Getting a quality silk pillowcase can be one of the best decisions you can make. Not only are silk pillowcases comfortable, but they are also better for your hair and skin in the long term. Of course, cleaning this delicate material can be quite overwhelming for many people. Here is everything you need to know about how to clean silk pillowcase.
How to clean a silk pillowcase using laundry detergent and vinegar
The first thing you should do is to check the label on the inside of the pillowcase to see if you can hand wash it or not. If yes, then continue with this easy method to clean your pillowcase:
- In case there are any stains or spots on your pillowcase, apply a gentle stain remover directly on the stain, and not all over the pillowcase.
- Take a bucket and fill it up halfway with lukewarm water. Now, add just ½ a teaspoon of any mild laundry detergent specially made for washing silk.
- Soak the silk pillowcase in this bucket with the detergent for 5 minutes only, and not more. Keep a timer on so that you know exactly when you need to remove the pillowcase.
- While it is soaking, you can gently swirl around the pillowcase in the bucket, but make sure that you don’t scrub it or wring it, as it will damage the delicate fibers.
- Drain out all the water from the bucket after 5 minutes, still keeping the silk pillowcase inside the bucket while doing so.
- Add cold water to the bucket with the pillowcase inside it. Now, add just ¼ cup of white, distilled vinegar and a few drops of fabric softener into the bucket.
- Drain out all the water once again, and use cold water to rinse out the pillowcase thoroughly.
- Make sure that you rinse out both the outside as well as the inside of the pillowcase thoroughly.
- Now, remove the pillowcase from the bucket and lay it out flat on a clean towel, making sure you don’t fold any of the edges.
- Roll up the towel from one end, making a cylinder with the pillowcase still inside it. Press down on it gently so that the towel absorbs the water.
- Unroll the towel and lay down the silk pillowcase on a clean, dry towel and allow it to dry. It might take one or two days to dry completely. Do not hang the silk pillowcase for drying or keep it in the sun.
How to clean a silk pillowcase in the washing machine
If you wish to, you can skip handwashing and simply clean your silk pillowcase in the washing machine. However, you need to be very careful when doing so. Here is how you can do it:
- Place your silk pillowcases in a laundry bag first, and then put them in the washing machine and use only the delicate setting, with the water temperature never exceeding 30 °C.
- Add mild, non-alkaline laundry detergent into the washing machine and run it on a regular cycle.
- Once you finish washing the silk pillowcase, remove it gently from the laundry bag and lay it out completely flat on a clean, dry towel.
- Roll the towel gently with the pillowcase still inside it and press on it lightly to absorb the moisture from the towel.
- Now, lay out the silk pillowcase on another dry and clean towel, and allow it to dry naturally for one or two days.
How to clean a silk pillowcase using detergent and lemon juice
In case you have some marks, stains, or even discoloration on your beautiful silk pillowcase, you can use this easy method to hand wash your silk while removing the stains and restoring its look. Here is how you can do it:
- If the stain is fresh, then try to gently blot up as much of the stain as possible using paper towels. Remember not to rub the stains into the fabric but simply blot it gently.
- Take a bowl and add lukewarm water to it, along with a few drops of lemon juice. In case you don’t have lemon juice to work with, you can use white distilled vinegar as well. Mix this well to create your stain removing solution.
- Now, take a clean, white cloth and dip it into this stain removing solution. Using the cloth, dab at the stain on your silk pillowcase and gently remove as much of the stain as you can.
- Now, you can begin to wash the entire fabric.
- Fill up your bathtub or sink with warm water and add a few drops of a mild, alkaline free laundry detergent. Mix this well to create your solution.
- Soak your silk pillowcase in this for not more than five minutes, and rinse out the pillowcase immediately with cold water.
- Now, make sure that you don’t hang your delicate silk pillowcase using clothespins, or you don’t allow them to dry in direct sunlight. Instead, layout the pillowcase over a clean, dry towel and let it dry naturally, undisturbed, for at least two days.
How to clean a silk pillowcase using vinegar and salt
Finally, if you have a beautiful silk pillowcase which has lost its whiteness due to normal usage and you want to bring back its color, then you can use this easy method to do so. Here is how you can do it:
- Take a large bucket and fill it with 1 pint of warm water. Now, add 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of a water softener, along with 1 tablespoon of salt, and mix all of this well to create your solution.
- Now, wet your silk pillowcase slightly, just so that it is damp, but not soaking wet.
- Take a sponge and dip it into this solution. Using the sponge, blot and clean your entire pillowcase gently, but remember not to rub it.
- Rinse the pillowcase with warm water, and then allow it to dry naturally by laying it over a clean, dry towel for about 2 days. Enjoy your clean pillow!
