How to Remove Water Spot Stains (Water Marks) from Silk
Silk fabric is a luxurious, sensuous, lightweight and soft fabric. If you touch it, you will receive a great surprise. However, the bad news is that garments made from this expensive fiber stain easily with the simplest of liquids – water, although there are now a number of washable silks on the market.
Things you need to know
- Check the color fastness of the silk item, and then choose an inner seam that cannot be seen from the outside of the item. Wet the fabric lightly, and then run a soft white cloth on the area that was treated. If the cloth is dyed, stop it immediately, and take the item to the dry cleaner.
- Soak a sponge, and use it to blot the stain gently with a hint of detergent that is safe for fragile fabrics.
- Soak the silk item in warm water with a small amount of detergent that is safe for fragile fabrics. After 10 to 15 minutes, rinse it with cold water. After that, dry it with a towel. If stain still exists, move on to the next step.
- Mix 1/3 cup detergent made for fragile fabrics and 1 tsp. white vinegar and warm water. Then, blot the area on and around the stain with a damp instead of wet sponge. And, rinse the item in cold water and dry it with a clean towel. If this still won’t work, move on.
- Wet the silk item in warm water, and blot a small amount of glycerin into the stained area. After 30 minutes, rinse the silk item with cold water and dry it. At this time, if the stain still exists, it’s time to take the silk garment to the dry cleaner.
Tips
- If you have any doubts about the colorfastness of a silk item, you should use a home dry cleaning kit or take the item to the cleaners.
- Water cannot be too hot. Otherwise, it might damage the silk.
- Look for Stain Out kits to use on silk as an alternative method for cleaning.
- Never soak silk in any solution containing vinegar, or its color will fade.
- Never rub silk fabric with any vigor, for that can cause damaged silk.
