Silk clothes are a great investment for your wardrobe. Silk is known for its smooth texture and luxurious look, but there are times when you want to get rid of oil stains on silk.
Silk is a very delicate fabric and when it comes in contact with oil, it can leave a permanent stain. This is why it is important that you know how to remove oil from silk clothes.
If you want to know how to remove oil from silk clothes, read on for some simple tips.
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Cold or warm water
- Dishwashing detergent
- Vinegar
- baby wipes
- Rubbing alcohol
- baby powder
- Dry-cleaning solvent
How to Remove Oil from Silk Clothes
If you find that your silk clothing has become stained with an oil-based stain, there are several things you can do to remove the stain and restore the garment to its original condition.
Use baby wipes
Baby wipes are great for removing makeup, but they can also be used on your silk clothes. Baby wipes are gentle and contain no harsh chemicals to damage your silk clothing.
Simply use a baby wipe to clean the spots on your silk garment and then wash as usual. The chemicals in baby wipes break down the oils so they won’t stain your clothes anymore.
Pro tip: The key is to get oil stains out of silk clothes is to act immediately and clean up the oil spills before they set in.
Warm water with dishwashing detergent
If you have accidentally spilled oil on your silk dress or blouse, run it under warm water with detergent added. This will help loosen the oil so that you can rinse it off easily.
Use your hands to rub the area where the stain is present so that it comes off easily. If there are any stubborn stains, use a sponge with soap to scrub them off gently until they no longer appear on your garment.
Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can also be used on silk as a cleaning agent, especially when you do not have access to water or laundry detergent. Rubbing alcohol will help dissolve any oily stain on your silk garments by breaking down its surface tension and allowing it to penetrate deeper into the fibers of the garment itself rather than just sitting on top of them like water would do otherwise.
Apply rubbing on the affected area with a sponge or cotton cloth.
Rub gently with an up-and-down motion until all traces of oil are removed from the surface of the fabric. Rinse well under running cold water then dry immediately with a clean towel.
Spray with cold soapy water
Spray water directly onto the stain using a spray bottle or mister. Make sure not to soak the fabric, just dampen it slightly so that the soapy water penetrates into the fabric fibers and loosens up any oils in the fabric weave.
The more soapy water used, the better off you will be when attempting removal later on because it will make it easier for detergents or other cleaning agents to penetrate into the fabric weave and break down any remaining oils or stains on top of your clothing piece.
Use baking soda
Baking soda is a natural alternative to commercial fabric cleaners, and it can be used to remove oil stains from silk. Baking soda is a mild alkaline that helps break down the oils in the fabric and lift them away from it. You can also use baking soda to Get Oil Smell Out of Clothes
If you have an oily stain on your silk clothing, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and rub it in with your fingers. Let the baking soda sit for about 10 minutes. Then brush off any remaining residue and launder as usual.
Using vinegar
White vinegar is known for its ability to remove stains from various fabrics and materials, including silk garments. It is effective at removing fresh oil stains or those that have been in place for some time.
You can use white vinegar straight out of the bottle, but it’s best to dilute it first. Use a ratio of one part vinegar to two parts water for light-colored silks, and one part vinegar to three parts water for dark-colored silks.
Wet the silk garment with warm water and then sponge the area with the diluted vinegar solution using a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse well with cool water and allow the garment to dry completely before wearing.
Using baby powder
Baby powder is a good solution for removing oil stains from silk clothes. The powder absorbs the oil and helps remove the stain. It also prevents the stain from spreading further.
Sprinkle baby powder onto your stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
Brush off the excess powder with your fingertips. Repeat until all of the oil has been removed. If there’s still some visible residue, try repeating this process one more time.
Use a little bit of water to clean up any remaining residue and blot away excess water with a paper towel.
Use dry-cleaning solvent
The dry-cleaning solvent may be used in removing an oil stain from silk clothing; however, this should only be done as a last resort because dry-cleaning solvents can damage silk fabric over time if they are used too often or improperly mixed with other liquids in your washing machine during laundering cycles.
If you choose to use dry-cleaning solvent on your garment, be sure that you carefully follow all instructions provided by your dry cleaner regarding proper mixing ratios and usage amounts before attempting any cleaning procedures yourself at home.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to remove the oil from the silk fabric. But you need to be very careful when washing silk clothes. Do not use hot water, use detergent or soap which is gentle on the clothes. You can easily get rid of this stain by following the tips given above. If you experience an oil smell on clothes, learn How to Get Oil Smell Out of Clothes (5 Easy Ways)
