The problem with silk, especially old silk, is that it is too delicate to withstand machine washing or harsh chemical treatments. You're afraid that bleach will be too harsh, and your fears are probably correct. So what do you do instead?
One option that departs from the norm is to soak the silk article overnight with denture tablets. Just fill a sink, bathtub, or bowl with warm water, plop in two denture tablets, allow them to dissolve, and then add the silk. If you are planning to use this on an especially important or sentimental piece of silk, you will probably want to test the method on a less loved silk article, just to be sure that the tablets you chose and the water type that you have in your area will not create problems for the silk.
Another method for whitening yellowed silk is to mix together the following ingredients:
Wet your silk article and then dip it into the solution or gently sponge the mixture onto the silk. Gently work the solution into the fabric, repeatedly dipping or sponging on the solution as needed. Rinse the silk with warm water and then allow the article to air dry.
If you are working with a large piece (an entire wedding dress, for example) you may wish to get it professionally cleaned, otherwise you will have to multiply the amount of denture tables or vinegar, water softener, salt, and water that you use. Consider allowing larger pieces to soak in the solution for a longer period of time depending on the severity of the yellowing.
Happy silk whitening!
Keep Your Hardwood Floors Like New Bona's hardwood floor cleaner is the #1 choice of professionals. The no-residue formula is specially designed to be safe for floors, families, and the environment. Check out Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill today!
Socks just mysteriously get lost sometimes. Even though socks get lost, you can take preventative measures and make sure ...
Discover MoreSometimes your permanent press items lose their shape and start looking kind of limp. Here are a few ways to give those ...
Discover MoreOf all the stains that afflict laundry, perhaps one of the most common is ring around the collar. Often it seems like no ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2018-07-01 12:51:27
Anna
What is rhe water softener, product, we would add to the whitening yellowed silk recipe. What is the name of the product. My water has already been softened by a water softener!
amkollmann94@gmail.com
Thank you
Anna
2017-08-27 10:06:27
Arevir_M
I was under the impression that air drying white silk also makes it yellow and that the piece should be rung dry w a towel, then dried w a clean iron. Is this not the case?
2017-03-07 13:32:49
Lois M Winstead
I have 3 minute polident. Is that OK to use for whitening a silk blouse?
2016-08-13 13:51:16
Jan
What is water softener?
2015-07-20 12:43:14
Shirley
I hear that someone tried the Vinegar treatment only to have turned a white silk shirt only more yellow. Wonder if this person tried the dental tabs. I'm going to try the tabs see if it helps. I love white silk will to try whatever to get them white again.
2015-04-07 10:07:25
Kathleen Pearson
I did my white silk shirt aged and yellow in places in [1 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp of water softener,3 tbsp salt and pint of warm water]times 3 to have the amount to cover. The shirt came out totally all yellowed?????
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments