Wash a silk pillowcase every 7 to 10 days. Wash it sooner if you sleep in heavy skincare or hair products, go to bed with damp hair, sleep hot, or have been sick. Don't let it go longer than two weeks.
Here's the moment this post is for. The sheets are coming off the bed, the silk pillowcase is on top of the pile, and it still looks clean. Does it really need to go in this time?
I think about this question in volume. We're a family of seven: five kids, my husband and me. That's a lot of laundry, and a care routine only works in our house if it's simple enough to keep. So here's the simple version, and then the details.
How often should you wash a silk pillowcase?
Every 7 to 10 days is a good baseline for most people. Your face and hair spend hours on that pillowcase every night, and natural oils, sweat, skincare and hair product build up on any fabric over time. Silk is no exception. A pillowcase can look clean and still be carrying a week of nights.
The right number for you depends on what you bring to bed. The more that goes on your skin and hair at night, the shorter the gap.
When should you wash it more often?
- Heavy overnight skincare. Creams, oils and treatments transfer to fabric. Some actives leave marks: benzoyl peroxide, for example, can bleach white marks onto pillowcases. Every 5 to 7 days.
- Heavy hair products. Oils, butters and overnight masks leave residue that dulls the surface. Every 5 to 7 days.
- Damp hair at bedtime. Moisture speeds up buildup. Every 5 to 7 days. More on that in sleeping on silk with wet hair.
- Sleeping hot. More sweat, more buildup. Every 5 to 7 days.
- Hair extensions. Bonds and conditioning products add their own residue. Every 5 to 7 days. See silk pillowcases and hair extensions.
- After a cold or flu. Wash it once you're well, the same as any other bedding.
If you're managing acne, ask your dermatologist how often to change your pillowcase. That's a question for someone who knows your skin, not a blog. For what silk can and can't do here, read silk pillowcases and acne-prone skin.
Can you go longer than 10 days between washes?
Sometimes, up to two weeks, if very little goes to bed with you:
- No overnight skincare or hair product
- Short or clean, dry hair
- A cool bedroom
- A shower before bed
Past two weeks, wash it anyway. Buildup keeps happening even on the cleanest nights.
How do you know a silk pillowcase needs washing?
- It feels less smooth, or slightly tacky, under your hand
- There's a faint smell when you lift it
- You can see oil spots, product marks or a dull patch where your face rests
- You've used heavy products several nights in a row
- You can't remember when you last washed it
Run your palm across it. Silk is smooth enough that you can often feel buildup before you can see it.
Can you wash a silk pillowcase too often?
Every wash is a little wear, on any fabric. Washing silk every day or two adds wear without much benefit for most people. How you wash matters more than how often: a pillowcase washed weekly in hot water with a harsh detergent will wear faster than one washed every 10 days the right way.
One habit makes the schedule easy to keep: own two pillowcases. One is on the pillow while the other one washes and dries. Nobody has to wait for silk to air dry before bed.
Quick reference: how often to wash silk
| Your situation | How often |
|---|---|
| Little or no overnight skincare, cool room | Every 10 to 14 days |
| Typical skincare and hair routine | Every 7 to 10 days |
| Heavy overnight skincare or hair product | Every 5 to 7 days |
| Damp hair, sleeping hot, or extensions | Every 5 to 7 days |
| Managing acne | Ask your dermatologist |
| After a cold or flu | Once you're well |
How should you wash it?
Cold water and a small amount of pH-neutral detergent, on a delicate cycle inside a mesh bag or by hand. Wash it on its own, away from other colors. No bleach, no fabric softener, and never the dryer. Air dry it flat or hanging, out of direct sun.
The full routine is in how to wash a silk pillowcase, step by step. If you're nervous about the machine, read whether you can machine wash silk. For the bottle itself, see how to choose a detergent for silk. And for everything else that affects how long silk lasts, read how to make a silk pillowcase last longer.
What about Wink pillowcases?
Same schedule, same routine. Our pillowcases are Performance Luxury Silk™: 25 momme, Grade 6A, 100% mulberry silk charmeuse, crafted by a GOTS & OEKO-TEX certified silk house. Here's what Performance Luxury Silk means. The pillowcase OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate is 22.HCN.30712, Product Class I, and you can check it yourself on our certifications page. Wink Silk is pursuing its own GOTS and OEKO-TEX certifications.
If you'd like to be there when we open, Join Wink Privé, our free membership. It opens November 2, three days before everyone else.
Wink. The brand that shows you the certificates.
Sleep beautifully.
Sources
- Benzoyl peroxide and bleached towels, pillowcases and clothing, Center for Young Women's Health, Boston Children's Hospital
- OEKO-TEX Label Check
Douceur™ is a single layer of 25 momme, Grade 6A, 100% mulberry silk charmeuse, in queen size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you wash a silk pillowcase?
Every 7 to 10 days for most people. Wash it every 5 to 7 days if you sleep in heavy skincare or hair products, go to bed with damp hair, sleep hot or wear extensions. If very little goes to bed with you, you can stretch to two weeks, but not longer.
Can I wash my silk pillowcase every day?
You can, but for most people it adds wear without much benefit. Every wash is a little wear on any fabric. If you want a fresh pillowcase more often, own two and rotate them. If a doctor has told you to change bedding daily, follow that advice.
Is it OK to go two weeks between washes?
Sometimes, if you use little or no overnight skincare or hair product, sleep in a cool room and go to bed clean. Two weeks is the limit. If you sleep in heavy products or sleep hot, wash it every 5 to 7 days instead.
How do I know my silk pillowcase needs washing?
Run your palm across it. If it feels less smooth or slightly tacky, smells faintly, or shows oil spots or a dull patch where your face rests, wash it. Silk is smooth enough that you can often feel buildup before you see it.
Does washing a silk pillowcase every week wear it out?
Not if you wash it the right way: cold water, a little pH-neutral detergent, a delicate cycle in a mesh bag or a hand wash, on its own, then air dry. No bleach, no fabric softener, never the dryer. How you wash matters more than how often.
