3 Common Mistakes That Ruin Your Silk (and the Easy Fixes)

Silk has been around for over 5,000 years. It survived emperors, pirates, and global trade routes, but it still doesn’t survive a careless wash cycle. The truth is, most people don’t ruin their silk by wearing it… they ruin it by washing it.

Here are the top three culprits (plus two insider secrets), and how to keep your silk living its best life.

1. Using Laundry Detergent

Almost every detergent on the market, even the “eco-friendly” ones, contains enzymes. Those enzymes are designed to break down proteins. Guess what silk is made of? Protein. (Just like your hair.)

So when you wash silk with detergent, you’re literally dissolving it. Not exactly the kind of “deep clean” you want.

Do this instead: Wash silk with shampoo. If it’s good for your hair, it’s perfect for silk.

2. Mixing Silk With Other Fabrics

Silk’s smooth surface is part of its magic, but it’s also what makes it vulnerable. When you wash it with cotton, denim, or synthetics, friction scuffs the fibers. Over time, that glow turns dull, and tiny pills appear.

Do this instead: Wash silk with silk only. Keep her in her own VIP section of the laundry.

3. Forgetting to Turn Inside Out

It seems small, but it matters. Washing silk right-side-out means the delicate surface takes all the abrasion.

Do this instead: Always flip your silk inside out. It protects the outer surface and helps the fabric wash more evenly.

Insider Secret #1: Minimize Washing

Here’s something most people don’t realize: silk doesn’t trap odors. It’s incredibly breathable, which means it stays fresh much longer than cotton or synthetics. If you only wear silk to sleep, you can often go far longer than you’d imagine before needing to wash it.

Why it matters: The less you wash, the longer your silk lasts. Sometimes the best care is simply… less care.

Insider Secret #2: The Dryer Debate

Yes, you can tumble dry silk. But every cycle is like taking years off its life. Heat and tumbling wear the fibers down fast.

Do this instead: Let it hang dry. Silk dries quickly — usually in just a few hours — and keeps its strength and shine.

Why This Matters at Tara Sartoria

We believe luxury should be practical. That’s why every Tara Sartoria piece is washable, finished with couture-level French seams, and made from 27-momme artisan-crafted silk, so your garments can live beautifully for years, not months.

Silk is timeless. Care for it properly, and it will reward you with a lifetime of elegance.

✨ Discover silk with soul, meant to last.

Gorgeous Kimono

I am obsessed with this kimono. It is so silky and soft and I love the material. It is a long kimono and it ties internally and externally. It is easy to wash, but please wash with darks since it will bleed onto other colors, even when you wash on cold. This is one of the nicest kimonos I have owned!

~ Alexis