How to Wash and Care for Velvet Bedding

How to Wash Velvet Bedding
Detergent	Gentle
Water Temperature	Cool or cold
Washer Cycle	Gentle or hand-wash
Drying Cycle Type	Low heat or air-dry
Special Treatments	Pre-treat stains and wash only with fabrics that do not produce lint
Ironing Settings	Use a steamer or steam iron to lift fibers; do not use hot iron
How Often to Wash	Weekly for sheets, pillowcases; whenever needed for throws, comforters

How to Machine-Wash Velvet Bedding

Make sure to read the care labels on your velvet bedding. Velvet fabric can be made of several different materials, and this will determine the best way to wash it. Most bedding items sold as velvet are actually artificial velvet, made from nylon, polyester, rayon, or blends, and these can be easily washed in a machine.

1. Sort the Laundry

   Velvet bedding should be washed with similar colors to prevent dye transfer. Ideally, velvet should be washed alone or with fabrics that do not produce lint. Never wash with cotton towels or bedding; they will shed and leave little balls of lint on the velvet fibers.

2. Pretreat Stains

   If there are visible stains, pretreat the area with a few drops of a gentle detergent. Use your fingers to work the detergent into the stain and let it sit for five to 10 minutes before washing.

3. Prepare the Washer

   A large-capacity front-loading washer is best for large velvet comforters or duvets. Velvet bedding should be machine-washed in cold or cool water and rinsed in cold water. If using a washer, choose the gentle cycle, which has less agitation and a slower spin cycle to help prevent damage to the fibers. Use a gentle detergent without added fabric softeners to wash the bedding.

   Warning

   Do not use too much detergent. Any residue left in velvet fibers will make them stiff and cause matting. Never use harsh detergents or any type of bleach on velvet.

4. Load and Wash the Bedding

   If using a washer with a center agitator, load the bedding evenly around the washer drum. Never overload the washer with too many pieces, or your velvet will have excessive wrinkling.

5. Dry the Bedding

   Velvet bedding can be air-dried on a clothesline or drying rack or dried in an automatic tumble dryer on low heat. Never dry on high heat.

   Add some wool dryer balls to the dryer to help fluff the velvet and speed drying.

How to Hand-Wash Velvet Bedding

Velvet bedding made with genuine silk or a silk-synthetic blend should always be washed by hand, and most items will advise air drying rather than machine drying. But always follow the advice of the care labels.

Detergent	Gentle
Water Temperature	Cool
Washer Cycle	Hand-wash
Dryer Cycle Type	Low-temperature fluff cycle, or air-dry
Special Treatments	Spot treat stains before washing
Iron Settings	Do not iron
How Often to Wash	Weekly for sheets, pillow cases; whenever needed for throws, bedspreads

1. Pretreat Stains

   Visible stains should be treated with a few drops of gentle detergent rubbed into the stained area with your fingers. Let the detergent work for five to 10 minutes, then proceed with hand-washing.

2. Mix Washing Solution

   Fill a bathtub, large sink, or plastic tub with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent. Use your hands to disperse the detergent throughout the tub.
   

3. Wash the Bedding

   Add the bedding and gently push it into the water so it is thoroughly wet. Leave the bedding soak for about 10 minutes. Then, use your hands to gently squeeze the soapy water through the bedding. Do not scrub or squeeze too much.

4. Drain Wash Water

   Lift the bedding from the tub, gently squeezing out the water. Do not wring. Drain the soapy water and refill the tub with clean, cool water.
   

5. Rinse the Bedding

   Add the bedding to the rinse water and swish through to rinse. Repeat if needed if the water seems very soapy. After rinsing, gently squeeze the excess water from the bedding.

6. Dry the Bedding

   Follow the advice of the care tag when drying your bedding. With true silk velvet, the instructions may indicate that it must be air-dried, but most forms of velvet can be dried in a clothes dryer set to fluff or low-heat.

What Is Velvet Bedding?

Velvet bedding lends an air of luxury and elegance to any bedroom. The plush textures are soft, cozy, and perfect for relaxing. However, the term velvet bedding is a bit of a misnomer, since almost all bedding with a plush feel—velour, microfiber, flannel, or real velvet—is marketed and sold as velvet bedding.

True velvet is a silk textile woven with vertical tufted fibers that are cut short to create a dense pile that is exceedingly soft to the touch. Modern forms of silk velvet are often blended with additional rayon or synthetic fibers—pure silk velvet is rare, especially for bedding. Whether they are pure silk or a silk-synthetic blend, this type of velvet fabric is quite expensive.

But it is more likely that your "velvet" bedding is actually synthetic velvet—made entirely from polyester, nylon, rayon, or a blend of synthetics, but woven using the classic silk-velvet method that creates a short pile that is wonderfully soft to the touch. Another form of artificial velvet, usually known as velveteen, is a cotton or cotton-silk blend.

Treating Stains on Velvet Bedding

Most stains on velvet bedding are easily treated by simply rubbing in a little gentle detergent on the stained area prior to washing. If the stain is especially oily, some ordinary grease-cutting dish soap often does the trick. With stubborn stains such as blood, you may have success with hydrogen peroxide. Never use bleach on velvet. Commercial spot cleaners generally use harsh chemicals; don't use them on velvet before testing them out on a hidden area of the item.

Velvet Bedding Care and Repairs

Keep velvet throws and blankets out of direct sunlight, if possible, as this can cause colors to fade. Velvet can become matted and crushed with heavy use, and you can restore the softness of the pile by brushing it with a soft brush. Using a steamer on the back side of the fabric may also help restore the crushed nap.

Tears in velvet fabric can be stitched, but such repairs will be quite visible. Another method is to use an adhesive flannel patch applied to the back side of the fabric—commercial patch kits are widely available. Carefully pressing the edges of the torn fabric together against the patch can sometimes successfully hide the flaw.

Storing Velvet Bedding

Avoid stacking folded velvet bedding under other items, as the pressure can crush and flatten the nap. Before storing velvet sheets and blankets away for the season, it's best to launder and thoroughly dry them. Velvet items are best stored in a manner that allows them to breathe, rather than in sealed plastic bins, where they may grow musty. If you want, you can separate stacked items with craft paper to improve air circulation.

How Often to Wash Velvet Bedding

Velvet sheets and pillowcases should be washed weekly to remove body soil. If you are using top sheets and don't have pets on the bed, velvet blankets, comforters, or duvet covers require washing no more than once a month, or when spills or stains are visible.

Tips for Washing Velvet Bedding

• Always follow care label instructions.
• Odors can be removed by adding a little white vinegar to the wash water.
• Lift matted fibers and remove wrinkles with a clothes steamer.
• Never wash or dry velvet with lint-producing fabrics