Silk shirts should not be placed in the dryer. The dryer uses high levels of heat, as well as a tumble dry action that spins and tosses clothes during the drying cycle. Silk is a delicate fabric and putting a silk shirt in the dryer will lead to shrinkage, pulls, tears, and damaged silk fibers. If your shirt is made from 100% silk fabric, do not put it in the dryer. Shirts made from pure silk must hang or lay flat to air dry.
This is Can You Put a Silk Shirt in the Dryer? (Answered!)
Can You Put a Silk Shirt in the Dryer?
No, you cannot put your silk shirt in the dryer. Putting silk shirts in the dryer will lead to shrinkage, pulls, tears, and damaged silk fibers.
Some people believe that silk can be dried in the dryer if you simply adjust the settings to air dry or tumble dry low. Although these settings use little or no heat, it is not only the heat in the dryer that can cause damage to your silk shirts
The tossing, turning, and tumbling that your shirt must endure in the dryer will inevitably lead to significant damage and a noticeable decline in the quality of your garment.
Dryers and silk do not go together. Silk garments of any type should never, under any circumstances, be placed in the dryer. Once you have washed your silk, simply hang or lay flat to air dry in a cool place that is out of contact with direct sunlight.
The only exception to this would be if you are purposefully trying to shrink your silk shirt and are completely aware of the risks involved. If you would like to shrink your silk shirt please read How to Shrink a Silk Shirt.
For new ideas on silk outfits, take a look at our guide on How to Wear a Silk Shirt for Men.
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What Happens If You Put a Silk Shirt in the Dryer?
If you put a silk shirt in the dryer, the shirt will shrink as well as become damaged. The shirt will shrink because of the heat in the dryer, and the silk will become worn and damaged because of the violent tumble cycle being used by the dryer.
Related: Does Silk Shrink in the Dryer?
How Do You Dry a Silk Shirt?
Silk shirts should be air dried in a cool dim place out of contact with direct sunlight. The best way to dry a silk shirt is either by hanging or laying flat to dry on a drying rack.
After hand washing your silk shirt, lay the silk evenly on an absorbent towel and gently roll the towel to remove excess water before air drying.
To learn more about drying silk, please read our step by step guide: How to Dry Silk.
Can You Put a Silk Shirt in the Dryer FAQ
Will a silk shirt shrink in the dryer?
A silk shirt will shrink in the dryer, but may also become damaged in the process. Silk is non-resistant to heat, which is the most important element needed to shrink silk in the dryer. Your silk shirt may shrink in the dryer, however it may also become ruined by the tumble drying process.
Can you put silk in the dryer on air dry?
No, you cannot put silk in the dryer on air dry. Even though the low heat setting may help to avoid shrinking your silk, the tumble motion of the dryer will likely damage the silk fibers significantly.