Pop your item in the washing machine – we recommend placing any silk items inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase to avoid snags or damage caused by the drum. Select a cool, delicate cycle. While you can toss your silk pieces in a gentle wash cycle, Whitehurst says it's best to wash these velvety soft items one at a time in the sink. Fill your basin with cool or cold water to help keep the color, then add a gentle detergent that's free of harsh ingredients. Normally silk is best washed by hand with a mild detergent, such as Tenestar, Dreft or Lux in lukewarm water. Rinse well, squeeze out surplus moisture by rolling in a towel and hang to dry. Never soak, boil, bleach or wring Silk or leave it crumpled in a towel.
For many years, it was thought that dry cleaning was the only way to properly care for silk – but silk can actually be washed at home. While the care labels on many silk products may instruct that the item be dry cleaned, this is simply down to the manufacturers preference. To restore some of the shine and softness that's been lost, you can give your silk pieces a mild white vinegar bath. White vinegar helps to remove any residual soap in the fibres, and also restores lustre and softness to silk.
