Are Silk Pajamas Machine Washable?

Are Silk Pajamas Machine Washable?

Posted by Bianca Marcos on

At Eberjey, all of our silk pajamas are machine washable, giving everyone yet another reason to love them.

Whether your PJs need to transition from the bedroom to the kitchen, and then to the office, and maybe even out to the garage, rest assured, when it’s time, they’re also ready for the laundry room.

Unfortunately, not all silk pajamas, even ‘washable’ silk pajamas will deliver you the quality Eberjey does. You can expect them to not only last while feeling great, supporting your sleep the whole time but our pieces will also continue to drape well for many years to come. 

Feeling great and looking great, it’s a symbiotic relationship.

How do I Know if my Silk is Colorfast?

With Eberjey’s Washable Silk collection, you can be sure the dyes used are colorfast. This means, that as long as you machine wash your pieces on the ‘delicate cycle,’ with a gentle detergent, you can be sure they’ll last for many years to come. 

However, if you have a different piece of silk, it’s best to know the setting of the color/dyes right away. Then you’ll know exactly how to treat the piece going forward.

To test for the colorfastness of your silk piece, dab an inconspicuous area on the inside of the garment with a small amount of water on a white cloth. Then press the cloth against the silk, in the insignificant spot. 

If color transfers onto the white cloth, the silk is not colorfast and should only be dry cleaned.

Should I Prewash Silk?

You can if you feel it would help, or if you have a particular stain you’d like to treat.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

  1. Test for colorfast
  2. Dab don’t rub
  3. You can try applying lemon juice or white vinegar
  4. Always use cold water
  5. Silk is similar to our hair, try shampoo
  6. If the piece is washable silk, follow the label 
  7. Take it to the dry cleaner.

Do I Wash Silk in Hot or Cold Water?

Cold water. When you need to hand wash your silk always do it in cool, or cold water. If silk comes into contact with hot water, it will shrink and ruin your garment. 

Silk is a natural, protein fiber very similar to our own hair, which means it’s pretty easy to clean. To that end, some people have found success with handwashing their pieces of silk using their own favorite shampoo. 

If your pieces are washable silk, just follow the instructions on the label.

How do I dry Silk Pajamas?

First and foremost: Never, ever put silk pajamas in the dryer, not even on the tumble cycle. If you do, most likely the item(s) will be ruined. Another good rule to remember is to never hang your silks in direct sunlight. Not only can the colors quickly fade, even if the dyes are colorfast, but the silk itself could be ruined. That’s not to say you shouldn’t wear your favorite silk blouse in the sun, it’s the sustained, focused sunlight, directly on the fabric that can cause the problems. 

Silk does not absorb water like other fabrics might, so drying tends to be quicker than you might expect. So you do have a few easy and safe options:

  • Lay your freshly washed pieces flat on a clean, dry towel on your bed.
  • Using a padded hanger, set the shoulders correctly and hang the top in an area where the air can circulate. Maybe on your shower’s curtain rod?

If you need to speed up the process, lay the item out on a towel as described above, and used another absorbant towel to ‘blot dry’ the items — and voilà.

If I Need to, How do I Wash Silk by Hand?

If you’ve already tested your piece in question and know it’s colorfast, then you don’t have to take it to the dry cleaner.

Here are some general suggestions that people have had success with in the past. 

  1. Fill a sink with cold water
  2. Add and soak your silk
  3. Use a chemical and enzyme-free soap
  4. Rinse in cool water
  5. Silk will not absorb water, so it dries fast
  6. Dab dry on a flat towel
  7. Set to dry on a padded hanger
  8. Keep your drying silk out of direct sunlight

These are all great things to know, especially if you have an heirloom silk scarf from your grandmother or a piece you found in the markets of Shanghai.  

When it comes to your silk sleepwear though, there are plenty of reasons to consider the Washable Silk collection from Eberjey. 

While we understand the love you have for that classic (old) t-shirt, what would your evenings and night’s sleep be like with a pair of our silk PJs (that would never have to meet your dry cleaner)?

Washable Silk at Eberjey

What could be better? 

The top-shelf, timeless luxury of silk coupled with today’s mechanized convenience of cleaning set to ‘delicates.’ 

We love our silk. Being that it’s gorgeous and lustrous to the touch. It’s also thermodynamic, biodegradable, and all-natural with a tinsel strength greater than steel. 

Truly, it’s a very spectacular fabric that reigns in a place like no-other fabric in history.

Though now, we can machine-wash our favorite silk sleep and loungewear. Très chic.

Finally, humanity has advanced.

Luxurious, practical, beautifully modern — it’s the Eberjey way.

Eberjey is here for your soulful comfort through long-lasting quality sleep and loungewear. We offer luxurious collections for women, men, and children. Here are our other links for more information about us, our fabrics, our journal, corporate gifting, and of course, how to contact us. #eberjey

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