There is something quietly meaningful about a pajama set you have worn for years — one that has stayed soft wash after wash, that you reach for without thinking on the nights when you most need rest. Knowing how to care for luxury sleepwear properly is what makes that relationship possible. The right water temperature, a considered detergent, and a few gentle habits help high-quality pajamas last. When sleepwear is made from thoughtfully chosen fabrics like TENCEL™ Modal or washable silk, it is designed to be cared for without anxiety — and a little intention at laundry time is all it takes to keep every wear feeling as soft as the first.
Does water temperature really matter when washing luxury pajamas?
Yes — water temperature is one of the most consequential choices you make at laundry time. Eberjey's TENCEL™ Modal, Washable Silk and Organic Pima Cotton care labels all call for a cold wash.
For Modal fabrics — including Eberjey's TENCEL™ Modal pajamas — a cold wash is what the care label calls for. TENCEL™ Modal is made by Lenzing from wood sourced from responsibly managed forests, using a highly resource-efficient technology with high recovery rates of chemicals. Its fibers are made to withstand repeated washing and drying cycles; your job is simply not to undermine them with unnecessary heat.
For washable silk, the care label calls for cold water too: hand wash or machine wash cold on a delicate cycle, separately.
What detergent should I use for Modal and silk pajamas?
Detergent matters too. For luxury sleepwear, choose a gentle, pH-neutral liquid detergent specifically designed for delicates.
For silk pieces, choose a detergent labeled safe for silk, and remember that Eberjey's Washable Silk care label says do not bleach.
One habit worth leaving behind: fabric softener. The beautiful thing about high-quality Modal is that its fibers are made to withstand repeated washing and drying cycles, so you do not need to add anything.
How should I machine wash my pajamas without damaging them?
For most luxury sleepwear, cold water paired with a gentle or delicates cycle is the safest approach. The gentle cycle means less tumbling in the drum, which is kinder to delicate garments and helps guard against pilling.
Always turn garments inside out before washing — this protects printed or embroidered details and reduces surface abrasion on the outer face of the fabric. A mesh laundry bag minimizes entanglement and friction against drum surfaces and zippers, which is particularly worthwhile for silk pieces where snags are most consequential. Eberjey's Inez Washable Silk pajamas are designed to be machine-washable, but using a mesh bag elevates that convenience into a genuinely protective ritual.
Smaller loads are kinder to delicate garments. Wash luxury sleepwear in a small load rather than a large mixed wash, and wash Washable Silk on its own, as its care label says.
Can I put luxury pajamas in the dryer?
Drying is where the care labels differ most, so it is worth checking before every load.
For Washable Silk, air drying is the considered choice: lay garments flat on a clean, dry towel or a mesh drying rack, gently reshaping them while still damp. Choose a well-ventilated spot away from direct sunlight.
For Eberjey's TENCEL™ Modal pajamas, the care label calls for a tumble dry on low.
How do I store luxury sleepwear to protect it between wears?
The single most important principle is to store only clean sleepwear, and only when it is completely dry.
For everyday storage, folding Modal pajamas in a drawer works beautifully. If you prefer to hang sleepwear, use padded or wide-shoulder hangers to distribute weight evenly and avoid stress at the shoulder seams.
For longer-term storage, breathable cotton bags are preferable to plastic. Plastic can trap moisture. Store in a cool, dark, dry space away from heat sources.
What should I know about caring for TENCEL™ Modal specifically?
TENCEL™ Modal is a wood-based fiber made by Lenzing from wood sourced from FSC® or PEFC certified or controlled sources. Eberjey's Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long PJ Set is verified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, meaning it's dyed with safe and non-toxic dyes. For sleepwear worn directly against skin for hours at a time, this matters deeply.
Eberjey describes the Gisele knit as breathable and temperature-regulating, and Lenzing notes that TENCEL™ Modal fibers are made to withstand repeated washing and drying cycles.
To protect TENCEL™ Modal: turn it inside out, wash cold with like colors on gentle, use non-chlorine bleach only, and tumble dry low.
How do I care for washable silk differently from Modal?
Silk is a protein fiber, made mainly of the proteins fibroin and sericin, and that shapes how it needs to be cared for. Where Modal fibers are made to withstand repeated washing and drying, silk rewards a slightly more attentive touch.
For washable silk like Eberjey's Inez collection, hand wash or machine wash cold on delicate, separately, in a mesh wash bag, and remove promptly. Unlike dry-clean-only silk, washable silk is made to be laundered at home. Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric when wet.
Flat drying is strongly preferred.
How do I know if I'm shortening the life of my pajamas without realizing it?
A few common habits quietly accelerate wear. Overwashing is the first — sleepwear does not need to be laundered after every single wear. Rotating between two or three sets spreads the wear across them.
Overloading the washing machine puts garments under significant mechanical stress. A too-full drum means garments are forced against each other and the drum walls rather than tumbling freely.
The quality of the fabric you begin with sets the ceiling for how long proper care can extend a garment's life. The care habits in this guide are only as meaningful as the fabric they are protecting.
The softer side of life is found in the small rituals: the cool water wash, the flat-dried set waiting at the end of a long day, the pajamas that still feel like a second skin, season after season. Care well, and they will last.
Frequently asked questions
How do you care for luxury sleepwear so it lasts?
Follow the care label, wash cold on a gentle or delicate cycle, and avoid high heat. Turn pieces inside out, skip fabric softener, and wash a small load so garments can move freely.
How do you wash TENCEL™ Modal pajamas?
Turn them inside out and machine wash cold with like colors on a gentle cycle. Use non-chlorine bleach only, tumble dry low, and use a warm iron if needed.
Can you machine wash Washable Silk pajamas?
Yes. Eberjey's Washable Silk can be hand washed or machine washed cold on delicate, separately, ideally in a mesh wash bag. Remove it promptly, lay it flat to dry, and don't use bleach.
What detergent is best for luxury pajamas?
A gentle, pH-neutral liquid detergent made for delicates is a safe choice. For silk, choose a formula labeled safe for silk.
How should you store luxury sleepwear?
Store pieces only when clean and completely dry. Fold TENCEL™ Modal pajamas in a drawer or use padded hangers, and for longer storage choose breathable cotton bags over plastic, in a cool, dark, dry place.
Sources
- Lenzing, “TENCEL™ Modal”
- Lenzing (TENCEL™), “TENCEL™ Modal: Superior Softness and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand” (PDF)
- Lenzing (TENCEL™), “TENCEL™ Modal fiber claims snapshot, October 2024” (PDF)
- Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, “The silk proteins, sericin and fibroin in silkworm, Bombyx mori Linn. – a review”
