How To Remove Oil Stains From Silk

satin

You love your silk. It’s so soft and velvety, but you notice an oil stain on it.

A heart-sinking moment that has you contemplating what to do. Fortunately, there are several ways you can remove the stain and have your silk look incredible again.

Read on to find out how to take oil stains out of your silk. 

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Some advice when dealing with stained silk 

Like any stain, time is the key difference between a stain that is easy to tackle and one that requires a bit more work. Deal with the stain as soon as it occurs.

That makes it simpler to remove. Because silk is delicate, you want to treat it with care.

Don’t rub at the stain as you can damage the fabric. Also, you may cause the stain to spread. 

Gently pat the stain with a towel or cloth until the excess moisture has been absorbed. Then you can proceed to remove the stain using one of the methods below.

6 techniques for removing oil stains from silk

Before you try any of the methods suggested it’s recommended that you do a color-fast test on the silk item first. 

The easiest way to check if the color is going to run or not is to blot a discreet portion of the silk with a damp white cloth. If you see a blotch of color on your cloth, then your item isn’t colorfast.

The best option, in this case, is to take your silk article to a dry cleaner. For those items that hold their color, try one of the following methods for removing oil stains.

1. Give your silk a dose of baby powder 

Baby powder can do more than just keep your baby’s behind dry. The absorbent nature of the powder can take care of oil spills, too. 

That makes it a good option for removing that oil-induced stain on your silk. 

  1. Sprinkle a good amount of baby powder over the stain. 
  2. Wait for around 30 minutes. 
  3. Brush off the powder and check if the stain has gone. 

You can repeat this process one more time if the stain is still there.

[amazon box=”B0009STDJW” template=”vertical”]

2. Use cornstarch to remove the oil stain from silk 

Just like baby powder, cornstarch is super absorbent. So grab some from your kitchen and let’s take care of that oil stain that has marred your precious silk.

  1. Lay your item out on a flat surface. 
  2. Cover the stain with a good amount of cornstarch.
  3. Leave everything for 12 to 48 hours to allow the cornstarch to absorb the oil.
  4. Wipe away the powder.

If there is still a trace of stain on the silk, go through this method once more.

[amazon box=”B074H67H5C” template=”vertical”]

3. Apply some dish soap to the stain

One of the powers of dish soap is the ability to remove oil from your kitchenware. Why not take advantage of that for your stained silk?

  1. Gently dab some dish soap into the stain. Give it a minute or two to break down the stain’s oily bonds. 
  2. Take some distilled water and wash out the soap.
  3. Launder the silk as normal (this is an optional step).
  4. Let the item air dry.

Some people recommend swapping out the water and soap with lemon juice or vinegar. The reasoning behind this is that the amount of blotting required to remove the lather created by soap can harm the silk.

If you want to give lemon juice or vinegar a try the recommended formula is one part juice/vinegar to one part warm water. 

[amazon box=”B07HKR2QP9,B07WJGM19N,B07N741PC4″ grid=”3″]

4. Try a commercial silk stain remover

There are commercially available stain removers for silk. 

One such option is The Laundress Stain Solution. It comes in a 16oz bottle that allows for 200 cleans, works on a variety of fabrics and is eco-friendly.

You can also try the cleaning tissues from Shout Wipe & Go.

Alternatively, the cleaning tissues from Silk and Clean are designed specifically for luxury fabrics such as silk. Think of the tissues as a portable dry cleaner in your pocket or bag. 

A thing to be wary about with off-the-shelf stain removers is that many claim to be suitable for all fabrics. However, when you read the fine print, most of the time they aren’t good for silk.  So be careful!

[amazon box=”B000OR2034,B01IAISBJA” grid=”2″]

5. Hand wash the silk

This is as close as you are going to get in regards to dry cleaning your silk at home. It simply requires some cold water and a tub or basin to wash your silk in.

  1. Pretreat the stain with a silk stain remover (such as those listed in the previous method).
  2. Fill your basin with the appropriate level of water. Add in a couple of capfuls of gentle laundry soap. Mix the soap and water.  Place your stained silk into the tub.
  3. Softly churn the silk in the soap to evenly distribute the detergent throughout your item. 
  4. Let the silk soak in the tub for half an hour.
  5. Wash out the soap from the silk. 
  6. Remove excess water from the silk by softly pressing the fabric in your hands. Don’t wring out the silk as you will damage it. 
  7. Hang up the item to dry.
[amazon box=”B08P3FW3N8″ template=”vertical”]

6. Go to a dry cleaners

If none of the above methods succeed in removing the oil stain, it’s time to seek professional help. Take your soiled silk to a dry cleaner.

If your silk is labeled as “Dry Clean Only” then pay heed to these words. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

When you go to the dry cleaners, be as specific as possible about the stain. Let them know where the stain is and what caused it.

Conclusion

Silk is loved and adored by many people thanks to its soft, glossy feel. Yet, an oil stain on the fabric can cause you to be anguished. 

Removing the stain can be done by yourself. We have given you several methods you can try.

If you aren’t confident about treating the oil mark yourself, then take your silk to a dry cleaner. They have the expertise to take care of the issue for you.

No matter which way you go, DIY or dry cleaners, the result is your silk looks clean and fresh once more.

+ posts

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Picture of Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb

Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.

Follow Us

Resent Posts

Latest News

Scroll to Top