How to remove oil stains from silk clothes

 Silk is one of those magnificent fabrics, which bestow a luxurious and timeless quality to your appearance. Silk clothes happen to be immensely elegant and everlasting. Imagine wearing your favorite silk gown to a cocktail party and accidentally bumping into the waiter. Consequently the greasy pastries which he was carrying got spilled all over your silk dress. Oil stains are some of the worst stains to ruin your silk clothes, however if treated promptly, these stains can be easily removed. On the other hand, if left untreated for almost 24 hours, these oil stains not only become difficult but sometimes even impossible to remove. Following are some tips which will enable you to effectively get rid of these oil stains from silk clothes.

Method One (Using Liquid dish washing soap)

This method is pretty simple, yet effective to get rid of oil stains from your silk clothes. However, since the fabric you are dealing with is very delicate, so you have to keep your touch light and be very careful throughout the procedure.

Things that you will require:

·      Liquid dish wash soap

·      Dropper/clean sponge

·      Soft brush

·      Lukewarm water

·      Baby shampoo/ detergent for hand washables

·      Towel/padded hanger

Steps that you need to take:

1.   Primarily, you have to make a cleaning solution. This cleaning solution ought to be very gentle as the fabric which we are handling is very delicate. To make this solution, mix one part liquid dish soap with ten parts water.

2.   Before you start treating the stain, check the fabric for its color fastness. Apply some solution on the inner seam of the fabric and check whether it negatively affects the fabric or not.

3.    If it does not, then take some of the solution in an eye dropper or clean sponge. Apply it on the stain. Tap the solution gently on the stain with fingers or a clean soft brush.

4.   Let the solution sit in for some time.

5.   The soap should be agitated very lightly if needed, otherwise it should be avoided.

6.   Once the cleaning solution has set in the stain, launder the fabric.

7.   It is recommended that you wash it in lukewarm water, using baby shampoo or a detergent recommended for hand washables.

8.   If the stain has still not been cleaned, then repeat the above processes.

9.   If it has been successfully removed, then air dry it by spreading a towel underneath it and laying it flat on it, or by hanging it on a padded hanger.

Precaution:

            Do not make use of dish washing detergents for this method, as they are highly alkaline and may damage the silk.

Method two (Using Citrus Oil)

Citrus is a natural cleanser and a natural solvent which would not hurt silk fibers. Moreover it can effectively remove oil, grease and even wax stains from silk clothes. Therefore this method deploys citrus oil to get rid of oil stains.

Things that you will require:

·      Citrus Oil

·      Paper towels

·      Iron

Steps that you need to take:

1.    Apply some citrus oil on the stain. You could look for products such as CitraSolve.

2.    Allow it to sit in the stain for some time, approximately ten to fifteen minutes.

3.   Then, place some paper towels on the oil stain and run a slightly hot iron on it.

4.   Majority of the oil stain will be absorbed in the paper towels.

5.   Keep replacing the towels as required.

6.   Afterwards wash and dry the fabric as explained in the former method

 Tip:  

Always check for cleaning instructions on the garment’s tag. If the stain oil doesn’t get removed by any of these methods, take the help of some professional dry cleaner.