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Listening at home⏱️ Estimated reading time: 9 min
On this page: Overview
Key Takeaways
Only if the care label shows a machine-wash tub, because many silk masks are hand-wash only. Our Deep Sleep Mask is washable at 30 °C on a delicates cycle in a laundry bag, Velcro closed, low spin.
About once a week for silk, and sooner after a sweaty night, rich night cream or make-up. A mask sits against your face for 7 to 8 hours a night, so skin oils and skincare build up on it. Never share a mask.
No. Heat and tumbling can dull and misshape silk, and most silk labels carry the crossed tumble-dryer symbol. Press the water out in a towel and dry the mask flat in the shade.
A mild, pH-neutral, non-bio detergent made for silk or wool. Silk is a protein fibre, and biological detergents use enzymes designed to break down protein stains. Skip bleach and fabric softener.
Knowing how to wash a silk sleep mask is mostly about what to keep away from it. Heat, rubbing and strong sun do the damage. A sleep mask spends all night on your face, so it needs regular washing, and silk keeps its sheen and colour if the routine stays gentle.
Someone on a UK appliance-repair forum once asked which cycle to pick for silk. The engineer just asked back what the label said. Fair point. Most silk masks are hand-wash only, and a few, ours included, can go in the machine at 30 °C.
At Bollsen, we are a family-owned hearing protection company trusted by 1,000,000+ people, and our Deep Sleep Mask is made from natural mulberry silk. The steps below work for any silk mask.
How do you wash a silk sleep mask, step by step?
To wash a silk sleep mask, close the Velcro strap, wash it by hand in cool water or on a 30 °C delicates cycle in a laundry bag, use a mild pH-neutral detergent, then press the water out in a towel and let it dry flat, away from heat and direct sun.
- Close the Velcro first. Hook-and-loop catches silk threads, so fasten the strap before the mask gets wet.
- Check the care label. A hand in a tub means hand wash only. A tub with 30 in it means the machine is fine at up to 30 °C.
- Hand-wash cool, or machine-wash at 30 °C in a laundry bag. By hand, use cool to lukewarm water, never above 30 °C. In the machine, pick a delicates, silk or wool cycle with a low spin.
- Use a mild, non-bio, pH-neutral detergent. Dissolve a small amount in the water first. No bleach, no fabric softener.
- Soak for minutes, not hours. A few minutes with a gentle swirl is enough, and never longer than 30 minutes. Rinse in cool, clean water.
- Press, then dry flat. Roll the mask in a clean towel to squeeze the water out without wringing, then lay it flat in the shade. No tumble dryer, no radiator.
- Repeat about once a week. Sooner after a hot night.
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Life+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsLife+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsMusic SoundPRO★ 4.8 · 514 reviewsWatersafe+★ 4.8 · 684 reviewsLife+★ 4.7 · 3,700 reviewsHow do you read the care label on a silk mask?
Care labels use the ISO 3758 symbols, and the tub tells you the most: a hand in it means hand wash at roughly 20 to 30 °C, a number gives the maximum temperature for the machine, and bars underneath ask for a gentler cycle.
The GINETEX care symbols guide sets out every symbol, and its own example for drip drying in the shade is “delicate textiles like silk”.
| Symbol | What it means | What to do with a silk mask |
|---|---|---|
| Hand in a tub | Hand wash only, around 20 to 30 °C | Wash at the sink in cool to lukewarm water |
| Tub with 30 | Machine wash at a maximum of 30 °C | Delicates, silk or wool cycle at 30 °C, in a laundry bag |
| One bar under the tub | Milder cycle | Choose a gentle programme with a low spin |
| Two bars under the tub | Very mild cycle | Use the wool or silk programme |
| Crossed-out triangle | Do not bleach | No bleach or stain remover with bleach in it |
| Crossed-out circle in a square | Do not tumble dry | Towel-press and dry flat instead |
| Square with drip lines and a shade corner | Drip dry in the shade | Dry away from direct sunlight |
Why does silk need gentle washing?
Silk is a protein filament, a core of fibroin coated in a gum called sericin, and its fibres become weaker when wet and, of all the natural fibres, it is the most vulnerable to damage from light.
Both points come from the Canadian Conservation Institute’s guidelines for caring for textiles. Wet silk is weaker, so you press it instead of wringing. Light is why the mask dries in the shade, not on a sunny windowsill.
Biological detergents contain enzymes meant to break down protein stains, so a non-bio silk or wool detergent is the safer pick for a fibre made of protein.
Can you put a silk sleep mask in the washing machine?
Only if its label allows it: many silk masks are hand-wash only, but a mask marked with a 30 °C tub can go on a delicates, silk or wool cycle inside a mesh laundry bag, with the Velcro closed and the spin set low.
The Which? guide to the best eye masks for sleep counts ease of cleaning among its test criteria and says to “always check the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning”. Masks marked spot clean or wipe clean only stay out of the machine.
If you’d rather skip the sink, our Deep Sleep Mask, machine-washable at 30 °C, goes in with your other delicates. The bag stops it tangling with zips and hooks. A low spin means less twisting, which wet silk handles badly.
How do you dry a silk eye mask without damaging it?
Dry a silk eye mask by rolling it in a clean, dry towel to press the water out, then laying it flat in the shade at room temperature until it is dry right through.
Skip the tumble dryer, the radiator and the hairdryer, because heat can leave silk dull or out of shape. Most masks never need ironing; if the label shows an iron with two dots, use that setting on the reverse, without steam.
How do you get make-up or night cream off a silk mask?
Blot fresh make-up or night cream straight away with a cloth dampened in cool water and a drop of silk detergent, working from the edge of the mark inwards, then wash the whole mask so it dries evenly without a water ring.
Scrubbing takes the shine off. And give a rich night cream a few minutes to sink in before the mask goes on.
How often should you wash a sleep mask?
About once a week is a sensible rule of thumb for a silk sleep mask, and sooner after a sweaty night, heavy night cream or make-up, because skin oils and skincare build up on anything worn against the face for 7 to 8 hours.
That weekly figure is Which?’s rule of thumb for silk, with roughly twice a week for other materials. Washing is what keeps a mask fresh, whatever it is made of.
Don’t share your mask. The NHS advice on conjunctivitis is not to share towels and pillows, and the same goes for a mask. Wash it if anyone in the house has an eye infection. If your eyes become sore or sticky, a pharmacist is a good first stop. Hygiene is one part of the wider question of is it safe to wear a sleep mask every night.
What if you own the Deep Sleep Duo?
The Deep Sleep Duo pairs the silk mask with our Life+ reusable earplugs, and only the mask follows the routine above. The earplugs are hypoallergenic silicone, not silk, so our guide on how to clean reusable earplugs covers them separately.
Is a silk mask hard to look after?
Not really. Cool water, a gentle detergent and some patience while it dries are all a silk mask asks for.
Still deciding on the fibre? Our answer to is a silk sleep mask worth it weighs mulberry silk against cheaper fabrics, washing included.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.
