Satin Pillowcase Care: A Detailed Guide on How to Wash and Dry

Got satin or silk pillowcases in your bedroom? Then you already know that these fabrics provide a soft texture for your head while you sleep. Unfortunately, caring for a delicate fabric like satin or silk means you can't just toss your pillowcases into the wash with the regular laundry. Drying them also takes some special care.

Here's something else to keep in mind. Whether you have silk or satin pillowcases is important. These are different kinds of fabrics with different care instructions. We'll walk you through how to wash satin pillowcases and help you learn the differences between these two pillowcase materials.

Luxurious Silk Pillowcase vs. Common Satin Pillowcase

Physical differences

Silk and polyester satin are totally different materials. Silk is a natural fiber that comes from silkworm cocoons. Satin's a synthetic fabric that's woven from polyester, rayon, or other materials to create a soft texture.

How can you tell the difference? Both sides of a silk pillowcase are soft and smooth. Even with a luxurious satin pillowcase, only one side has that soft, glossy look and feel. The back surface has a dull texture. Silk is super smooth, while satin is soft, but has a bit too much of a slippery texture.

Benefits of Silk and Satin

Which is better—a silk pillowcase or a satin one? Should you replace your satin pillowcases with silk ones? Check out the benefits of each.

Silk pillowcases have many benefits, the following benefits:

Strong and durable yet extremely soft
Breathable and hypoallergenic
Enhances appearance of hair and skin
Temperature-regulating
Moisture-wicking

Satin's benefits include:

Glossy, shiny appearance
Smooth to the touch
Low friction reduces frizz and breakage
Affordable

Caring for Your Satin Pillowcases

How to wash satin pillowcase

Washing satin pillowcases requires some extra care. Otherwise, the delicate satin fabric can become damaged. There are two methods for washing satin pillowcases, hand washing and machine washing. We will detail both methods. Here's how to machine wash satin pillowcases with care:

Hand-Washing Satin Pillowcases:

Turn the pillowcase inside out to protect the outer layer.
Fill a clean sink with cool water. Avoid using a hot water temperature, as it can cause shrinkage.
Add a few drops of bleach-free mild detergent to the water.
Submerge the pillowcase. Allow it to soak for a few minutes.
Gently knead the pillowcase and agitate the water with your hands. Avoid twisting, wringing, or scrubbing.
Rinse the pillowcase under cool, running water.
Gently squeeze out excess moisture. Again, be sure not to wring.
Read drying instructions below.

Machine Washing Satin Pillowcases:

Turn the pillowcase inside out to protect the satin.
Place in a mesh laundry bag to prevent snagging.
Put the bagged pillowcase into the washing machine. Add other lightweight, delicate items as well.
Choose a delicate or gentle cycle on your washing machine.
Use the cold water setting for washing and rinsing. Hot water can cause the satin to shrink.
Add a gentle, bleach-free detergent that's suitable for delicate fabrics. Do not add fabric softener.
Read drying instructions below.

How to dry satin pillowcases

Since satin is delicate, it's not recommended to toss it in the dryer. This is pretty much guaranteed to damage your satin pillowcases or shorten their lives. Dryers can easily ruin your satin pillowcases, even on a low heat setting.

Drying after hand washing:

Gently squeeze out excess water. Be sure not to wring or twist the satin.
Lay flat the pillowcase on a clean, dry towel or pressing cloth and gently roll it up to absorb the remaining water.
Unroll the towel and hang to air dry, unless label says to dry flat. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or near a heat source.

Drying after machine washing:

After washing, remove the pillowcase from the machine promptly to prevent wrinkles from setting in.
To dry, lay the pillowcase flat on a clean, dry towel and roll it up to absorb the remaining water.
Unroll the towel and hang to air dry, unless label says to dry flat. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or near a heat source. Avoid using a dryer, unless the label says it's okay.

How to iron and store satin pillowcases

You might not need to iron your satin pillowcases. In fact, it's better to avoid doing so if you can help it. If you do need to iron wrinkled satin pillowcases, don't use steam. Instead, iron them on the lowest setting to avoid damaging them.

Here's a better tip: fold them up when they're dry. Keep them in an airtight container. This should stop them from getting all wrinkled, so you can avoid having to iron them.

Silk vs. satin care

Many people shy away from silk pillowcases because they think they require special care, like dry cleaning, or hand washing only. Not true! Many brands, like Blissy, offer machine-washable silk these days. So it turns out silk care is no more difficult than satin care.

Check out how simple it is to keep silk pillowcases in good condition with these silk care instructions. You can machine wash silk pillowcases on a delicate cycle with a gentle detergent, then let them air dry. That's it!

Further Reading: Silk vs Satin Pillowcase: Pros and Cons for Skin, Hair, and Sleep

Bring Blissy into Your Laundry Room

Make Blissy a part of your satin pillowcase care routine. Our laundry detergent and laundry bags provide a great way to keep your satin pillowcases looking shiny!

Blissy Wash

Our Blissy Wash is a specially formulated, plant-derived luxury delicate detergent that's gentle on silk and satin. Washing silk fibers or your satin pillowcase with this lavender-scented detergent is completely safe. It does not contain any harsh chemicals. This delicate wash is also hypoallergenic, so it won't cause any skin irritation.

Blissy's Mesh Laundry Bag

Pair your Blissy Wash detergent with the Blissy Mesh Laundry Bag. This bag is designed to carefully hold your pillowcases and keep them safe when you machine wash them. These bags have a Stay-Put Zipper Retention System, so you don't have to worry about the zipper opening in the wash.

Our mesh laundry bags come in a two-pack set. This means you can wash multiple items in one go, or alternate which laundry bag you use while washing your pillowcase.

Using Blissy care products

Place your satin pillowcases inside your mesh laundry bag. Zip it up, then use our gentle detergent to wash your pillowcases on a delicate cycle. Take them out of the mesh bag after they're washed, and let them air dry.

Make Satin Pillowcase Care Easier with Blissy

Keep in mind that our Blissy Wash and Blissy Mesh Laundry Bag are ideal for any delicate fabrics, not just satin. You can use them with silk or other fine materials. Check out our line of delicate care products!