Cleaning upholstery depends on several factors. For some fabrics it will be really easy; but for tough-to-maintain fabrics like silk, it would require extra effort.
Why shouldn’t it? After all, the end results are what most people live for.
Silk is the finest, and shiniest fabric for upholstery, available in various forms and textures today, all thanks to technology. However, for each type, there is a different method of maintenance. You cannot practice the same cleaning ritual on all types of silk upholstery fabric.
It might sound like huge research to find out the right method; well, in reality, it is easier than you think.
The reason for this ease is the sound knowledge of silk fabric type for upholstery. We cannot stress enough the importance of reading a buying guide for silk upholstery fabric here, because it will benefit in the long run.
In case, you belong to the buyer’s category who would not pay heed to any feature of the silk fabric while buying, then keep reading. We already know that you are stuck with the silk fabric on your sofa, and without proper guidance, you might need to invest a huge sum to change the damaged or dirty silk fabric.
Get a Vacuum Cleaner to Clean Silk Upholstery
Thank God! Someone invented a vacuum cleaner. Otherwise, we all would have never got this fabulous chance to have silk on our sofas.
As we have said, there is a dire need to clean the silk sofa every other week, but here we do not mean to change or uncover the sofas. Instead, you can try using a vacuum cleaner.
It will simply take out all the dirt. Many silk fabric types are hypoallergenic, but at the same time, there is a huge chance that constant dirt-building can become a cause of danger.
So, it is essential for the regular cleaning of silk upholstery fabric to have a vacuum cleaner. You do not need a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner for that, a simple one would work fine.
Always do a Sample Test
If you are unsure about the nature of the silk fabric, then sample tests are recommended. All you need to do is rub any solution, cloth, or anything that you need to test against the silk fabric on a small part of the sofa.
The best area would be the back of the sofa. If you feel that your tried method is not working, then beware my friends.
Read the Manual before Cleaning
We have already told you to prefer brands over local purchasing. Even though they might cost you a bit more, there are still some added values.
The first one is the manual. You will get a complete manual on how to clean that fabric.
However, we believe there are many people who are unable to understand the code language on the tag. This can save your time and energy.
- If the tag has a W sign on it, it means that you can clean that fabric with water.
- If the tag has an X sign, then it indicates that you can only vacuum it.
- In case, there is an S sign, then it would mean that you need cleaning solutions or solvents.
Do not use Hair Dryer to Clean Silk Upholstery
If you have studied science, then understanding the nature of silk is pretty easy for you. This material is made up of protein, and heat can damage it.
Therefore, there is no point in using a hair dryer to clean the water stains.
The hair dryer will melt and damage the tiny links of protein molecules in the silk fabric. Eventually burning the fabric.
6 Steps to Clean the Water Stain from Silk Upholstery
The only issue that many people having silk covers would have is water stains. No fabric would retain a watermark but still does. The reason for it is the tightly woven fabric and proteins of silk. They give silk a soft touch, but whenever it gets wet, the water would get stuck inside the fabric.
Drying it or ironing it will not help. So here are a few methods that can be of great help while getting rid of the water stain from silk upholstery.
- The first way would be to take off the whole cover or sheet.
- Now take a tub with lukewarm water.
- Add a few drops of liquid detergent.
- Now soak the entire piece in it.
- This way the water stain will be dissolved.
- Now after 10 minutes take out the cloth and let the piece dry.
Another way would be using a silk cloth piece to wipe off the water stain.
You need to follow these alternative steps in order to clean silk upholstery:
- Damp a silk cloth.
- Rub it in a straight way on the affected area.
- The silk cloth will absorb the water, stuck in the fiber of the cover.
Then another way would be using vinegar with detergent. If you have tried the above method and failed. Then the last thing would be using a few drops of vinegar as solvent. It will help the water get out of the silk fiber and evaporate.
5 Steps on How to Remove Oil Stains from Silk
Have you ever seen the awful oil stain on silk?
It is the worst thing that can happen to any silk lover.
You don’t need to worry about it, as cleaning the silk stain is very easy. However, this method can only help when the silk stain is very tiny or small. For larger stains, you might need to use a lot of soda.
- Take baking soda.
- Apply it all over the stain.
- Now add a few drops of vinegar.
- Rub the area with another silk cloth.
- Now let it dry at room temperature.
5 Tips to Maintain the Silk Upholstery Fabric on your Sofa
Cleaning the silk fabric once in a blue moon will not be enough. You need to follow a few more tricks to keep it new forever.
- Don’t put it under direct sunlight.
- Clean it with a vacuum after every 10 days.
- Don’t clean the spills after ages.
- Do not overwet the silk fabric.
- Choose a dry cleaning method once a year.
Final words
Cleaning silk upholstery is one of the most ignored technical issues. You cannot clean it like cotton or linen. Every silk upholstery buyer must go through all these details to retain the natural luster and fabric quality forever. Otherwise, soon he might regret having silk fabric for upholstery.
