How to Wash a Silk Pillowcase: The Complete 2025 Guide
Silk pillowcases (especially 100% mulberry silk ones like Moonchild) have exploded in popularity because they reduce sleep creases, prevent hair frizz, and feel luxurious. But one question we see every single day is: “Can you actually wash a silk pillowcase without destroying it?”
The short answer: Yes — if you do it correctly.
Wash it wrong and you’ll end up with faded color, rough texture, or even tiny tears. Wash it right and your silk pillowcase will look brand new for years.
Here’s exactly how to do it — whether you prefer hand-washing or using the washing machine.
1. Can You Put a Silk Pillowcase in the Washing Machine?
Yes, most 19-momme or 22-momme pure silk pillowcases are machine-washable — but only on the right settings. A low washing temperature shall do the job in most of the cases as silk is naturally stain-repellent.
Quick rules for machine washing silk pillowcases:
• Use a delicate/gentle cycle
• Cold water only (30°C / 86°F max)
• Place inside a mesh laundry bag
• Mild, pH-neutral detergent (never regular detergent or bleach)
• No fabric softener
• Skip the spin cycle or use the lowest spin setting
HACK: place a dry towel during the spin cycle to soak up excess fluid for a faster drying
2. How to Hand Wash a Silk Pillowcase (The Safest Method)
Hand-washing is the gentlest (and many dermatologists’ preferred) method.
Step-by-step hand wash instructions:
1. Fill a basin with lukewarm or cold water (never hot).
2. Add 2–3 drops of silk-specific gentle Moonchild detergent.
3. Submerge the pillowcase and gently swish for 3–5 minutes. Do NOT scrub or twist.
4. Drain and refill with clean cold water to rinse. Repeat until no suds remain.
5. Gently press (don’t wring) to remove excess water.
6. Lay flat or hang to dry away from direct sunlight.
Silk Pillowcase Care Cheat Sheet (Quick Reference)
| Do ✅ | Don’t ❌ |
|---|---|
| Cold or lukewarm water | Hot water |
| Gentle or delicate cycle | Regular or heavy-duty cycle |
| Mesh laundry bag | Wash with jeans or zippers |
| pH-neutral silk detergent | Bleach, fabric softener, regular Tide |
| Air dry in shade | Direct sunlight or dryer heat |
| Iron on silk setting (inside out) | High heat iron |
3. Can You Put a Silk Pillowcase in the Dryer?
Almost never.
Heat is silk’s worst enemy. High heat in the dryer will shrink, yellow, and roughen the fabric.
The only safe drying methods:
• Air dry flat on a clean towel — silk dries rather quick
• Hang on a padded hanger in the shade
• If you absolutely must use a dryer: “No heat” or “air fluff” setting only, inside a mesh bag, for 5–10 minutes max
4. Can You Iron a Silk Pillowcase? Yes — Here’s Exactly How to Do It Safely
Yes, silk can absolutely be ironed, but only if you follow the rules. Heat is one of silk’s biggest enemies, so one wrong move and you’ll end up with scorch marks or permanent creases.
Safe ironing rules for silk pillowcases:
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Always iron inside out (this protects the outer “beauty” side)
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Use the lowest heat setting labeled “silk” (usually around 110–150 °C / 230–300 °F)
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Iron while the silk is still slightly damp — this is when silk smooths out most easily
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Never use the steam function (steam + silk = water spots and potential scorching)
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Never spray water directly onto silk — it can leave permanent rings
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Move the iron quickly; do not let it sit in one spot
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If your iron only has low/medium/high settings and you’re nervous, place a clean cotton press cloth or thin towel between the iron and the silk
Pro tip: After air-drying flat, most high-quality 22-momme silk pillowcases need little to no ironing if you smooth them with your hands while damp.
5. How Often Should You Wash Your Silk Pillowcase?
Silk is naturally stain and dust repellent. Silk is antimicrobial and a relief for those with allergies. But since the silk pillowcase touches your face and hair every night, oils, skincare products, and drool build up fast.
Recommended wash frequency:
• Normal to dry skin: every 7–10 days
• Oily or acne-prone skin: every 4–7 days
• If you wear heavy night creams or hair oils: every 3–5 days
Pro tip: Keep 2–3 silk pillowcases in rotation so you always have a clean one ready.
6. Best Detergent for Washing Silk Pillowcases in 2025
Regular detergent is too harsh — it strips the natural sericin protein that makes silk smooth.
Top recommended detergent: The Moonchild Silk Detergent meets the special needs of silk. It won't dry out the fabric and nurtures the gentle fibres. This special mild detergent cleans with low temperature.
Why You Should NEVER Use Wool or Cashmere Detergent on Silk Pillowcases
A surprising number of people make this mistake: they see “wool & cashmere detergent” on the bottle and think, “Silk is an animal fiber too, so it must be fine.”
It’s not.
Silk and wool are both protein fibers, but they behave completely differently when exposed to pH levels outside their comfort zone.
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Silk thrives in a pH range of 5–7 (neutral to mildly acidic).
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Most wool/cashmere detergents are formulated to be slightly alkaline (pH 7–9) to properly clean lanolin-rich wool fibers without stripping their natural oils.
When that higher pH hits silk, the results are almost immediate and cumulative:
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The smooth, reflective surface of the silk begins to roughen (you lose that signature silky sheen)
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The fabric feels stiffer and less luxurious after just a few washes
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Over time the silk yellows, weakens, and can even develop tiny shreds or pills
I learned this the hard way years ago with an expensive 22-momme pillowcase that turned matte and scratchy after I washed it with a popular wool detergent. Once the damage is done, you can’t bring the luster back.
Stick to detergents specifically labeled for silk (or at minimum pH-neutral delicate washes). My personal ride-or-die for the past years has been Moonchild Silk Detergent — it sits right around pH 6, leaves zero residue, and my pillowcases still look and feel brand-new (even the ivory ones haven’t yellowed at all).
Bottom line: wool detergent on silk = expensive mistake. Save your silk pillowcases and use the right product from day one.
7. How to Remove Stains from a Silk Pillowcase
Common stains: makeup, blood, sweat, hair dye.
Never rub! Instead:
1. Blot (don’t rub) with a clean cloth.
2. Gently dab the Moonchild Silk Detergent and let it sit for 20 minutes.
3. For makeup: a drop of micellar water on a towel works wonders.
4. For blood: cold water + a pinch of salt, then rinse immediately.
5. Rinse thoroughly and wash as normal.
Will My Night Creams, Retinol, or Serums Ruin My Silk Pillowcase?
Short answer: They won’t “ruin” it overnight, but heavy, oily, or highly active skincare can shorten your silk pillowcase’s lifespan and cause yellowing or dulling if you don’t take a few simple precautions.
Here’s what actually happens:
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Oils and emollients (think thick ceramide creams, squalane, or balm cleansers left on skin) transfer to the silk and oxidize over time → yellow or grayish stains, especially on light ivory/champagne colors.
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High-potency actives (benzoyl peroxide, strong retinoids, high % vitamin C) can mildly bleach or weaken silk fibers with repeated exposure.
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Silicone-heavy products (most dimethicone-based primers and some serums) build up and make silk feel less breathable and slightly “coated.”
How to keep using your fancy nighttime routine without trashing your pillowcase:
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Wait 10–15 minutes after applying skincare before hitting the pillow (let everything sink in).
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Rotate two or three silk pillowcases so no single one gets nightly exposure to actives for more than 3–4 days in a row.
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Wash every 4–7 days if you use heavy creams or prescription retinoids (oily skin or acne-prone? lean toward every 3–5 days).
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Spot-treat small oil stains immediately with a drop of silk-safe detergent on a damp cloth — never let them set.
Real-world experience: I use prescription tretinoin or glycolic acid at night. With the rotation + wait-time rule, my ivory Moonchild silk pillowcases are still bright white after more than five years. Friends who face-plant right into bed after slugging? Yellowed patches in under six months.
Bottom line: Your night creams and silk can absolutely coexist — just give the products time to absorb and wash a little more frequently. Your skin (and your silk pillowcase) will thank you.
How to Do a Deep-Cleaning “Rescue Soak” for Grimy or Dull Silk Pillowcases
If your silk pillowcase has seen too many nights of heavy night creams, makeup transfer, or you’ve accidentally washed it with the wrong detergent, give it this intensive (but still gentle) 20-minute treatment:
Heavy rescue soak (1:20 ratio)
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Fill a basin with cold or barely lukewarm water.
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Add a heavy mix of Moonchild Silk Detergent: 1 part detergent to 20 parts water
(example: 1 tablespoons detergent + 20 tablespoons water = strong cleaning paste; then stir this paste into the full basin). -
Submerge the pillowcase completely and gently press so it soaks up the solution.
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Let it sit undisturbed for 20 minutes – this gives the mild detergent time to lift old oil, residue, and alkaline buildup without damaging the fibers.
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After 20 minutes, gently swish for 1–2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear.
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Optional shine boost: final rinse with 1 tablespoon white vinegar per liter of water (no need to rinse the vinegar out).
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Press out water gently, lay flat to dry, then iron inside out while slightly damp.
Do this only when really needed (once or twice a year max) – everyday washing should still be done with the normal dilute amount of detergent. Works wonders on “tired” or slightly yellowed silk!
8. Why Has My Silk Pillowcase Lost Its Shine?
That gorgeous luminous glow doesn’t disappear overnight — it’s almost always caused by one (or more) of these culprits:
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Washing in water that’s too hot
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Using the wrong detergent (especially alkaline wool/cashmere formulas)
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Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight (UV breaks down silk proteins)
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Spraying perfume, deodorant, or hairspray directly onto the pillowcase
When the surface of the silk fibers roughens, light scatters instead of reflecting — goodbye sheen.
How to Restore Shine to Dull Silk (Vinegar Trick That Actually Works)
Don’t throw it away yet! A gentle vinegar bath can bring back a surprising amount of luster:
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Fill a basin with lukewarm water (never hot)
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Add 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar per liter of water
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Submerge the pillowcase and gently swish for 3–5 minutes
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Let it soak for another 5 minutes
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Gently press out excess water — do not wring or twist
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Do NOT rinse the vinegar out
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Lay flat to dry until just barely damp
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Iron inside out on the silk setting
The mild acid neutralizes any leftover alkaline residue and smooths the fiber scales. The vinegar smell completely disappears once dry — promise.
9. Why Is My Silk Pillowcase Suddenly Brittle or Cracked?
Brittle, stiff, or “cracked” silk is a cry for help. This happens when the silk filament itself is damaged — usually from:
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Wrong detergent (especially anything alkaline or enzyme-based)
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Harsh rubbing or twisting while wet (silk is weakest when wet)
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Regular “delicate” detergents that still have optical brighteners or enzymes
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Washing with normal shampoo or hand soap
Even many bottles that say “for wool & silk” are lying — wool and silk have opposite pH needs. Once the protein structure is broken, the damage is permanent. Prevention is the only real cure.
10. How to Store Silk Pillowcases Properly (So They Last 10+ Years)
Never toss your clean silk pillowcase into a plastic bag and forget about it. Silk needs to breathe.
Best storage practices:
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Always wash before long-term storage (body oils and skincare residue attract moths)
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Store in a cool, dark, dry place (light and humidity are enemies)
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Use the original paper gift box, or the breathable cotton pillowcase bag
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Never seal in plastic — trapped moisture leads to yellowing and mold
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Add a natural cedar block or lavender sachet for gentle moth protection (avoid strong mothballs)
Use the original Moonchild paper gift boxes for off-season storage — they’re toxin-free and perfect.
FAQs – How to Wash Silk Pillowcases
Q: Can you wash silk pillowcases with regular detergent?
No. Regular detergent is too alkaline and strips the silk.
Q: Will silk pillowcases shrink in the wash?
Only if you use hot water or high heat drying.
Q: Do you wash silk pillowcases inside out?
Yes! Turn inside out and use a mesh bag for extra protection.
Q: How long do silk pillowcases last with proper care?
5–10 years easily (some people report 10+ years).
Why Choose Organic Peace Silk Pillowcases?
The highest-quality silk is the least processed. Organic peace silk (ahimsa silk) allows the silkworm to complete its lifecycle, resulting in incredibly pure filaments that retain more natural sericin — the protein responsible for that buttery feel and skin/hair benefits.
Yes, real 100% mulberry organic silk costs more. But when one pillowcase lasts 8–12 years instead of 1–2, and you wake up with less frizz, fewer sleep creases, and happier skin… the math works out. Better sleep literally makes us look, feel, and perform better. Worth every penny.
Final Thoughts
Washing a silk pillowcase isn’t complicated — just remember the golden rules: cold water, gentle detergent, mesh bag, and air dry.
Follow this guide and your silk pillowcase will stay buttery-soft, crease-free, and hair-friendly for years.
Which method do you use — hand wash or delicate machine cycle?
