Getting a stain out of silk
What changes on silk. Silk is a protein fibre, so the enzyme detergent that lifts a protein stain digests the garment along with it.
The method for silk
- 1Blot with a dry white cloth. Coloured cloth transfers dye into silk far more readily than into cotton.
- 2Work with cool water and a drop of pH-neutral detergent, never an enzyme or biological one.
- 3Treat the WHOLE panel rather than the spot. Silk shows a tide line where a treated area meets an untreated one, which is a second, larger problem than the stain.
- 4Roll in a towel to blot, then dry flat away from heat and sun.
- 5If it survives that, stop and take it to a cleaner. A second home attempt on silk usually costs more than the first one saved.
What ruins it
No enzyme detergent, no oxygen bleach, no hot water, no rubbing. Any of the four dulls the sheen permanently even if the stain goes.
The general case, and what it costs you
The general method, the detection notes and what this does to a garment's resale value are on the stains page.
Ready to Grade Smarter?
Join resellers who trust GradeThread to standardize condition grading, build buyer confidence, and sell faster.