Can silk go in the dryer? Laundry pros say it could be a costly mistake, leading to warping and shrinking

As lush as it feels to wear, there is no getting around the fact that silk is a high-maintenance fabric. Everything from washing to drying it requires special attention to keep this delicate fabric soft and shiny for as long as possible.

When washing silk sheets, silk pillowcases and clothing, it can be tempting to throw it all in the dryer to speed up the process and get it back in play sharpish. But cleaning and laundry experts warn doing so could ruin the silk for good, shrinking it and destroying its shape.

Here, laundry professionals explain why silk should never go in the dryer and how to dry silk correctly to make the most out of this best luxurious bedding and clothing material.

Can silk go in the dryer?

The short answer to ‘can silk go in the dryer’ or not is no, absolutely not, Ocean Van, laundry expert and owner of Coco Laundry begins. It is one of the biggest laundry mistakes you could possibly make, she warns.

‘Silk does not get along with your dryer – at all. I made that mistake once, and believe me, it was a lesson learned the hard way,’ Ocean shares. ‘Silk is a natural fiber, and it’s incredibly sensitive to heat. When you toss it in the dryer, you’re asking for trouble. The heat can cause it to shrink, lose its gorgeous sheen, and even break down the fibers.

'Picture this: your once-flowing silk blouse comes out looking like it’s gone on a crash diet – definitely not the vibe we’re going for.’

Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia’s Cleaning Service adds that ‘Putting silk in the dryer is an absolute no, even on the lowest heat settings. Even low amounts of heat inside a dryer combined with the tumbling motion can damage this delicate fabric.’

If you value your silk, it is certainly not a tumble dryer mistake you want to risk.

How to dry silk

This begs the question, how do you dry silk properly? Much like washing and caring for cotton, the experts recommend air-drying laundry to protect your silk.

1. Squeeze out excess water

When air drying, it helps to remove as much water as possible to speed up the drying process and prevent musty odors, begins Zoe Doyle, associate brand manager at Mulberry Park Silks.

‘After washing, gently press the silk garment between two clean towels to remove excess water. Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric, as this can cause damage,’ she recommends.

It can be helpful to press the silk and roll the towels up tightly, squeezing the fabric evenly and allowing the towels to absorb excess moisture.

2. Lay flat to dry

With the excess water removed, you should then lay the silk flat to dry on a drying rack, suggests Kacie Barlow, sixth-generation homemaker and blogger at The Honey Root:

‘Lay the silk flat on a drying rack away from direct sunlight and heat sources. I find this method preserves the fabric's integrity,’ she advises. You should also avoid drying silk in high humidity, Kacie adds. ‘High humidity can encourage mold growth and cause the fabric to become musty. My momma always used silica gel packets in linen and clothes storage areas to absorb excess moisture.’

To help silk dry and make laundry smell better when air drying, you can use the best dehumidifier underneath the drying rack to help lower the humidity and circulate dry air to speed up the drying process.

3. Avoid ironing

While you should never iron any clothing or linens while they are wet to avoid damage, you should avoid ironing silk dull stops, Kacie Barlow, sixth-generation homemaker, continues.

‘Instead of ironing, use a garment steam cleaner to remove wrinkles from silk. Ironing tends to be too harsh and can damage the silk, whereas steaming gently relaxes the fibers and preserves the fabric,’ she recommends.

FAQs

What do I do if I dried silk in the dryer?

Ocean Van, a laundry expert, explains that all is not lost should it accidentally go in the tumble dryer – but you need to act fast to restore the fabric.

‘If you’ve accidentally put silk in the dryer, first, check the damage. If it feels stiff or looks a bit shrunken, soak it in lukewarm water with a bit of hair conditioner or delicate fabric softener. This can help bring back some of that lost softness.

‘After soaking, rinse it gently, then follow the air-drying steps above,’ she recommends.

Washing and drying silk is a delicate operation, but becomes easier with time and practice. Brushing up on the laundry symbols and a guide to washing machine settings will make the process simpler and will ensure your clothes and linens stand the test of time.