Cleaning Silk Window Treatments

Silk can add a touch of luxury to your decor. Shimmery and diaphanous, it is a wonderful choice of fabric for window treatments. However, when it gets dirty, it can leave you wondering how to clean it without causing damage. Dry-cleaning would be the recommended solution, but that can be expensive. To clean your silk window treatments at home, use the method below. Read on for a spot-cleaning method if you only wish to clean a small area of silk.

1. Fill your clean bathtub with enough cool water to cover your window treatments. Add Woolite or other mild detergent to the water.
2. Immerse the silk in the water and gently wash it. Add more soap to stains if needed.
3. Drain the soapy water and rinse curtains under cold running water.
4. Fill tub with more water and add just a splash of white vinegar, which will keep the silk from yellowing. Let the curtains soak for just a minute, then rinse them again in cold water. Never let silk soak for a long time.
5. Put the wet curtains on aborbent towels or cloth and roll them up loosely. Do not wring or twist the wet curtains to remove the water; this will damage the fabric. Try to avoid even crumpling it.
6. After most of the water has been absorbed by the towels, drape the curtains outdoors over a clothesline. Do not expose them to the sun, as this will cause the color to fade. Either place them in a shady area or put them outside late in the day.
7. Bring the curtains back inside before they're completely dry. Iron them on a very low setting with the back of the curtains facing up. If you are ironing dry silk, do not use the steam setting on the iron. Instead, dampen the fabric slightly with a piece of cloth and then iron it.

If only a small area needs to be cleaned and you don't want to undergo the above process, you can try spot-cleaning. Always test any substance you put on your silk on an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't cause damage. Try lemon juice, white vinegar, or rubbing alcohol to remove the stain.