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From: MaryW
Date: 07-17-2006, 12:58 PM (1 of 11)
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Someone sent me this, please help if you can. Thanks I am trying to find a safe way to remove "spit up" stain from silk christening gown. It is on the silk lace collar and the silk fabric below the lace. Any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. The fifth baby in the family will be wearing the gown on August 13 so we need help as soon as possible. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-17-2006, 04:56 PM (2 of 11)
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Mary, do you know if it is washable silk? Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 07-17-2006, 05:36 PM (3 of 11)
No I don't. Sorry. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-17-2006, 06:09 PM (4 of 11)
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Golly thats a tough one without knowing. Maybe the person can tell you. there are methods for getting stains out of washable silk, but maybe it would be safer to take it to the dry cleaners. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: Sancin
Date: 07-17-2006, 07:00 PM (5 of 11)
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Hi Mary - I just happened to print out a stain removal guide last night but the instructions for spit wouldn't work as it suggests using bleach. Things to think about - silk is a natural thread and thus any cleaning agent that will work against natural fabric is a no no. I have a silk tshirt that I used oxyclean on, without reading the instructions and it slightly bleached out the colour where I had spot cleaned it. The threads where it is bleached seem to be thinner, but it may be my imagination. On the other hand if the dress is white, it may be a good product. Best to try with a small piece from a seam or the hem. Other thing to think about is that spit is a body fluid and like all body fluids will 'set' in hot water. I wonder how old the dress is and how old the spot is. Lying a garment in the sun is usually a good way to clean it, except wool. Is the stain spit or vomit? - vomit has acid in it and may change the silk fibre. If it is plain spit, why not try to gently wash it in a cold water by hand and a fine soap like zero or even baby shampoo. I wash almost everything including pleated skirts. It is the agitation and the chemical reactions that cause the most problems. If the dress is washed I would not wring it out, but roll it in a thick towel to get any moisture out. Another thing to think about it if there are any decorations that need to be handled with care. Most laces can be washed by hand in cold water and any acetate lining could be treated the same way. The one thing I do not wash is coats and suit jackets because of unknown fabric that may be 'hidden' some where in the garment. Before sending the dress to a dry cleaner I would phone them and ask about how they plan to clean it. I have seen terrible things done to silk at dry cleaners. I can't remember where I bookmarked it but there is a good and extensive site on the care of silk somewhere on the web. Try googling 'cleaning silk' or 'silk lace'. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-17-2006, 07:04 PM (6 of 11)
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Mary, That sounds like it could be an old stain.. If so, I think I would try soaking in cool water first.. Unless the silk is very heavy like dupioni or something heavier, I would think it is washable..Most all lightweight silk is washable, or so my Mom taught me.. It is the trims that usually need dry cleaning.. I always wash it when I bring it home, so I don't have a problem washing it later, after the garment is made.. I don't sew anything that has to be cleaned..( one wedding dress years ago was the exception)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 07-17-2006, 07:23 PM (7 of 11)
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Try some meat tenderizer made into a paste let it sit for awhile then rinse it out. Meat tenderizer is good for protein based stains like spit up and blood. If it is white try peroxide try it on an unseen area first though to see if it will bleach it out. good luck
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: Sancin
Date: 07-17-2006, 10:26 PM (8 of 11)
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Now that I am back from my excursion I did a search on cleaning silk and found out some interesting things - first -don't put in sun - I was incorrect - sorry. Other impt thing is that all silk is washable when done correctly and gently. The reason they say dry clean is because the dyes that are used are not stable. I found that interesting. I am going to include a list of sites that should help - the first one even talks about a christening gown! http://www.anjooriansilks.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4 - as you can see it is a forum and therefore you or your correspondant can actually ask questions. They recommend an enzyme cleaner, which I had thought about. As a nurse and as a mother of infants, I could not have existed without one of these products - the box I currently have is called Amaze, but also come under title of BioAd. The following sites had interesting info, not just on silk but on other fabrics as well http://www.srfabrics.com/silks/silkcare.htm http://www.heritagegown.com/silk.php http://www.puresilkclothing.com/silk_v3/fabric_care/r_care.html http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-clean-natural-fabrics.htm http://www.treenwaysilks.com/care_of_silk.html Good luck and let us know what works. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: Magot
Date: 07-18-2006, 02:25 AM (9 of 11)
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I wouldn't use meat tenderiser on silk as silk itself is a protein - it would just tenderise the silk wouldn't it? Same reason as to why you never use anything with enzymes in to clean silk - it eats it over time...got to remember that silk itself is an animal by product not a plant one.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-18-2006, 09:20 AM (10 of 11)
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Thanks for your help everyone. I forwarded her this page to read for the answers.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MariLynntex
Date: 07-20-2006, 07:13 PM (11 of 11)
| Silk should be soaked in cool or lukewarm water, room temp. Test like for a baby's bath water, drip some over your wrist. Rub a little mild soap into it, like ivory or Camay. Let sit for 20-30 minutes, then rub gently with your fingers and rinse well. Dry spread on a towel. Roll up the towel to get most of the water out; unroll and let dry. Press with a warm iron. I have done this with very old silk. The main thing with old silk is its tendency to shatter if it isn't soaked in lukewarm water before you do anything with it! MariLynntex |
User: MariLynntex
Member since: 01-05-2006 Total posts: 107 |
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