Silk is a very lustrous and delicate fabric so it can easily be damaged by harsh cleaning detergents. In order to clean food stains from your silk clothes it is recommended to either use specified products so that your clothes are not damaged during the cleaning process. Most of the food stains can easily be washed from silk clothes but the trouble is dealing with stubborn stains caused by wine, oil and sauce and tea and coffee. Below are some ways you can try to get rid of these stubborn stains:
Removing Wine Stains from Silk
In order to remove a wine stain from silk you can make a cleaning solution by mixing equal amounts of cold water with hydrogen peroxide. Soak the silk in this solution for a few hours, preferably overnight. Wash it thoroughly with cold water once removed. If you still do not get rid of the stain, soak it in a freshly made solution of hydrogen peroxide and cold water. You may have to clean it this way several times to get rid of stain entirely.
You can also mix dishwashing liquid and lukewarm water to make a solution. Then soak your stained silk in it for a few minutes and rinse it with cold water. If the stain is still there you can use mixture of dishwashing and rubbing alcohol and apply it on the stain. Wash it with cold water and the stain would be removed.
Sauce and oil stains
Sauce and oil stains tend to become more stubborn with time so it is suggested to treat them as soon as you can. If you have a sauce stain on your silk shirt, remove the excess sauce and clean the stain with the help of a damp cloth.
For an oil stain on silk, first sprinkle cornstarch on the affected area and gently pat it down. Leave it for a few hours or overnight so that it thoroughly absorbs the oil from silk fabric. Brush off the excess cornstarch with the help of a bristled brush and wash your dress with cold water. Use a mild cleaning detergent to wash your silk clothes.
Tea and coffee stains
Cleaning tea and coffee stains is not an easy task especially if it is on silk. Make a mixture of equal amount of white vinegar with cold water. Then take a white cloth and dip it in the solution. Use this damp cloth to clean the stain. Ensure that the stain does not become too saturated or it may spread. In order to entirely remove the stain continue with blotting and re-wetting until it disappears.
If it is an extraordinarily stubborn stain, sprinkle corn starch on the stain and leave it for few hours. Then wash it with cold water. Even then if it does not come off entirely, get it steam cleaned from a professional cleaner. It is suggested to let your silk clothes air dry rather than ironing. Ironing the stains can make them more stubborn.