How to Wash and Care for Your Silk Duvet Cover for Maximum Luxury and Performance

A Mulberry Park Silks Duvet Cover: The Perfect Finish to Your Luxury Bed

If you're a fan of silk sheets, a silk duvet cover from Mulberry Park Silks is a sumptuous choice for topping your luxury bed. We are big fans of the full, fluffy look and feel of a duvet, and a silk duvet cover perfects that indulgent, cloud-like vibe. While duvets have traditionally been layered over a sheet or blanket on the bed, they are increasingly being used instead of a top sheet. That means that-along with looking and feeling amazing-our silk duvet covers deliver the same beauty and wellness benefits as our silk sheets. They are made from 100% pure mulberry silk and are naturally hypoallergenic. Our duvet covers also regulate body temperature for comfortable rest; protect sensitive skin; and keep skin naturally hydrated for a night of restful and renewing beauty sleep.

Our Silk Duvet Cover Can Be Washed

There's more good news about Mulberry Park Silks duvet covers: just like our pure silk sheets, they can be washed either in your machine or by hand. Washing is the preferred method for cleaning our silk, as dry cleaning can, over time, dry out silk fibers and cause them to lose their luster. Even better, you can easily wash your silk duvet cover right at home with a few simple supplies.

How often to wash your duvet cover is a matter of personal preference. If you are using the duvet cover on top of a top sheet and/or blanket, washing every six weeks or so should be sufficient. However, if you are sleeping directly under a duvet instead of a top sheet, your duvet cover should be washed at the same intervals as your bottom sheet and pillowcases, typically every week or two.

Choose Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent to Wash Your Silk Duvet

Whether you choose to hand wash or use a washing machine, selecting the right detergent for washing silk is of paramount importance. Silk fiber is protein-based, which is why it is so nourishing for hair and skin. To maintain its hydrating properties, silk fabric should be washed in a gentle, pH-neutral detergent (a detergent that is either too acidic or too alkaline will damage silk fibers and cause them to harden). Additionally, silk should be washed in an enzyme-free detergent. Enzyme detergents, also known as "biological detergents," work by breaking down the components of stains, many of which are proteins. Over time, washing a fabric like silk with an enzyme detergent will degrade the integrity of the fabric, which is made from protein.

We recommend Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent for washing all of our luxury silk bedding and accessories, including duvet covers. This natural, pH-neutral formula is made specifically for cleaning natural fibers like silk, wool, and cashmere. It is a mild detergent that is made without enzymes; it contains plant-based ingredients that clean without causing damage. All Heritage Park Laundry Essentials detergents are made with no dyes, phosphates, sulfates, bleach, or brighteners. The fragrance-free formula is lab-certified hypoallergenic and pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested. If you prefer a gentle fragrance, choose lightly scented Lavender Mist or Spring Magnolia.

Supplies You'll Need to Wash Your Silk Duvet Cover

You'll need the following supplies to wash your silk duvet cover:

• A gentle detergent made for silk such as Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent.
• A washing machine with a gentle or delicate cycle.
• A large mesh laundry bag.
• A clothesline or drying rack.
• A utility sink or large basin for handwashing.
• An iron with a cool setting and an ironing board (optional).

Steps for Machine Washing Your Mulberry Park Silks Duvet Cover

Follow these guidelines to safely and effectively wash your pure silk duvet cover. You can also adapt these for washing silk sheets, silk pillowcases, and other washable silk.

Step 1. Pretreat and Presoak Stains Immediately

Pre-treat or pre-soak any stains as soon as possible with cool water or Silk and Wool Detergent. While we don't recommend using enzyme detergent to regularly wash silk, you can use a 1:1 ratio of Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent (an enzyme formula) and water in a spray bottle on stubborn stains. Test in an inconspicuous area.

Step 2. Wash Your Silk Duvet Cover by Itself or In a Silk-Only Load

Always wash your silk duvet cover either in a separate load or, if you are using it instead of a top sheet, along with your silk fitted sheet and pillowcases.

Step 3. Turn the Duvet Cover Inside Out and Put Into a Large Mesh Laundry Bag

Delicate fabric like silk can be damaged by burrs and metal on the inside of your machine and by tangling around the agitator mechanism. We recommend a largemesh laundry bag for a duvet cover or a sheet and a small mesh laundry bag for silk pillowcases.

Step 4. Use A Gentle Cycle and Cool Water

A gentle or delicate wash cycle is best for silk. Some machines even have a "hand wash" setting which is also appropriate.

Step 5. Never Use Bleach, Fabric Softener, and Dryer Sheets

These products are unnecessary and can seriously damage your silk. Learn more about why you should skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets.

Step 6. Hang Your Silk Duvet Cover to Dry

Never put silk bedding or pillowcases in the dryer, as heat can damage the integrity of the silk. If your silk is still damp, press out excess water with a clean towel. Hang your silk duvet inside out, indoors or outside away from direct sunlight, which can cause silk to fade.

Step 7. Ironing: Proceed With Caution

Ironing silk is not always necessary, as the wrinkles in your duvet cover will naturally release after a day or so back on your bed. If you choose to iron, follow these guidelines.

How to Hand Wash Your Silk Duvet Cover

You can hand wash your silk duvet cover in a utility sink or a large bucket. Fill with cool to lukewarm water, add a cap-full of Heritage Park Silk and Wool Detergent, and mix with your hand. Submerge your silk duvet and gently agitate it for several minutes; don't rub or scrub. Thoroughly rinse out all soap and press out excess moisture using a clean, white towel. Hang to dry as described above.

We hope you've learned a bit about silk care today, both for your silk duvet and any other washable silk item. Our goal at Mulberry Park Silks is to help you get the maximum enjoyment from our luxurious silk bedding and accessories-and proper care is part of the equation! As always our design team is here to answer any questions you have about our silk, including providing specific recommendations to suit your needs and budget.