Protect Your Investment in Silk Pillowcases and Bedding

Here at Mulberry Park Silks, we realize that silk pillowcases, sheet sets, and bedding are an investment. That's why we work so hard to help you get the best value when you're shopping for silk. We also want to help you take the best care of your silk items; this will keep them looking and feeling beautiful for a long time. 

We're happy to report that caring for silk can be easy. In fact, our mulberry silk pillowcase collection, sheets, and silk bedding can easily be laundered at home in your washing machine, or by hand wash (no need to dry clean!). We recommend using a gentle or delicate cycle, cool or cold water, and placing your pure silk bed linen in fine mesh bags to protect the delicate fabric. Lastly, we suggest using a mild detergent specially formulated to wash silk. And not all "silk detergents" are created equal. In fact, some products marketed to wash silk can actually damage your fine silk.

In this blog, we'll help you sort through several popular silk detergents. We'll put them to the machine wash test and evaluate each based on price, performance, purity of ingredients, and more.

Heritage Park Silk & Wool Laundry Detergent

The promise:  Heritage Park has created the ultimate luxury laundry detergent to gently, yet effectively, clean without causing damage to silk and other protein-based fabrics. This specialized laundry detergent contains powerful cleaning agents formulated to clean and remove stains and odors while being gentle on silk, wool, cashmere, and other natural fibers. Heritage Park Silk and Wool Laundry Detergent contains no cleaning enzymes, which can damage and degrade protein-based fabric. This neutral-pH formula contains no dyes, sulfates, phosphates (optical brighteners), chlorine bleach, or caustic chemicals. It is biodegradable and safe for septic systems and grey-water systems. It is concentrated and can be used for front- and top-load machines as well as for handwashing. The scent-free-formula is lab certified (AMA Laboratories) to be hypoallergenic; is dermatologist and pediatrician approved for sensitive skin; and certified cruelty-free with no animal testing by Leaping Bunny. The plant-based ingredients are organic and are listed on the bottle and website, where they are explained in detail. Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent is available in Fragrance-Free (Hypoallergenic), Lavender Mist, and Spring Magnolia. The Heritage Park website features laundry tips and a blog and highlights several companion products including silk & wool wash, wool dryer balls, mesh laundry bags, and more.

The performance: As always, Heritage Park delivers. The fragrance-free formula still has a "clean" scent. It left our bed sheets and pillowcases smelling fresh and well-laundered. To protect our silk sheets, we used a mesh laundry bag. Heritage Park Fine Silk and Wool Detergent thoroughly cleaned even our king-sized flat sheet and fitted sheet. The cost for Heritage Park Fine Silk and Wool Detergent averages about $1.09 a load.

Best for: Silk pillowcases, sheets, bedding, and clothing (follow manufacturer directions); washable wool; washable cashmere. This is a versatile detergent!

Do we recommend?  YES!

The Laundress Delicate Wash*

*Consumer alert: We reviewed The Laundress Delicate Wash in an earlier version of this blog, and were unable to recommend it due to the fact that it contained laundry enzymes, which are damaging to silk. In December 2022, The Laundress recalled ALL of its detergent products, including Delicate Wash, due to concerns about contamination. The Laundress Delicate Wash has since been relaunched as a reformulated product without laundry enzymes. As the product is so new, we are at this time unable to recommend it.

SLIP Gentle Silk Wash

The promise: Created as a brand extension for Slip pillowcases, this Gentle Silk Wash is designed for hand- or machine-washing in cold water on delicate. This is a clear formula that, according to the label, is "hypoallergenic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing, dermatologist tested." It is free from synthetic fragrances, dyes, harmful chemicals, and toxins. It contains no enzymes, which are damaging to silk.

The performance: SLIP Gentle Silk Wash smells really good. Similar to Heritage Park, it is "unscented" but has a clean, pure smell that we really liked. The directions are a bit odd, saying to use 30 ml per load (it's a good thing we kept our old cough syrup caps to measure in!). And while we wanted to like this detergent, the unfortunate news is that it really did not work very well. We had to wash our pillowcases twice to get them smelling clean and fresh. That means the cost per load jumps from $1 to $2, if we want to get the items clean.

Best For: Slip brand loyalists and even then, we think you can do better.

Do we recommend? Yes, but not our top choice.

Woolite Delicates

The promise: Woolite Delicates is one of the original products in this category and a household name. It can be used for hand or machine washing in the gentle cycle on fabrics like silk and wool. According to the website, Woolite Delicates "is a hypoallergenic product that does not contain harsh ingredients like bleach, phosphates or enzymes and is therefore gentle on hands, skin and clothes." It contains some plant-based ingredients, but also has a number of ingredients that are chemically based and difficult to pronounce. The floral scent is pleasant without being overwhelming and the cost is a budget-friendly 59 cents a load. Woolite is a product of Reckitt Benckiser, a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in England.

The performance: Woolite does a fine job; there is a reason this brand pioneered the gentle detergent category. It left our pillowcases clean and smelling good at an affordable price. However, over time, the harsh ingredients in Woolite are not ideal for silk. Additionally, we had to conduct a fairly aggressive search on the parent company's website to get even a vague mention of environmental initiatives. Woolite is not certified cruelty-free.

Best for: Wool only, and even then there are better choices! The ingredients are too harsh for silk.

Do we recommend? No.

Comparison Chart of the Best Detergent for Your Silk Pillowcase, Silk Sheets, and Silk Bedding

*Prices at the time of publication-subject to change.

So Which Silk Detergent is Best?

With this information in hand, we can rule out The Laundress Delicate Wash immediately because it contains enzymes that can damage silk. This detergent should NOT be used on silk. Slip Gentle Silk wash has clean ingredients, but the formula doesn't work well and requires a second wash and that can get expensive. Woolite Delicates works well, but has some ingredients that we think are questionable, and is not certified cruelty-free.

Our Choice: Heritage Park Fine Silk and Wool Detergent

This formula is safe, effective, and cruelty-free. It is also the most affordable of the three premium brands we evaluated. Heritage Park is also transparent when it comes to its ingredients and safety certifications, which earns our trust. It is also an independent laundry detergent company, not a division of a consumer products conglomerate.

Silk Sense: Why Enzyme Detergent is Bad for Silk Fabric

One of the most gratifying aspects of our work at Mulberry Park Silks is being able to educate our clients to the many benefits of silk. We often tout that silk is wonderful for hair and skin because it is a natural, protein-based fiber. This is a good thing! However, when it comes to choosing the best detergent for silk, silk’s protein structure must be taken into consideration, and this means avoiding any detergent (even a gentle one) that contains laundry enzymes.

Why is this? Laundry enzymes are natural compounds that are included in detergents to break down stains. Many stains—including blood, sweat and other body fluids, eggs, cheese, dairy, and more—are protein-based. Even fatty and oil-based stains contain some protein. Enzyme laundry detergents break down the various proteins found in common stains. Because silk is protein-based (made from the cocoon of a silk worm), regularly washing silk bedding, a silk garment, or any silk item with an enzyme detergent will break down its fibers and damage the integrity of the fabric. This is why you should never use an enzyme or biological detergent to wash silk or other protein-based fibers such as wool, cashmere, alpaca, furs, or feathers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Washing Silk

Can I use the same detergent for silk clothes and silk bedding?

Yes! Proper silk care requires the same enzyme-free, gentle detergent for all silk fiber items whether you're washing silk clothes, silk clothing, or silk bedding. Heritage Park Silk & Wool Detergent works beautifully for everything from delicate silk garments to king-sized silk sheet sets. Always use cool water on a gentle cycle and protect your silk items in mesh laundry bags.

Why should I air dry my silk items instead of using a dryer?

Air drying is essential for proper silk care because the delicate silk fiber can be damaged by the heat and agitation of machine drying. After washing silk clothes or bedding in cool water, gently squeeze out excess water (never wring or twist) and hang to air dry indoors or outdoors. Most importantly, keep your silk items away from direct sunlight while drying, as UV rays can cause fading and weaken the silk fiber. Your silk bedding and silk clothing will dry quickly, even indoors.

What's the best way to care for silk clothing versus silk bedding?

The silk care fundamentals are identical for both silk clothes and silk bedding: wash in cool water with enzyme-free detergent, use mesh laundry bags for protection, and air dry away from direct sunlight. The only difference is frequency—silk clothing may need washing after each wear depending on the garment, while silk bedding can typically be washed every 1-2 weeks. For silk clothes with embellishments or very delicate construction, handwashing in cool water is gentler than machine washing.

How does cool water protect silk fiber during washing?

Cool water is crucial for silk care because hot water can damage the delicate protein structure of silk fiber, causing it to lose its natural luster and strength. When you wash silk clothes, silk clothing, or silk bedding, always use cool or cold water (never warm or hot) to preserve the integrity of the fabric. After washing, remember to air dry your silk items away from direct sunlight to maintain their beautiful appearance and extend their lifespan.