How to Get Pit Stains Out of Silk

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Things You'll Need

  • White towel

  • Lint-free cloth

  • Clear, non-sudsy ammonia

  • Prewash stain treatment

Silk is a common fabric for expensive clothing and sheets.

Created from the fine threads weaved by silkworms, silk is an all-natural and delicate fabric commonly found in clothing. Over time, it is not uncommon for your silk shirts to develop pit stains. Caused by perspiration, deodorant or a combination of the two, pit stains will quickly turn your silk garment into an unsightly mess. Since silk is delicate, you can damage it with routine pit stain removal techniques. Fortunately, not all hope is lost and you can remove the stains from your silk using common household items.

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Step 1

Fill your clean sink basin with cool water. Submerge your silk garment in the water and gently agitate it with your hand. Leave the silk in the water for 30 minutes to soak.

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Step 2

Remove the plug from the sink and drain the water. Remove the excess water from the silk by gently squeezing the fabric -- do not twist.

Step 3

Lay a white towel out flat on a level surface. Place the silk on top of the white towel with the stain facing upward. Dip a lint-free cloth in clear, non-sudsy ammonia and blot the pit stains for several seconds.

Step 4

Rinse the ammonia off the silk with cool, running water. Gently rub a prewash stain treatment on the stain and launder the silk as you normally would.

Tip

Read and follow the cleaning instructions printed on the silk’s label.

Do not use bleach or vinegar on silk. They can cause discoloration and damage to the silk.

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