The Silk Care Guide
Mulberry silk is, by any honest measure, the most generous fibre in your wardrobe. It asks for very little. What it does ask, it asks consistently — and a piece treated well will outlast the trends, the tastes, and the linens that came before it. The following is everything we know, written for the person who would rather do this once, slowly, than learn it through ruined seams.
Washing
Silk is a protein — closer in chemistry to your hair than to a cotton sheet. Treat it accordingly.
By hand — the gentlest method
- Fill a basin with cool water. Never warm, never hot. Cold tap water, or slightly below.
- Add a teaspoon of a pH-neutral liquid detergent — one formulated for silk, wool, or delicates. Avoid anything containing enzymes, bleach, or optical brighteners.
- Submerge the piece. Press gently for two to three minutes. Do not wring, twist, or scrub.
- Rinse twice in fresh cool water until the water runs clear.
By machine — when life requires it
Use the delicates or silk cycle, cold water only, with a mesh laundry bag and pH-neutral detergent. Spin speed below 600 rpm. We do not recommend this for the sleepwear or the loungewear pieces, but pillowcases, scrunchies and masks tolerate it well when handled with care.
Drying
Never the tumble dryer. Never the radiator. Never direct sun.
- Lay the piece flat on a clean, dry towel. Roll the towel gently to absorb excess water — do not press hard.
- Unroll, then hang or lay flat in a shaded, well-ventilated room. Avoid wooden hangers that may stain when damp.
- Silk dries quickly — usually within three to four hours. Resist the temptation to hurry it.
Ironing
Silk creases easily. It also releases its creases easily.
- Iron while the piece is still slightly damp — this gives the cleanest finish.
- Set the iron to the silk setting (around 110 to 130°C / 230 to 265°F). Test on a hem first if uncertain.
- Iron the piece inside out. This protects the sheen of the outer surface.
- Use a pressing cloth — a thin cotton or muslin layer between the iron and the silk — for added insurance.
- Steamers are also excellent, and arguably gentler. Hold the steamer six inches from the fabric and let the steam do the work.
Storage
Silk lives longest in the dark, in the air, away from anything sharp.
- Fold rather than hang for long-term storage — hanging stretches the weave over time.
- Wrap in acid-free tissue or a cotton garment bag. Avoid plastic; silk needs to breathe.
- Keep away from cedar blocks, mothballs, and direct contact with wood — the oils can leave marks.
- A small sachet of dried lavender is welcome. Strong perfumes are not.
Common Mistakes
- Spraying perfume directly onto silk. Alcohol degrades the fibre and leaves permanent rings. Perfume the skin, then dress.
- Treating stains with bleach or stain pens. Both will lift the dye. Blot fresh stains with cool water and a clean white cloth. For anything stubborn, a silk-trained dry cleaner.
- Washing silk with denim or anything with a zip. The friction will catch and snag. Wash silk on its own, or with other silks.
- Ignoring the label. If we wrote it on the care tag, we wrote it for a reason.
Expected Lifespan
A Rêvery & Silk piece, cared for properly, should remain in beautiful condition for five to ten years of regular use — and often longer. Pillowcases washed weekly will soften over time without thinning. Sleepwear worn nightly will keep its drape. Masks will hold their shape. This is what 22-momme Grade 6A buys you: a fibre that ages, but does not tire.
Silk is one of the few luxuries that rewards patience. Give it the small attentions it asks for, and it will return them in mornings — soft skin, smooth hair, and the quiet pleasure of slipping into something that has not, somehow, grown old.