How to Wash Silk

An important part of ensuring that your silk fabric creation continues to look its best is to use the correct cleaning method. Many people believe that all silk fabrics should be dry-cleaned only, while others recommend washing silks at home. Although both opinions are valid, there are a few very important factors to consider.

Silk fabric is mainly composed of protein molecules and can be washed similarly to human hair. Silk fabrics have been used for over 4,500 years, so the argument for handwashing silk is strong. However, washing items made from silk fabric is not always the best choice. Many factors contribute to the success of washing silk, including the complexity of the garment construction, the color of the garment, the desired feel after washing and drying, and whether the threads were dyed prior to weaving.

Dry-Clean Only Silk Fabrics

Items that should always be dry-cleaned include garments with linings - especially when the lining is a different color than the shell - items with trimmings, printed silks, and very bright or very dark colors. For optimum appearance, we recommend dry-cleaning items made from the following silk fabrics:

Printed Silks
Raw Silk
Silk Beaded and Sequin
Silk Brocade
Silk Chiffon
Silk Crinkle Chiffon
Silk Crepe Georgette
Silk Denim
Silk Doupioni
Silk Duchesse Satin
Silk Embroidered
Silk Faille
Silk Gazar
Silk Georgette
Silk Handwoven
Silk Hand Painted
Silk Heavy Charmeuse Satin
Silk Heavy Crepe
Silk Heavy Crepe Back Satin
Silk Jacquard
Silk Metallic
Silk Mikado
Silk Novelty
Silk Organza
Silk Satin Chiffon
Silk Satin Georgette
Silk Satin Organza
Silk Shantung
Silk Suitings
Silk Taffeta
Silk Textured
Silk Tussah Handwoven
Silk Waffle Georgette
Silk Wool Mikado
Silk Wool Shantung
Silk Wool Textured
Silk Woven Suitings
Silk Yarn Dyed Doupioni
Silk Yarn Dyed Shantung
Stretch Silk Chiffon
Stretch Silk Faille
Stretch Silk Georgette
Stretch Silk Heavy Charmeuse Satin
Stretch Silk Heavy Crepe
Stretch Silk Ribbed
Stretch Silk Textured
Stretch Silk Textured Crepe
All silk fabrics with Trims and Appliqués

While we recommend dry-cleaning for all the above silk fabrics, some people prefer the look obtained after handwashing garments made of solid-color silk fabrics listed above. Handwashing these solid-color silks will soften the feel, slightly change the color, and may alter the luster. This can be desirable depending on the look you want to achieve. We recommend handwashing a test piece of silk fabric before experimenting with a finished product, following our handwashing instructions provided below.

When dry-cleaning your silk items, always inform the dry-cleaner that your items are made of silk and confirm they have experience cleaning silk. For added protection, insist that the dry-cleaning tag be marked "Silk Fabric." Dry-cleaning processes have evolved substantially over the years, with more environmentally friendly options available in most major cities. Many of today's eco-friendly dry-cleaners use silicone-based cleaning agents or liquid carbon dioxide. As of this writing, liquid carbon dioxide offers the least fabric shrinkage and is considered safer for the environment by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Hand Washable Silk Fabrics

The following silk fabrics are hand-washable; however, we recommend avoiding washing very bright or very dark colors to preserve their vibrancy. These silk fabrics include the following:

Hammered Silk Charmeuse
Raw Silk Noil
Silk Broadcloth
Silk Charmeuse Satin
Silk Crepe de Chine
Silk Crinkle Crepe
Silk Habotai
Silk Twill
Stretch Silk Charmeuse Satin
Stretch Silk Crepe de Chine
Stretch Silk Woven Jersey

We recommend that these fabrics be hand washed and dried using the following instructions:

Handwashing Instructions for Silk Fabric

If you choose to wash any of the silk fabrics listed in our hand-washable silk fabric list above, we recommend avoiding washing very bright or very dark colors to help preserve their vibrancy. For best results, we always advise handwashing using the following instructions:

Use only cool water for washing and rinsing.
Always wash and rinse silk fabric items separately from other non-silk fabrics. Wash each color of silk fabric separately using fresh water for each color.
If you live in an area with hard water rich in minerals, consider adding a water softener following the manufacturer's instructions. This prevents mineral stains, especially on darker colors, and provides a deeper clean.
To help retain the silk fabric's true color, add ¼ cup of plain white vinegar to every two gallons of cool washing water.
Use the minimum amount of a good quality liquid soap recommended for delicate fabrics, ensuring it is thoroughly dissolved before adding the fabric. For dark colors, consider using liquid soap designed specifically for dark fabrics. Never exceed the manufacturer’s recommended amount to avoid dye bleeding and residue that dulls the silk.
Do not soak silk fabric. Keep the fabric wet only as long as needed to complete the handwashing process.
Gently agitate the silk fabric by hand without rubbing the fabric together during washing and rinsing. Never twist or wring out excess water. Instead, gently squeeze out the water without stretching the fabric.
After washing, rinse the silk fabric in cool water several times to remove all soap. Bright and dark colors may bleed due to excess dye; continue rinsing and changing the water until it runs clear. To help set the dye, dissolve a small amount of salt in the final rinse water before adding the fabric.

Handwashed Silk Fabric Drying Instructions

Once the silk fabric has been washed and rinsed, we recommend the following drying procedure:

Roll the silk fabric item in a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture.
Hang your damp silk fabric item on a colorfast plastic hanger in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Avoid using padded hangers or those with felt or velvet coverings, as these materials can sometimes transfer dye onto damp or wet garments, causing stains. Be cautious with wooden hangers and drying racks as well, since the finishes applied to the wood may also stain damp silk. Avoid hanging silk near any heat sources.

Machine Wash and Machine Dry Silk Fabrics

JB Silks offers a complete line of easy-care machine wash and dry Sueded Silk fabrics in a wide range of colors and weights - all of which are made of 100% Silk.

Please note that the following list of Machine Wash and Machine Dry Silk Fabrics applies to JB Silks products only.

Sueded Silk
Sueded Silk Broadcloth
Sueded Silk Crepe
Sueded Silk Delicate
Sueded Silk Double Georgette
Sueded Silk Fabulous Crepe
Sueded Silk Fabulous Crepe Junior
Sueded Silk Gabardine
Sueded Silk Heavy Crepe
Sueded Silk Heavy Texture
Sueded Silk Herringbone
Sueded Silk Luxury
Sueded Silk Luxury Weave
Sueded Silk Organza
Sueded Silk Sensational Textured
Sueded Silk Texture
Sueded Silk Texture Waffle
Superior Sueded Heavy Silk

Machine Washing Instructions for JB Silks Sueded Silk Fabric Only

We only recommend these washing instructions for Sueded Silk fabrics obtained from JB Silks. We cannot recommend the following procedure for fabrics obtained elsewhere. JB Silks Sueded Silk fabric washing instructions are as follows:

Use an updated washing machine (made within the last 10 years) without a center agitator. Set the cycle to “Delicate,” “Gentle,” “Hand Wash,” or “Wool.” Gentle agitation results in less fiber breakage, which can cause silk fabrics to look worn and faded.
Set the water temperatures for the wash and rinse cycles to “cold” or “cool.”
When loading your silk fabric into the machine, always wash one color at a time and wash silk fabric items separately from other non-silk fabrics.
If you live in an area with hard water rich in minerals, consider adding a water softener following the manufacturer's instructions. This prevents mineral stains on silk fabric, which are particularly visible on darker colors.
To help retain the silk fabric's true color, add ¼ cup of plain white vinegar to every two gallons of cool washing water. Do not use detergent pods.
Use a good quality liquid soap recommended by the manufacturer for delicate fabrics. For dark colors, consider using liquid soap designed for dark fabrics. Always use the minimum amount needed and do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations. Excess soap can cause dye bleeding and leave a residue that dulls the silk.
Do not soak silk fabric. Keep the fabric wet only as long as needed to complete the machine washing process.
It is very important to follow the machine drying instructions outlined below immediately upon the completion of Machine Washing JB Silks Sueded Silks.

Machine Washed / Machine Drying Instructions for JB Silks Sueded Silk Fabric Only

JB Silks Sueded Silk fabrics have been pre-shrunk, and the following procedure has been extensively tested on our fabrics only. We cannot recommend the following procedure for fabrics obtained elsewhere:

Immediately after washing, dry your JB Silks Sueded Silk fabrics in a dryer on Medium to High heat to enhance the softness of the finish.
When drying, stop the dryer every 10 to 15 minutes to remove your silk garment or fabric and untwist it. Then place it back into the dryer and resume drying. Repeat this until the item is completely dry. Immediately hang it on a padded hanger (not made of wood) away from sunlight or heat sources.

What Not to Do to Silk Fabrics

Never expose silk articles to strong direct sunlight. Silk will fade. For example, hanging your garment on the back of a chair near a window can easily fade the fabric. Colors that fade the quickest are violet-based, such as periwinkle or lilac.
Never spray anything directly onto silk fabric. Perfume, deodorant, anti-static sprays, and room deodorizers can cause staining.
Never soak silk in water or leave it wet.
When ironing on a steam setting, ensure your iron does not spit water. Always use a pressing cloth to avoid staining and prevent surface scorching, which causes shiny spots.
Never use chlorine bleach on silk.