My favorite boutique has an eye-catching display in the front window. The mannequins are dressed in spring-themed silk ensembles. I love the way the colorful silk blouses look paired with the neutral colored skirts and slacks, but I haven’t worn silk since giving birth and wonder if it’s worth investing in given that my six-year-old is the spill queen around here.
My mother thinks I am being ridiculous given how easy it is to rid stains from silk. She even gave me a list of all the commercial stain removers that are readily available online and in stores. Still, I am a bit intimidated by the fancy fabric. And who can blame me? Silk doesn’t come cheap. What’s more, because of its delicate nature, you can’t just throw silk into the washing machine the same way you would a cotton sweatshirt. In fact, there are a slew of cleaning rules that need to be followed by silk wearers, such as:
*Hand wash silk or take it to a professional dry cleaner
*Never use chlorine bleach on silk
*Don’t expose silk to direct sunlight for long periods of time
*Apply alcohol-based hairsprays and perfumes to your body prior to slipping on a silk blouse
*Don’t wring or twist silk items
Fortunately, if the unthinkable happens, and you stain your silk garment, there are ways to salvage the expensive fabric. For starters, you must act quickly. Take a clean cloth, blotting paper or paper towels and gently blot the stain to stop it from spreading. Next, soak the silk in cold water before removing it and placing it on a layer of paper towels or a towel. Add more paper towels directly on the stained area and cover with a heavy object. Allow the paper towels to absorb the stain for a few minutes. If the stain is still there after five minutes, mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water and apply it to the affected area. Then, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to scrub the stain. If the stain remains, add a bit more of the mixture and gently brush it until it disappears. When you’re done, hand wash the garment in cold water using a mild soap, such as Woolite.