Can silk go in the dryer? Laundry pros say it could be a costly mistake, leading to warping and shrinking

A white washer in the center of a room with a tree, plant pot on the left, ironing board to the right and cream paneling meets painted brick wall behind.

As lush as it feels to wear, there is no getting around the fact that silk is a high-maintenance fabric. Everything from washing to drying it requires special attention to keep this delicate fabric soft and shiny for as long as possible.

When washing silk sheets, silk pillowcases and clothing, it can be tempting to throw it all in the dryer to speed up the process and get it back in play sharpish. But cleaning and laundry experts warn doing so could ruin the silk for good, shrinking it and destroying its shape.