Best Way to Store Silks Overnight: Easy & Effective Methods

I absolutely love wearing silk, but properly caring for my delicate pieces can feel daunting. 

Through trial and error over the years, I’ve learned the best practices for keeping silks in great condition overnight.

In this article, I’ll share everything I wish I knew from the start about the ideal way to store silk garments.

My practical tips will help you keep your luxurious blouses, dresses, and scarves looking fabulous.

Preserving Your Silk: A Careful Approach

Maintaining the quality and appearance of silk requires a little extra care.

Unlike hardy fabrics like denim, silk is prone to wrinkles, color fading, and even damage from humidity or heat.

By storing silk properly overnight, you allow the fabric to “rest” in optimal conditions between wears. This helps your investment pieces retain their soft drape and vibrant colors over time.

My goal is to give you easy, actionable steps for prepping and storing silk garments. With the right overnight storage tactics, your silks will come out ready to wear in the morning!

If you’re looking to preserve your silk fabric, my guide has all the essential steps.

Preparing Silk Garments for Overnight Storage

Before storing your silk pieces each night, it’s important to give them a quick once-over.

Checking for Stains and Spots

Inspect garments in bright, natural lighting. Look along seams, underarms, collars, and other areas prone to perspiration or makeup.

Pre-treat any spots according to fiber content. For silk specifically:

• For water-based stains, dab gently with a lint-free cloth, working from the outer edge inward. Avoid rubbing.
• For oil-based stains, sprinkle talcum powder over the spot to absorb grease, then brush off.
• For stubborn spots, take items to the dry cleaner, as silk can be permanently damaged by improper cleaning.

Cleaning Before Storage

• Give garments a quick steaming to remove odors and wrinkles. Make sure items are completely dry before storage.
• To freshen between professional cleanings, hand wash or dry clean silk at home following product instructions. Air dry thoroughly.

Choosing the Right Storage Location

Creating the optimal storage environment is key for keeping silk looking its best.

Ideal Conditions for Storing Silk

• Cool temperature: Between 60-70°F
• Low humidity: Around 50-55% relative humidity
• Low light: Avoid direct sun exposure

Here are some of the best places in your home to store silk overnight:

• Linen or bedroom closet
• Armoire or clothing cabinet
• Dresser drawers

Avoid uninsulated attics, basements, garages, or other areas prone to extreme temps and moisture.

The fluctuating conditions found in these spaces can negatively affect dyes and fibers over time.

Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat Sources

It’s also crucial to keep silk away from direct sunlight, heating vents, space heaters, and other nearby heat sources. The intense light and warmth can:

• Cause fading of dyes and prints
• Weaken fibers
• Dry out silk over time

When hanging or folding pieces, position them in the coolest, darkest part of your chosen storage space.

Folding vs. Hanging: Which Is Better?

Should you fold or hang your silks overnight? Each method has its own pros and cons.

Benefits of Folding Silk Garments

• Prevents stretching of knit silks
• Ideal for smaller storage spaces like drawers
• May reduce wrinkling if folded properly

Folding Tips

• Fold garments smoothly along the fabric’s natural creases
• Use acid-free tissue paper between folds
• Place folded items in breathable cotton pillowcases or sheets

Benefits of Hanging Silk Garments

• Keeps the shape and structure better
• Allows air circulation to prevent moisture buildup
• Can minimize wrinkling when used with padding

Hanging Tips

• Use wide, padded silk or velvet hangers
• Space hung items to prevent crowding
• Cover with a cotton garment bag

In most cases, I recommend hanging silk blouses, dresses, and suits, and folding sweaters, scarves, and delicate undergarments like camisoles or slips.

How to Store Silk Without Wrinkling

While a few creases are inevitable, you can take steps to reduce wrinkles when storing silk overnight:

Proper Folding Techniques

• Fold garments smoothly along the fabric’s natural creases
• Wrap tissue paper or acid-free parchment around folded items
• Place folded pieces in breathable archival boxes or cotton pillowcases

Padded Hangers and Garment Bags

• Wide, rounded hangers better maintain the garment’s shape overnight
• Padded silk and velvet hangers prevent imprints on delicate fabrics
• Unprinted white cotton garment bags allow airflow while keeping out dust

Laying Garments Flat

If you have the spare room, laying garments fully flat is ideal, as it minimizes creasing.

• Use a clean, flat surface like a table or shelf
• Place acid-free tissue or archival parchment between layers
• Avoid stacking too many items

DIY Storage Solutions for Silk Garments

Don’t have the space for a luxurious armoire or clothing cabinet? Try these budget-friendly ideas for keeping silks safely stored at home:

Create a Dedicated Silk Storage Space

Convert an existing drawer, shelf, or closet area into a specialty spot just for silks.

• Line drawers with archival tissue paper
• Install low-wattage lighting on dimmer switches to reduce light exposure
• Use cedar blocks and natural potpourri to repel insects

I’ve perfected the technique for storing silks in a drawer to avoid wrinkles and damage.

Repurpose Household Items

• Store folded silk pieces in clean cotton pillowcases or sheets
• Wrap scarves in acid-free tissue inside archival document boxes or decorative hat boxes
• Use breathable canvas shoe storage boxes for small accessories like gloves and camisoles

How to Properly Store Silk Scarves

Silky scarves require a bit of special care to keep their shape and sheen.

Folding vs. Rolling

Folding flat in tissue prevents wrinkles but takes up more space. It’s ideal for delicate vintage or hand-rolled hems.

Rolling creates a rounder shape but can imprint creases if rolled too tightly. It’s great for travel or small boxes.

• Roll loosely rather than tautly
• Wrap rolled scarves in archival tissue
• Stand upright in bins or tall boxes to avoid flattening

Scarf Organizers

Clear acrylic scarf hangers and standing racks neatly display scarves while allowing airflow.

For folded storage, try compartmentalized archival boxes. Line each compartment with soft tissue paper.

Storing Silk in the Closet: Best Practices

If your main storage area is a closet, use these tips to transform it into a silk-friendly space:

Optimal Closet Organization

• Install storage items like shelving, drawers, and racks to maximize space
• Use breathable canvas or woven wood to prevent snags
• Position frequently worn items at eye/hand level for easy access
• Store out-of-season items up high or in underbed containers

Breathable Garment Bags

Unprinted white cotton garment bags allow airflow while keeping dust off clothing.

Separate By Weight

Store delicate silks away from heavier wool, denim, and outerwear pieces that could stretch or snag the fabric if crowded together.

Can You Store Silk in Plastic Bags?

I don’t recommend keeping silk inside plastic bags or garment bags long-term.

Pros

• Convenient and inexpensive
• Protects from dust, insects, and sunlight

Cons

• Traps in moisture and heat
• Can yellow over time
• Promotes mildew growth if damp

Instead, opt for breathable fabric garment bags, or use plastic only for short-term storage like travel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Silk

It’s easy to damage delicate silks without realizing it. Here are some key pitfalls to avoid:

• Hanging items on wire or plastic hangers that can snag threads
• Leaving silk wet or damp from steam or cleaning
• Using colored tissue paper that could bleed dye
• Storing in basements, attics, or garages with extreme temps/moisture
• Keeping in airtight plastic bags that trap humidity
• Exposing to direct sunlight or bright overhead lighting

Be sure to periodically check stored garments for early signs of damage like yellowing, odor, or pest infestations.

It’s much easier to tackle issues when they first arise rather than after they’ve had time to intensify.

Conclusions

I hope these practical tips give you the confidence to properly store your silk pieces overnight.

With the right environment, materials, and storage methods, you can keep delicate garments looking fabulous for years to come.

Implementing proactive storage is the best way maintain the vibrancy, feel, and beauty of luxurious silk. Your mind will rest easy knowing your investment is protected between wears!

Table Comparing Folding vs. Hanging Methods for Silk Storage

Storing Silk Scarves

Folding Scarves

• Fold scarves smoothly in acid-free tissue paper
• Store flat in archival boxes or drawers
• Ideal for delicate vintage scarves or hand-rolled hems

Rolling Scarves

• Roll loosely around an acid-free paper tube
• Wrap in archival tissue paper
• Stand upright in bins so they don’t flatten
• Great for travel or small storage boxes