Can I machine wash silk sheets?

[ifancyashandy]

Now, first off - I am no Mrs Stringfellow ! I was given a beautiful set of 100% lilac silk bedlinen by a friend. It's fabulous in this heat.

But it needs a clean. It says dry clean only but, I'm thinking, if I did it on a very very delicates / low temp wash, would it completely ruin it?

Thoughts?

I once washed a silk dress in my machine on the hand wash cycle (and I have a BEAUTIFUL Miele machine with a fabulous hand wash cycle that I have even washed dry-clean only suits in, so thought it was risk-free) and it came out a crumpled rag. It was totally and utterly ruined. I wouldn't risk it myself.

Although having said that I did once successfully wash a silk satin dress that was dry-clean only... Perhaps it depends on the texture/weave of the silk. The ruined silk dress was a sort of raw silk dupion style. Silk satin you MIGHT get away with, but be prepared for it to be damaged. The idea of dry clean only sheets is so utterly ridiculous that I would probably risk it on the basis that dry clean only sheets are as good as useless anyway, so if they get ruined then so what.

Oh yuck at sleeping in something that can't be washed!

Hmmm. The thing is, I know they were stooooooopidly expensive (like, a couple of hundred pounds for one sheet!!! ) so don't think I can bring myself to stick them in the machine.

And Bibbity - I have only been using them this week. Do you wash your sheets every day?! (didn't realise I'd posted this on AIBU!!)

I would wash them by hand in cold water, using woolite - drip dry on an outside line rather than spinning. If they survive that (which they almost certainly will) then you can explore the joys of a delicates machine wash.

I always wash 100% silk garments, and so long as I am careful to keep a low temperature and not too vigorous a washing action I usually get away with it.

Could you experiment with a pillow case first, if you are really worried about it?

Ooh - hadn't thought of doing a pillow case first. Neversaydie (pun intended?!) is a genius!

Thanks!

stick them in the bath and jump up and down on them in cool water with a bit of non-detergent soap - woolite or Lux flakes.

The trick with silk (depending on the type) is never to wash it after it has been drycleaned. I have a silk shirt that says dry clean only and I have hand washed it ever since I had it - no problem (although the colour faded slightly). But a Malaysian friend of mine said that once it's been drycleaned, if you try and wash it after, it'll be buggered.