The Secret to Washable Silk is Not in the Washing

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I get so many messages about this: "I invested in washable silk, and I can't even wear it after one wash. What am I doing wrong?"

Here's the thing nobody mentions with washable silk: the washing part is easy. It's what you do immediately after that makes all the difference.

The 2-Minute Fix:

• Wash: Cold water, gentle cycle, laundry bag
• Steam: Immediately while damp (2 minutes)
• Iron: Optional, lowest heat + press cloth

The Secret

After washing your silk in cold water on gentle cycle (inside a laundry bag), don't just hang it up to air dry. That's where most people go wrong, and why their silk ends up looking like crumpled tissue paper.

Instead, steam it immediately while it's still damp. Do this within 10-15 minutes of removing from the washer, and don't let it fully air dry first.

This damp state is when silk fibers are most responsive to reshaping. The combination of moisture and gentle heat allows the fibers to relax back into their original structure. It takes two minutes and transforms your silk from sad to silky.

Use a standing steamer if possible. Handheld steamers require you to hold a heavy water container while working, and their weaker steam means you'll need to work longer, creating unnecessary – and compounded – wrist strain.

For casual wear, this steaming technique is sufficient. Just let your garment air dry, and you're set. But if you want that truly luxurious, smooth finish, you'll need to iron it. Carefully.

The Right Way to Iron Silk

Silk requires delicate handling – too many beautiful pieces get ruined by well-intentioned home care. Here's how to do it safely:

Temperature is everything. Use the lowest heat setting, or the specific "silk" setting if your iron has one. Silk proteins break down under high heat, causing permanent damage.