the garment. ^{[9]
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- The care label also tells you the recommended water temperature and washing cycle.
- If the garment is dry clean or hand wash only, don’t put it in your washer. Machine washing it can drain the color or damage the silk’s fibers.
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Put the garment in a mesh bag and load it with other delicate items. To protect your silk garment from snags and damage, place it in a mesh garment bag or pillowcase. Then, place the garment in your machine with similarly colored delicate items. Or, wash the silk by itself. ^{[10]
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- Don’t place any heavy pieces of clothing, like blue jeans, in the machine with your garment.
- Avoid washing silk garments with any clothing that has metal buttons, snaps, or zippers that the silk could snag on.
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Add delicate detergent and start a cold, gentle cycle. Wash silk items with a detergent made for delicate garments or a gentle, fragrance-free detergent . Just follow the directions on the back of the detergent to add the recommended amount to the washer. Then, select your machine’s gentlest washing cycle, shortest spin cycle, and coldest water temperature. ^{[11]
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- In general, use less detergent than normal when you wash silk garments.
- Do not use warm or hot water, as the heat can damage the silk’s fibers.
- Avoid using heavy detergents or ones that contain bleach, as they can harm silk.
- Remember to check your garment’s care label for any specific washing instructions.

Section 3 of 6:

Drying Silk Garments

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Absorb the excess moisture with a white towel. Lay a clean towel flat on a table or counter and place the freshly washed garment on top. Then, gently roll the towel from one end to the other with the silk garment inside. This helps blot out the excess moisture. ^{[12]
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- Once you’ve rolled the towel all the way up, unroll it and take out the silk garment.
- Don’t wring or squeeze the garment or rolled towel, as this can damage the silk.
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Hang the garment to air dry. Place the silk piece of clothing on a clothes drying rack or padded hanger and set it in a well-ventilated area to dry. Or, hang the item over a shower curtain rod. ^{[13]
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- Lay the silk garment on a clean towel to dry as another alternative.
- Keep your silk garment out of direct sunlight, as this can cause it to fade or damage the fibers.
- Do not dry silk items in your dryer. The heat and agitation can damage the material.

Section 4 of 6:

Removing Stains From Silk

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Spray stains with water and white vinegar, then wash the garment. Mix 2 cups (473 ml) of cool water with 2 tbsp (30 ml) of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, spray the stain with the mixture. Gently dab the mixture into the spot with a clean white cloth or sponge until it disappears. ^{[14]
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- Hand wash or machine wash the silk garment after removing the stain.
- Use lemon juice as an alternative to white vinegar, if you prefer.
- If the stain is fresh, blot it with a clean cloth or paper towel before spraying on the stain remover.

Section 5 of 6:

Removing Wrinkles From Silk

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Hang the garment overnight to remove minor wrinkles . If you notice a few small wrinkles on your silk garment after drying it, place it on a padded or velvet clothes hanger . Ensure it hangs completely straight and isn’t folded over on itself. Then, leave it hanging overnight. ^{[15]
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If hanging the garment overnight doesn’t straighten out the wrinkles, hang the garment on a towel rack in your bathroom while you take a shower. The steam and indirect heat from the shower helps gently work out the wrinkles. ^{[16]
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Iron the garment on the “silk” or low heat setting as another option. Check your silk garment’s care tag to see if it can be ironed. If so, dampen it with water and turn it inside out. Then, set the iron to the “silk” or the lowest heat setting. Place a towel on top of the silk and gently run the iron over the garment . ^{[17]
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- High heat can cause the fabric to pucker, burn, yellow, or shrink.
If you don’t want to iron your garment, set a handheld steamer to the lowest heat setting and hang up your clothes. Then, hold the steamer about 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) away from the item as you move it over the fabric. ^{[18]
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Section 6 of 6:

Silk Care and Maintenance

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To keep your silk clothes as wrinkle-free as possible, hang them up in your closet. Just place them on padded or velvet hangers to prevent the clothes from slipping off.
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Store clean silk items in an airtight container or bag. If you need to put away some silk garments for a long period of time, wash and dry the items. Then, fold or roll each item and wrap it in acid-free tissue paper or a cotton garment bag . Place the garments in an airtight plastic bin or bag and set the container in a cool, dry place. ^{[19]
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- Silk is a protein-based fabric, which makes it susceptible to moth damage. For extra protection, place cedar wood blocks in the container, too.
Keep silk items out of direct light when drying and storing them, as the sun can cause the fabric to fade. Do not wash, dry, or iron silk using heat, as hot temperatures can damage the fibers or lead to fading or yellowing. ^{[20]
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Wash silk items with gentle detergent. To extend your silk garment’s life and ensure it stays in pristine condition, use a detergent made for delicate garments or a gentle, fragrance-free detergent . Using heavy, chemical-based detergents can damage the silk’s fabric or cause the item to fade. ^{[21]
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- Do not use bleach on silk, as it can lead to yellowing and damage.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you put silk in the washing machine?

Safir Ali
Professional Dry Cleaner
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.

Safir Ali

Professional Dry Cleaner

Expert Answer

I wouldn't recommend it, unless you don't care too much about the garment. If you absolutely need to wash something silken, spot treat it. Don't completely wash it. That way, you are dealing with only one area for the garment quality, and won't risk damaging the whole thing.

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If your garment doesn’t have a care tag or the care tag is cut out, err on the side of caution and don’t machine wash or iron the garment.

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Bright, dark, and patterned silk garments are more likely to bleed, so take them to a dry cleaner to get cleaned.

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