Stains on clothing are inevitable, but some are more difficult to remove than others, especially when they occur on particularly delicate fabrics such as silk. In these cases, it is necessary to use products with high cleaning power, but which are also gentle on the clothes to prevent them from deteriorating.
Before hand washing, try this simple test: Squeeze silk in your hand and then release. If the fabric smooths out quickly, it is a high quality silk that holds up well to hand washing. If not, take it to the dry cleaner or risk ruining your clothes. Silk fibers are made from protein and can react differently when treated with stain removers and during cleaning.
More caring tips you can read in our post HOW TO CARING FOR SILK
How to remove stains on silk
First of all, before removing a stain from any silk garment, you should check its label as this will indicate its specifics. Here are a few products that will help you remove stains from silk clothes quickly and effectively.
With water and soap
Due to the texture and composition of the fabric, you will not be able to use regular soap. The best option if you want to remove stains and protect your clothes at the same time is to use a detergent specifically made for silk. Before applying the product to it, you should check in an inconspicuous part that it does not fade; once this is done, you can begin to remove the stain.
To do this, add a tablespoon of a special liquid detergent for silk to a bowl of warm water and immerse the item of clothing in the mixture for 5 minutes. After this time, gently rub the stain with a sponge until it disappears. To remove soap residue, rinse the fabric with cold water.
After rinsing, wrap it in a towel, applying gentle pressure to remove excess moisture without damaging it. After this, hang the clothes in a cool place to dry on their own.
With vinegar
For stubborn stains, using vinegar may be the solution for silk clothes. Dilute a little vinegar with cold water in a container. Now use a sponge to apply the mixture, gently rubbing it into the stain.
Then place the clothes in a bowl of warm water and silk soap for about 5 minutes, scrub gently and rinse with cold water.
If the stain has not completely disappeared, add a cup of vinegar to a bowl of cold water and place the clothes in it. Stir by hand for a few minutes, rinse and dry. Using vinegar will also help you achieve softer, shinier clothes.
Removes stubborn stains
Some stains can be quite scary when they get on silk clothing. In these cases, it will be necessary to use tricks to eliminate all those dirt particles that have been saturated with the fabric in order to put an end to them.
Grease, food stains, and makeup stains are some of the hardest to remove from silk clothing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it if you have a little patience. First, for best results, you need to act as quickly as possible to prevent the stain from penetrating too deeply into the fabric.
Makeup stains
For recent makeup stains, you will only need to use a piece of cotton wool and warm water.
Soak cotton wool in water and apply directly to the stain and watch it disappear before your eyes.
If the stain is recent and caused by makeup, you can remove it with hydrogen peroxide. As in the previous case, moisten some cotton wool with it and gently apply it to the stain. If it’s from lipstick and it’s not fresh, there’s nothing better than using alcohol to make it go away.
Using rubbing alcohol will also be very effective if the stains that appear on your silk clothes are fruit ink or ballpoint ink. You have to be very careful when you apply it, you have to do it in small strokes as otherwise the stain may expand.
Food and Grease
Grease or food stains are very difficult to remove from silk fabrics.
Despite this, you should not lose heart as there are very effective techniques that can help you get rid of them completely using cornstarch.
Find the stain and add cornstarch to it to create a thick layer and leave it overnight. Because of the strength of this type of product, you will get it to absorb all the oil from the stain.
After a few hours, remove the starch with a light brush and check if the stain has disappeared. If it is still there, wipe it down with a little silk detergent, rinse with plenty of cold water and let the garment dry.
Epilogue: Silk, Stains, and Everlasting Elegance
With these savvy tips, you can effectively remove stains from silk clothes in a simple way and keep them in perfect condition for much longer. Anastasia, the maestro of silk, continues to create masterpieces that endure the test of time, showcasing the perfect blend of artistry and practicality. Let your silk tell a story of resilience, elegance, and a journey well-lived. Stay tuned for more secrets from ATANA silk clothingÂ
