How to Get Stains Out of a Silk Shirt (Complete Guide)

It is extremely important that you act quickly immediately after a stain has occurred on your silk shirt. The quicker you begin to treat the stain, the more likely it is that you will be able to remove it. Wet stains on silk are much easier to remove than dry stains, so act as quickly as possible!

To avoid accidentally removing the color from your shirt while attempting to clean the stain, you must first test the silk for colorfastness. Test for colorfastness by following the steps outlined below.

1. Dampen a white cloth or towel with water.
2. Blot/dab the cloth on an inconspicuous or hidden part of your silk shirt.
3. If you see color transferring from the shirt to the wet towel, then you should refrain from attempting to remove the stain from the fabric.
4. If your silk garment is in fact bleeding color then it would be best to take it to your local dry cleaner. If your garment does not bleed color, then continue with the at home stain removal methods. 

To begin the extraction, use a clean damp cloth to dab the stain.

Use an absorbent textile such as a paper towel or a cotton cloth to draw out and extract as much of the stain as possible. Dab or blot the cloth onto the stain, and be sure to avoid any rubbing motion.

Tip: Use cold water to dampen to cloth and dab the stain. Do not use hot water.

If you still cannot get the stain out, make a water based cleaning solution to strengthen your efforts. Follow these 4 simple steps to make a water based cleaning solution that is highly effective in getting stains out of silk shirts. 

1. Mix one part of lukewarm water (no hotter than 25°C/77°F) with one part lemon juice or white vinegar.
2. Dab the mixture on a soft white cloth and apply the solution to a small and inconspicuous spot on your shirt in order to make sure the solution doesn't have any negative effects.
3. Once you are sure the mixture is safe, continue to apply it to the cloth and begin to dab the stain you wish to remove.
4. Once you have thoroughly dabbed the stained area, proceed to hand wash the shirt to finish the job. 

If you happen to get an oil or grease stain on silk clothing you will likely need to apply an absorbent powder on top of it in order to remove it.

To remove oil and grease stains on silk you can apply talcum powder, baking soda, or cornstarch to the stained area and allow it to sit overnight. Talcum powder is the most effective, however all 3 options work well to remove oil and grease stains from silk shirts.

1. Apply the Talcum Powder directly to the stained area.
2. Completely cover the stain with Talcum Powder
3. Cover the stain and powder with a clean, dry cloth.
4. Place a heavy object, such as a book, on top of the cloth so that the Talcum Powder can absorb as much of the stain as possible.
5. Let the talcum powder sit on the stain overnight and brush the powder off of the stain the next morning.
6. If any oil remains you can try to repeat the process once more.
7. Once the stain has been removed proceed to wash or dry clean your shirt as directed by the care label.
8. If the stain remains, you may want to head over to your local dry cleaner to ask for assistance. 

1. Mix 1 part lukewarm water with 1 part white vinegar or 1 part lemon juice.
2. Fill a spray bottle with the cleaning solution from step 1.
3. Spray the cleaning solution on to the sweat stains.
4. Let the shirt sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Finish by hand washing or dry cleaning, as per the shirt's care label.