mulberry silk
How to Wash Mulberry Silk: Dos and Don'ts
A quick checklist for washing silk correctly, and the one detergent rule that explains most of it.
1 min read
The full routine for washing silk, and the detergent criteria behind it, is covered at the best detergent for washing silk. This is the short version, as a checklist.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Use cool or lukewarm water | Use hot water |
| Use a pH-neutral, silk-specific detergent | Use an enzyme or biological detergent |
| Hand wash, or machine wash cold in a mesh bag | Machine wash without a mesh bag |
| Press out water in a towel | Wring or twist to remove water |
| Lay flat or line dry, away from direct sun | Tumble dry or dry in direct sunlight |
| Iron on the lowest setting, slightly damp | Iron on high heat, or iron bone dry |
| Wash separately from rougher fabrics | Wash silk with zippers, hooks or heavy items |
The one rule that matters most
If you only remember one thing: no enzymes, no bleach. Most laundry detergents contain enzymes built to break down protein-based stains, and silk is itself a protein fibre, so the same enzymes that clean cotton slowly damage silk. That single fact explains most of the table above.
Common questions
Can silk go in the washing machine at all?
Yes, cold and delicate, inside a mesh bag. Hand washing is gentler and the safer default, but a machine cycle done correctly won't ruin it.
What's the single biggest mistake people make?
Using a regular laundry detergent. The enzymes in most mainstream detergents are the main cause of silk wearing out faster than it should.
Silk Pearl works exclusively in 22 momme mulberry silk, OEKO-TEX certified. The Silk Washing Bag is built for exactly the mesh-bag step above.
