Oil Stain Removal From Silk Fabric On Dining Room Chairs

Silk fabric is delicate and needs to be cleaned carefully to prevent ruining the fabric. The material can tear easily, and harsh cleaning supplies may make stains worse. Since you cannot take silk upholstered furniture to the dry cleaners or place the dining room chairs into your washing machine, you will need to remove the stains by hand. Oil-based stains are especially difficult to remove and can become permanent if you do not remove them immediately.

Remove Excess Oil

When you notice an oil stain on the silk fabric, remove the excess oil promptly. Pick up food or debris from the chair with paper towels carefully so that you do not make the stain worse. Scrape off dried oil from the chair with a dull butter knife. Once you remove all objects from the surface, blot the stain with paper towels or an old washcloth to remove any remaining oil. When you blot the stain, do not rub or push down on the silk fabric.

Absorb Oil Stain

Absorbing the oil from the silk fabric will make the stain removal process easier. Cover the stain with dry cornstarch or baking soda and let it sit on the chair for 20 minutes. The dry powder absorbs the oil from the silk. The baking soda or cornstarch may form clumps as it absorbs the oil. After you absorb the oil, vacuum the powder off the dining room chair with a vacuum cleaner that has an upholstery attachment.

Oil Stain Treatment

A dry-cleaning solvent solution effectively removes the oil stain from the silk fabric. Apply a small amount of the the solvent to an old washcloth and blot it over the stain until the silk absorbs it. If the oil stain remains on the silk fabric, apply the dry-cleaning solvent again. You can purchase a dry-cleaning solvent in the laundry detergent aisle or from your local dry cleaner.

Tips and Warnings

Always test cleaning solutions on hidden areas first to ensure that the solution does not damage the silk. If you have difficulty removing the stain, repeat the entire process again in an attempt to remove any lingering oil. Never scrub silk fabric, because you can tear the delicate threads. Do not apply harsh cleaners such as bleach or ammonia to silk, because they will ruin the fabric.

Tags: silk fabric, chair with, dry-cleaning solvent, from silk, baking soda, blot stain