Trying to lift stain from vintage silk scarf

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michaelman2

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Opened a box of some of my mom’s items and I came across a beautiful silk scarf she purchased in the 1970s
There are several stains on the border of the scarf, which I cannot for the life of me, lift. I have tried diluted vinegar, Fels Naptha, Woolite, Shout ( no oxy ) and it will not budge. I know it had been treated years ago with a fabric protection spray called Vectra. It does not appear to be mildew, however it is holding on like a stubborn mildew type of stain. I know the Vectra is actually still active because water beads up and rolls off the scarf. The dry cleaner called this an “age” stain. They elected not to take the scarf to try.

I have Googled, referenced several stain removal pamphlets regarding silk. Any suggestions? I’m open with fingers crossed.

michaelman2-2023041517495608419_1.jpg

michaelman2-2023041517495608419_2.jpg
 
How about a paste of baking soda and lemon juice?  I would apply it to the stains and let it sit without any rubbing because the baking soda could be slightly abrasive and you don’t want to fray the silk fibers.  Let it sit for maybe 10-15 mins.

 

The baking soda and lemon juice should foam up and work its way into the silk fabric.  Hopefully this will lift the stain out.  Rinse it well with lukewarm water.  If some of the stain remains, repeat the process.  If the stain remains unchanged then its clear that this didn’t work and you‘ll need to try something else.

 

Good luck, and I hope that this helps.

 

Eddie
 
I`d spot treat it with undiluted hydrogen peroxide the type you might find in your medicine cabinet.

I`d check on a small area for color fastness first, but considering what you tried so far you can be pretty sure it is color fast.

Anything that has a very high or very low pH like strong acids and bases should never be used on silk and wool.
A protein attacking enzyme as found in most heavy duty detergents or in stain removers like Shout is a big no no too. I`m surprised you didn`t end up with holes in the scarf.
Hydrogen peroxide is perfectly safe for silk and wool so is Woolite (but only the version marketed for wool) liquid dishwashing detergent like Dawn or any body wash, hand soap or shampoo.
 
Stefan,

My first thought was 3 vol hydrogen peroxide too, but I thought that the dye in the silk fabric may be lifted by even this milder volume peroxide.  Thats why I suggested the paste of lemon juice and baking soda because of the foaming action similar to peroxide that will work its way into the fabric to lift the stain, while at the same time the alkali properties of the baking soda will cancel out the  acid of the lemon juice thereby making the paste essentially a neutral PH.

 

In the end this stain may be impossible to remove entirely, but a neutral PH solution that has no bleaching action is probably the safest route to go in my judgement.

 

Eddie
 
Thanks guys

Eddie tried the baking soda and lemon juice with no luck. I hesitated using peroxide as the scarf is old and that pink border may lift with the stain. I have ordered a spot remover that claims to have no bleaching action and “ very safe for silk “ I feel if I cannot lift the stains it really is not a real keepsake. I had planned on having the piece framed as it truly is a beautiful piece. The colors are vibrant and the detail is exquisite. Thank you guys again for the wise suggestions!

Mike
 
Mike,

I’m sorry that the baking soda and lemon juice didn’t work.  I knew it was a long shot, but I also felt that it wouldn’t damage your Mom’s beautiful scarf either.

 

If the spot remover that you ordered doesn’t work either you may want to consider perhaps folding the pink border inwards and just framing the lovely white background floral section.  This way you could still display it as a keepsake, and no one would be the wiser that there was ever a pink border to begin with.

 

Eddie
 
I think Eddie has an excellent idea if you can't remove the stain!

Did you contact the manufacturer of Vectra to see what they might suggest? Perhaps the Vectra can be removed to facilitate cleaning, as it may be preventing the cleaning agents from reaching the stain. Their phone number is (800)241-4880 or (404)233-1452. E-mail is [email protected].
 
Mike,

If you were going to purchase this scarf with the intention of framing it and showing it off as a piece of art, the stain might be reason to rethink your plans.  However, if you are planning to frame the scarf and show it off as a fond possession of your mother and your fondness of her, don't let the stain cause you to abandon your plan.  If it reminds you of your mother, just consider the stain as adding character to the piece and enjoy having it on display.

 

Just my two cents' worth.

 

lawrence
 
Eddie, I think your idea is a possibility, and if all else fails I will take it to a pro and see what can be done

Circle: I had contemplated exactly what you suspected, I use Vectra on my ties and it truly is a great product, however I do believe the Vectra had impregnated the fibers and may be creating a barrier to the various processes. I think your idea about calling the company is wise. I seem to remember the company had a spot and stain remover within their line that may release the barrier and stain.

Lawrence: You are absolutely right! I may contemplate your suggestion. The stains are really an awful color and laughingly I can hear my mom yelling, “ don’t you dare show that scarf in that condition!” Lol. She was so
meticulous about her clothing and accessories. I have several more that are pristine, so all is not lost.

Thanks again guys for the kindness!
 
Well, plain carbonated water has been successfully used for a long time as a "first aid" remedy for all kinds of stains on textiles and sodium citrate is sometimes used as a chelating agent in detergents.

Didn`t have high expectations either, so I can see your objections, but I think it was worth a try.

Personally I`d unsew an inch of the seam to get some loose fibers then burn them to see if it smells like burnt hair or burnt plastic. Maybe it`s just something like rayon or acetate instead of real silk.
Next I would drop some peroxide on the now open pink part of the hem which would not be visible after stitching up again.
 
If you’re willing to throw in the towel then I would suggest trying the hydrogen peroxide. I’ve tried that on white wool with red wine stains and it completely removes it every time. I don’t even spot test wool anymore, I just wet the entire sweater in the bathtub and then dump as much peroxide to drench the item and will periodically rewet it with fresh peroxide. I’ll leave it over night and BAM ( as Emeril Lagasse used to say). But you have to be patient! And definitely test the silk in a small spot first and try and only wet the stained portion to be safe
 
Thanks for suggestions!

Boilwash: yes it’s confirmed silk

Delco and Askolover: I am really hesitant with peroxide or and bleaching agent on silk fibers

I received the spot/stain remover yesterday and followed the directions. It lessened the intensity of the stain maybe 10 percent after several applications.

I emailed Vectra ( the fabric protection spray manufacturer that produces the spray the scarf was treated with, years ago. )I am awaiting a reply from them. I’m now on a full blown mission to get this stain lifted. I used diluted vinegar after the spot remover which felt slippery and I wanted to make sure nothing very alkaline would damage the silk fibers. I will show photos soon! Thank you guys again for the suggestions.
 

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