Do Not Wash
Keep it out of the basin and washer. Follow the spot-clean or professional-cleaning direction on that piece.
How to Wash and Care for Silk
Silk lasts better when the care advice matches the finished piece in your hands. Start with the sewn-in label, then use this guide to choose detergent, wash one THXSILK item by itself, treat a stain and work out what to do if the fabric feels different afterward.
Before Water Touches Your Silk
The label tells you the maximum treatment the finished piece can take. Read the wash, dry and ironing directions together—then use the route below.
Hand Wash
Hand wash one piece in fresh cool water. A machine's Delicate cycle is not a substitute for a hand-wash-only label.
Machine Wash
Use the exact temperature and cycle shown. Run one THXSILK piece in its own cycle—never a mixed silk load.
Missing or Unclear
Pause. Send us the product name, order number and a clear photo of every label before you clean it.
Follow Your Product Label
Read the complete wash, dry and ironing directions together. The label on the finished piece—not the word silk—sets the maximum treatment it can take.
Wash One Piece at a Time
One washable THXSILK piece gets one clean basin or one machine cycle. Never add a second silk item, sheet, garment or any other textile.
Keep Water and Heat Low
Stay within the temperature on the label. Keep silk away from hot water, radiators, direct sun and any dryer or iron setting the label does not allow.
Use Silk Detergent
Choose a liquid detergent labeled safe for silk, measure the smallest useful dose and dissolve it first. Never scrub, wring, twist or pour concentrate onto dry silk.
Find the Routine We Recommend for Your Piece
A pillowcase, a fitted sheet and a silk-filled comforter do not belong in the same wash. Choose the finished product in your hands, then follow its own sewn-in label.
Pillowcases, Sheets & Duvet Covers
These are woven shells without loose silk filling, but size and construction still matter. When its label permits washing, give one pillowcase, one sheet or one duvet cover its own basin or cycle. Turn closures inward and close them before an approved machine wash. A mesh bag must be large enough for that single piece to move; a tightly packed sheet will not rinse well.
Silk-Filled Comforters & Blankets
Most of our traditional silk-filled inserts should not be soaked or machine washed because water and movement can disturb the long silk layers inside. Protect the insert with a duvet cover, air it in shade and follow its spot or professional-cleaning label. Only a style specifically marked Washable can enter the washer, and that comforter must run alone.
Pajamas, Robes & Silk Clothing
When water cleaning is allowed, we prefer hand washing because seams, piping, lace and buttons need less movement than everyday laundry. Wash one garment by itself. Turn it inside out and close fastenings before an approved machine cycle, then reshape the neckline, cuffs, hems and seams while damp.
Eye Masks, Bonnets & Scrunchies
These pieces collect skincare, hair products and body oils quickly, but padding and elastic should not sit wet for long. Wash one accessory by itself, keep the hand wash brief, rinse thoroughly, towel-press and reshape it before drying. Never twist an eye mask or stretch a wet bonnet band.
Printed, Treated & Blended Silk
A print, special finish, blended shell or contrast trim can change what the finished product tolerates. Follow that product's label, test a hidden area before treating a mark and keep soaking brief when washing is allowed. Do not copy the routine from an untreated Mulberry silk pillowcase.
Detergent check
Read the Bottle Before You Pour
We use a liquid detergent that is specifically labeled safe for silk or delicate protein fibers. Concentration varies from one formula to another, so follow the detergent maker's dose for a single small load and use the lowest effective amount. Dissolve hand-wash detergent in the water before the silk goes in.
Never pour concentrated detergent directly onto dry silk. More product does not mean a cleaner pillowcase; it can mean a harder rinse and a stiff, dull finish.
What we look for
- Liquid formula labeled for silk
- pH-neutral or near-neutral
- Bleach-free
- Clear directions for hand or delicate washing
What we leave out
- Biological detergent or protease enzymes
- Chlorine or oxygen bleach
- Optical brighteners and stain pens
- Fabric softener and scent boosters
- Dish soap, shampoo and kitchen remedies
How We Hand-Wash Washable Silk
Hand washing gives us control over water, time and movement. Set everything up first so the silk is never left soaking while you look for a towel.
- Check the complete care label. For a dark, printed or treated piece, test a hidden area with a cool damp white cloth and stop if color transfers heavily.
- Clean the basin so there is no residue from bleach, household cleaner or a previous wash.
- Fill it with fresh cool water, staying within the maximum temperature on the label. Dissolve the measured silk detergent before adding the item.
- Lower one THXSILK piece into the water. Move it gently for three to five minutes; do not scrub one area against another, stretch elastic or leave it soaking.
- Drain the basin while supporting the whole piece. Refill with fresh cool water and rinse until no slippery detergent feel remains.
- Lift with both hands, place it on a clean colorfast towel and press. Never wring or twist wet silk.
- Reshape seams, hems and corners, then dry exactly as the label directs, away from direct sunlight and heaters.
Before the next item: empty the basin, rinse it and begin again with fresh water.
How We Machine-Wash an Approved Piece
We use a machine only when the label on that exact THXSILK piece allows it. The Delicate button does not make a hand-wash or non-washable product machine-safe.
- Check the drum for rough edges, coins, hooks and detergent residue. Put only one THXSILK piece in the washer.
- Turn pillowcases, duvet covers and garments inside out when their construction allows it. Close zippers and buttons.
- Use a fine-mesh bag large enough for the single item to move. A sheet packed into a small bag cannot rinse properly.
- Select the label-approved temperature, a Silk, Hand Wash or Delicate cycle, and the lowest practical spin. Skip prewash, heavy-soil, steam and sanitizing options.
- Measure the silk-safe liquid detergent for this one-item load. Do not add bleach, softener, scent booster or a general stain remover.
- Remove the piece as soon as the cycle ends, support it while wet, reshape it and follow its drying label.
No second product goes into the cycle—not another silk item and not any other textile.
A Silk-Filled Comforter Is Not a Silk Sheet
We build a traditional silk comforter with long layers of silk spread across the bed. Soaking and machine movement can disturb those layers, change the loft or leave the filling uneven. That is why a routine written for a sheet cannot be carried over to an insert.
Use a removable duvet cover to take the everyday contact with skin, pets and small spills. Air the insert in a shaded, well-ventilated room. If a mark reaches the shell, blot without saturating the filling and follow that comforter's spot or professional-cleaning direction.
Washable is a product-specific promise.
When we name a comforter Washable, wash it alone and follow the directions sewn into that comforter. Never carry those instructions over to another filled style.
When we name a comforter Washable, wash it alone and follow the directions sewn into that comforter. Never carry those instructions over to another filled style.
Stain First Aid: What to Do in the First Five Minutes
The safest stain treatment begins by removing pressure and friction. Do not scrub just because the mark is still visible.
Fresh water, drink or light spill
Blot from both sides with a clean white cloth. If the piece is washable, rinse the affected area with cool water, then wash the entire item alone according to its label. Do not rub the wet ring.
Skincare, hair oil or makeup
Lift excess product with a dry white cloth. Test diluted silk detergent on a hidden area, then dab from the edge toward the center. Follow with the full label-approved wash; do not use dish soap, alcohol wipes or concentrated detergent.
Fresh blood or another protein stain
Use cool water only—heat can make a protein stain harder to remove. Blot, rinse and use silk-safe detergent if the label permits washing. Do not use a biological stain remover containing protease.
Ink, wine, an old stain or color transfer
Stop before experimenting. Keep the piece away from heat, take clear photos and contact us or a cleaner experienced with silk. Filled, dark, printed and treated pieces should not be repeatedly spot-wetted.
Stop home treatment if color lifts onto the cloth, the surface turns pale, the weave opens, the stain spreads or the piece is labeled Do Not Wash.
If Your Silk Looks or Feels Different After Washing
Do not repeat the same wash with more detergent. Match the symptom first, then take the smallest useful next step.
Stiff, rough, dull or chalky
Detergent residue and hard-water minerals are common clues. If the label allows washing, rinse the whole piece alone once more in fresh cool water with no added detergent, then air-dry in shade. If your tap water leaves mineral scale, use filtered or distilled water for the final rinse. Do not add fabric softener or vinegar.
Deep wrinkles
While the piece is slightly damp, support it and smooth the seams and edges by hand. If the label permits ironing, work from the reverse side with a clean pressing cloth and the indicated low setting. Never press one spot for a long time.
Smaller, twisted or out of shape
Keep it away from further heat. While damp, ease it gently back toward its original shape without pulling seams or elastic. A heat-set change may not be reversible, so stop if the fabric resists and contact us before another wash.
Color bleeding, fading or a pale patch
Stop washing and keep the item away from heat. Blot excess water with a white towel, dry it in shade and photograph the full piece and the affected area. Do not try to even out the color with bleach, vinegar or another stain treatment.
Water ring or detergent patch
Repeatedly wetting only the spot can enlarge the ring. If the label permits washing, rinse the entire item alone in fresh cool water so the surface dries evenly. If the area has changed color rather than simply dried unevenly, contact us.
Snag, pull or opened weave
Do not cut the thread or pull it from either side. Lay the piece flat, keep it away from jewelry and rough surfaces, and send us a close photo plus a full-product photo so we can help judge the next step.
How Often We Wash Each Piece
Use these as starting points, then wash sooner after heavy perspiration, illness, visible soil or product buildup.
- Pillowcase
- Every 7–10 nights; sooner with rich skincare or hair products
- Sheets & duvet cover
- Every 1–2 weeks, depending on direct skin contact
- Sleepwear
- After 2–4 wears, or sooner when damp or visibly soiled
- Eye mask & bonnet
- About weekly, adjusted for skin and hair product transfer
- Silk-filled insert
- Air regularly; do not create a home-wash schedule unless its label says Washable
Dry, Press and Store Without Starting a New Problem
Dry
Support wet silk, towel-press and air-dry in shade unless the exact label permits another method.
Support wet silk, towel-press and air-dry in shade unless the exact label permits another method.
Press
Use the reverse side, a clean pressing cloth and only the temperature shown on the label.
Use the reverse side, a clean pressing cloth and only the temperature shown on the label.
Store
Store completely clean and dry in a breathable bag, away from sunlight, heat and long-term compression.
Store completely clean and dry in a breathable bag, away from sunlight, heat and long-term compression.
For sheets and larger pieces, refold them along different lines from time to time. Never seal damp silk in plastic, and never store a comforter under a heavy vacuum pack.
Silk Care FAQs
Clear answers for the choices customers most often have to make before a wash—and the problems they notice afterward.
Can silk go in the washing machine?
Only when the care label on that exact THXSILK piece allows machine washing. Run it alone at the stated temperature on a Silk, Hand Wash or Delicate cycle with low spin. Use a roomy fine-mesh bag when appropriate. A Delicate setting does not override a Hand Wash or Do Not Wash label.
Do all washable THXSILK silk products need to be washed separately?
Yes. Every washable silk product we sell must be washed by itself. Use fresh water for the next hand-washed piece or start a new machine cycle. This does not make a non-washable product washable.
What detergent should I use for silk?
Choose a liquid detergent specifically labeled safe for silk, ideally pH-neutral and free of bleach. Avoid biological formulas containing protease, optical brighteners, fabric softener and scent boosters. Because formulas have different concentrations, follow the bottle's single-load dose and use the lowest effective amount.
How often should I wash a pillowcase or sheets?
As a starting point, wash a pillowcase every 7–10 nights and sheets or a duvet cover every 1–2 weeks. Wash sooner after heavy perspiration, illness, visible soil, or transfer from skincare and hair products. Each piece still receives its own wash.
Can silk go in the dryer?
We normally air-dry woven silk in shade. Use a dryer only when the exact label permits a low or air setting.
Can I iron or steam silk?
Only when our label permits it. Work from the reverse side with a pressing cloth and the lowest silk-safe temperature.
Why does my silk feel stiff or look dull after washing?
First check for residue rather than adding more cleaner. If the label permits washing, rinse the whole piece alone in fresh cool water with no detergent and air-dry it in shade. If hard water is likely, use filtered or distilled water for the final rinse. Stop and contact us if you see a pale patch, color change, thinning or an opened weave.
Will silk shrink when washed?
Heat, long soaking and unsuitable agitation can change a finished silk piece. Keep it away from further heat and, while it is still damp, ease it gently back toward its original shape without pulling seams or elastic. A heat-set change may not be reversible, so stop if the fabric resists.
What if the product page and care label disagree?
Pause before washing. Send us the product name, order number, a clear photo of the complete label and the link to the product page. We will help you confirm which instruction belongs to the finished piece.
How do I remove skincare, hair oil or makeup from a silk pillowcase?
Blot excess product with a clean white cloth. Test diluted silk-safe detergent on a hidden area, then dab from the edge toward the center without rubbing. If the label permits washing, wash the whole pillowcase by itself afterward. Do not use dish soap, alcohol wipes, bleach or concentrated detergent.
What should I do if silk bleeds color or develops a pale patch?
Stop washing and do not apply heat. Blot excess water with a white towel, dry the piece in shade and photograph both the full item and the affected area. Do not try to even the color with bleach, vinegar or another stain treatment.
Can I wash two matching silk pieces together?
No. Matching color, Momme or fabric does not change our one-piece rule. Wash exactly one THXSILK product in fresh water or its own machine cycle, then clean the basin or begin a new cycle for the next piece.
Still unsure? Let us look at the exact piece.
Send the product name, order number, full care-label photo, clear photos of the issue, and what water, detergent, cycle or heat has already been used. We can give a more useful answer when we can see the whole story.