BEDDING GUIDE · 4 NOVEMBER 2026 · BY LAVE STUDIO
Can you wash a silk duvet? Start with the care label
Sometimes, but only if that particular insert’s instructions allow it. A washing machine’s “silk” programme is not permission to wash every silk-filled duvet. Read the insert’s label before choosing a cleaning method.
The cover and insert have different jobs
Lave’s duvet insert contains long-filament mulberry silk inside a cotton shell. The shell is part of the insert; it is not your removable duvet cover. You add that cover separately and wash it according to its own instructions.
Do not use a cotton-cover wash routine for the whole insert just because its outer shell is cotton. Equally, instructions for silk sheets or clothing do not automatically apply to a filled duvet. Check which item each label belongs to.
Read washing and drying together
GINETEX’s care-symbol guide explains the separate instructions for domestic washing, drying and professional cleaning. The summary below helps you identify what to look for; follow the complete label and any written instructions supplied with the insert.
| On the label | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Crossed-out wash tub | Do not wash domestically. This includes hand washing. |
| Wash tub with a number | The number is the maximum wash temperature. Bars beneath it specify a gentler process. |
| Tumble-drying instruction | Check separately from washing. A crossed-out tumble-dryer symbol means do not tumble dry. |
| Professional-care instruction | Shows which professional processes are allowed or excluded; give the cleaner the full label. |
GINETEX also distinguishes professional wet cleaning from domestic washing. Permission for a professional process does not mean a household hand-wash programme is suitable.
For Lave, check before deeper cleaning
Use the care label supplied with your insert for spills or deeper cleaning, and avoid high-heat drying. We do not prescribe one machine cycle, detergent or dry-cleaning process for every situation. If the label is missing or unclear, contact Lave before treating the insert.
Send your order reference, a photo of the label and a short description of what happened. Say whether the mark is on the removable cover, the insert’s shell, or whether liquid has reached the filling. That is more useful than choosing a method from the word “silk” alone.
Do not assume airing replaces cleaning
Airing is part of routine care; a spill or soiling needs its own decision. Do not treat a dry-feeling surface as proof that wet filling is dry, or put a damp insert into storage.
In its duvet care advice, Hong Kong’s Consumer Council recommends a removable cover, following the care label, avoiding high-temperature drying and ensuring filling is thoroughly dry before storage. Those recommendations accompany tests of other products, not Lave’s insert.
For ordinary airing, choose a cool, dry, ventilated place away from direct sun. Our airing and storage guide covers that routine. Recurring mustiness or visible mould calls for advice about the insert and investigation of any damp room conditions. Silk filling does not prevent mould or fix household damp.
Make care part of the buying decision
If frequent home machine washing is essential for your household, confirm that the exact duvet you are considering permits it before buying. Material, feel and care need to suit your routine together. Our duvet buying guide compares those practical choices.
Published by Lave Studio, which sells silk duvet inserts. This guide explains how to approach care instructions; it does not replace the label supplied with your product.