Caring for Luxury Bedding: How to Wash Silk, Linen & Bamboo

Luxury bedding makes a bed look considered, feels incredible against your skin, and somehow makes the whole room feel calmer. But here’s the part most care guides skim over: natural fibres need different care to stay at their best.

Silk, linen and bamboo bedding are not “wash-and-forget” materials. They’re stronger and more beautiful than synthetics in many ways, but they also respond to heat, friction and harsh detergents far more dramatically. 

If you’ve ever wondered why a bedding set can lose its softness, fade faster than expected, or start to feel a little “tired,” it’s usually not the quality. It’s the routine.

The good news is simple: you don’t need special equipment or an overly precious process. You just need a gentler approach, and a few material-specific habits that protect the fine threads you’re sleeping on.

This is your Laud Sleep guide to keeping luxury bedding feeling like luxury: soft, breathable, beautiful, and built to last.

Why luxury bedding needs a gentler routine

Most laundry routines are designed for durable everyday cotton and “quick turnaround” washing. Warm water, stronger detergent, fast spin, hot drying is a combination that works… until it doesn’t.

Natural fibres can be sensitive to three things:

1) Heat
Hot water and high dryer temperatures can weaken fibres over time and make fabrics feel rougher. Heat also accelerates colour fading and can shrink or distort certain weaves.

2) Harsh detergents
Strong detergents and brighteners may strip away the natural softness you love and can be particularly unkind to delicate fibres like silk.

3) Friction
Fast spins, heavy loads and rough contact with zips/buttons can break down fine threads, causing dullness, pilling, or that “not as smooth as it used to be” feel.

So if you want bedding that looks and feels better for longer, think in three words: cooler, gentler, slower.

The myths (and what to do instead)

“Hotter water = cleaner bedding”

Hotter water can be effective for some laundry, but for luxury bedding (especially silk and bamboo bedding), it can do more harm than good. You can still get bedding clean with a cool-to-lukewarm wash when you use the right detergent and give it enough space to move.

Do this instead: Choose a cool wash, avoid overcrowding the drum, and let gentle chemistry do the work.

“Any detergent is fine”

If you’ve invested in natural fibres, treat them like you would knitwear: skip the harsh stuff. Strong detergents and additives can rob fabrics of softness and vibrancy.

Do this instead: Use a mild detergent. For silk, aim for a detergent designed for delicates (or a pH-neutral option if you have one).

“The dryer is the easiest finish”

The dryer is a quick way of drying bedding, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to fade colour, roughen fibres, and reduce longevity.

Do this instead: Air dry where possible, and keep fabrics out of direct sunlight to protect colour.

How to care for silk bedding (and keep it truly silky!)

Silk is smooth, breathable, naturally temperature balancing, and feels wonderfully gentle against skin and hair. But it’s also very delicate when it comes to heat and abrasion.

How to Wash Silk Bedding

If your silk bedding allows machine washing, treat it like a delicate garment:

• Choose a gentle or delicates cycle with cool water.

• Use a delicates detergent (ideally pH-neutral).

• Wash silk in a mesh bag to reduce friction.

• Keep the load light — give it room.

If you prefer hand washing (or your label recommends it), use cool water, gentle detergent, and minimal agitation. No vigorous rubbing. Think “swish,” not “scrub.”

How to Dry Silk Bedding

Silk dislikes heat and direct sun.

• Air dry out of direct sunlight to protect colour and fibre strength.

• Avoid wringing or twisting. Instead, press water out gently with a towel.

• If you need to hang, use padded hangers or drape evenly to avoid creases and stretching.

How to Store Silk Bedding

Store silk somewhere cool, dry, and away from sunlight. If you’re putting it away for a season, make sure it’s clean first — invisible residue can dull the fabric over time.

Laud tip: Silk is one of those materials that rewards consistency. A gentle wash routine keeps it smooth and luminous for far longer than occasional rescue washing.

How to care for linen bedding (and keep it soft)

Linen bedding is beautifully breathable, naturally textural, and gets better with time, but only if you let it. The biggest linen mistake is trying to make it behave like crisp cotton.

Linen’s charm is in its relaxed finish. Your goal isn’t “perfectly pressed.” Your goal is “beautifully lived-in.”

How to Wash Linen Bedding

• Cool wash on a gentle cycle.

• Mild detergent, no harsh additives.

• Wash linen separately from heavy items (towels, denim) to reduce friction.

Linen can handle regular washing, but it doesn’t like being overcrowded. Give it room to move.

How to Dry Linen Bedding

Air drying is the kindest route for linen bedding:

• Air dry in shade, then bring it inside once dry to the touch.

• If you tumble dry, keep it low and consider taking it out slightly damp to reduce stiffness.

How to Make Linen Bedding Feel Softer

Linen naturally softens over time. If you want to speed that “oh this is lovely” feeling:

• Avoid over-drying

• Don’t overuse detergent

• Let it soften through wear and gentle washing

Laud tip: Linen should feel like the bedding equivalent of your favourite shirt. Relaxed, breathable, and better every month you own it.

How to care for bamboo bedding 

Bamboo bedding is loved for its smooth feel and breathable comfort. The main enemies are the same trio: heat, harsh detergents, and friction.

How to Wash Bamboo Bedding

• Wash on a cool wash and gentle cycle

• Use a mild detergent

• Avoid washing with rough items (clothing with zips or heavy fabrics), bamboo can be more prone to damage from friction than you’d expect.

How to Dry Bamboo Bedding

• Air dry in a shaded spot if possible

• If tumble drying is allowed, go low heat and avoid over-drying

Laud tip: Bamboo has that “cool, smooth” feel many people love. Keep it that way by keeping temperatures low and cycles gentle.

A simple care routine you can stick to

Luxury bedding isn’t just about washing, it’s also about wear, rotation and storage.

If you’ve got favourite sets (we get it), rotate them. It spreads out wear and helps each set hold its finish longer.

Give bedding space. Overcrowded washing creates more friction and can trap detergent residue. Smaller wash loads are kinder.

Keep clean bedding dry, folded, and away from direct light. If you store bedding in a warm loft or a damp cupboard, even the best fibres will suffer.

If you want a minimal effort routine that protects your bedding without turning laundry into a hobby:

1. Change pillowcases (and sheets if you can) weekly. 

2. Wash sheets on a cool, gentle cycle every 1-2 weeks.

3. Wash your duvet cover monthly (more often if you’re a hot sleeper or have pets)

4. Always air dry when you can, avoid direct sun, store clean and dry

And when in doubt: check the care label, then choose the gentlest path.

Summary: Caring for luxury bedding is caring for your comfort

The point of luxury bedding isn’t just the moment you unbox it. It’s the years of comfort that follow. The softness that stays, the colour that doesn’t dull, the fabric that still feels like a treat night after night.

At Laud Sleep, we choose pieces for lasting quality and everyday calm. Caring for them well protects that investment and keeps your bed feeling like your favourite place in the house.