Differences between silk and satin

Silk and satin are both luxurious fabrics that come in a variety of pretty colors and can be made into silk bedding. They will transform any bedroom into a sumptuous retreat. With silk and satin, you can feel warm in the colder months and cool in the warmer months, making up for the high price with their versatility. 

Silk

1. Silk is a natural fiber derived from the proteins secreted by silkworms. Because silk is an animal product that is difficult to grow and time-consuming to weave, silk scarves are very expensive. Silk is known for its softness, luster, beauty and opulent appearance. Thousands of silkworms extract silk threads and weave them into sheets that have little to no shine.

2. Silk, a very delicate fabric, should be washed by hand with cold water and a mild detergent. If your silk is white, you should wash it separately, as the dye may bleed during washing. The best way to do this is to simply soak the silk sheets in soapy water a few times and then rinse it. Do not hang it in direct sunlight as this can damage the silk.

Satin

1. Satin is not far behind silk in price. However, satin sheets are woven, meaning certain threads are brought to the top (called floating), making those threads to reflect light and create the high sheen. Although satin sheets are now also available in nylon, acetate, polyester and other synthetic fibers that make them more affordable, satin sheets are traditionally woven from silk threads.

2. If your satin bedding is woven from silk, please follow the instructions above. However, if your satin bedding is woven from polyester or nylon, you can wash it on the gentle cycle as it is durable enough. Satin bedding made of polyester should be tumble dried, while nylon can be machine dried (but should never see the sunlight). Acetate satin bedding must be dry cleaned.