# How do I restore the sheen to my silk pillowcases? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 9, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243 "2018-11-09T15:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/1 "2018-11-09T15:17:17Z")
I’ve just taken delivery of an early birthday present (hey, the delivery date was possibly next month) of a silk duvet cover. It was immediately noticeable that the sheen on my 18 month old [silk pillowcases](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821322) was severely lacking. A quick Google suggested that a dilute vinegar rinse was required. But that hasn’t actually helped (and I washed the pillowcase beforehand). So, what do I need to do? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/2 "2018-11-12T00:35:09Z")
Bump? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/3 "2018-11-12T00:45:59Z")
How did you wash them? I don’t think silk is ever supposed to be washed in anything but cold water and very gently. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/4 "2018-11-12T00:58:53Z")
Silk being a natural fibre, it’s gonna wear and get softer with age. I don’t think you can restore it back to it’s newness and shine. I have one real silk blouse I threw in the wash with some other delicates and used Woolite, it came out looking a bit bedraggled. I took it to the cleaners and they recleaned and ironed it somehow. It still looks different than it did new but I like it anyway. I have an old crazy quilt with silk and velvet patches and lots of silk ribbon embroidery. I have never washed it. It had obviously been washed in the past and all the silk is un-shiny and slightly wrinkled. It looks good to me. Vintage, I guessed you’d say. All that, to say I don’t see how vinegar could refurbish your cases. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/5 "2018-11-12T01:05:24Z")
I see Google advice says the vinegar will work. I don’t think it will hurt them, I would try it. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/6 "2018-11-12T05:54:28Z")
ChemBrite Silk Luster ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/7 "2018-11-12T11:59:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I see Google advice says the vinegar will work. I don’t think it will hurt them, I would try it. As noted in my OP, I tried a vinegar rinse and it din’t work. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-restore-the-sheen-to-my-silk-pillowcases/824243/8 "2018-11-12T12:47:30Z")
Silk is not naturally shiny white. It is given artificial treatment to make it appear as if it is, and I’m guessing that has deteriorated somehow.