Remove Blood Stains from Silk Fabric

There are ways to remove blood stains from silk fabric. Silk is a very delicate fabric and should be dealt with gently. So keep this in mind when attempting to remove its blood stain. The methods below can be used for washable silk items. For non-washable silk, it's best to leave the blood stain removal to the professionals.

Steps

Fresh Blood Stain: Cold Saltwater Method

  1. Lay the stained silk item on a flat surface.
  2. Blot the excess blood with a cloth or paper towel. Do not rub, just blot so as not to spread the blood stain. Repeat the blotting process until you cannot get anymore of the blood. Make sure to change the cloth when needed.
  3. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of cold water and put the solution in a spray bottle.
  4. Spray the salt solution on the blood stain. If you don't have a spray bottle, get a clean cloth, dip it into the salt solution and blot it on the stained area.
    • If you are working on a large stain, start on the edges and work your way towards the center; this is a strategy to contain the stain and to prevent it from spreading.
  5. Blot the area with a dry cloth, Repeat the spraying and blotting process until the blood stain is gone or the cloth is not absorbing anymore blood.
  6. Rinse the affected area with cold water.
  7. Launder the silk item as you normally would.
  8. Lay it flat on a dry towel and allow it to air dry. When the silk fabric is dry and the blood stain is still visible, do the removal method for tough blood stains.

Tough or Dried Blood Stain: Wet Spotter Method

  1. Lay the silk item on a flat surface.
  2. Mix 1 part glycerine, 1 part white dish-washing detergent (in powder form) and 8 parts water to make a wet spotter and store the solution in a plastic squeeze bottle. Shake the bottle well before every use.
  3. Moisten an absorbent pad with the wet spotter.
  4. Cover the blood stain with the absorbent pad. Keep it there until it is no longer picking up any more of the stain. Repeat this process until the stain is gone. Make sure to use a new absorbent pad every time.
  5. Flush the affected area with cold water.
  6. Launder the silk as you normally would.
  7. Lay it flat on a dry towel and allow it to air dry.

Tips

  • Pretest the solutions you are going to use on a small, inconspicuous spot of the silk item to ensure there is no discoloration or damage to the fabric fibers.

Warnings

  • Do not use anything hot on blood stains. The heat will cook the protein that is in the blood and this will cause the stain to set in.
  • Never use ammonia or cleaners with enzymes on silk. These products break down proteins and could damage the silk fabric which is made of proteins.
  • Avoid using hydrogen peroxide on silk. Its alkalinity can degrade the silk fabric.
  • When handling blood that is not yours, wear protective gloves to protect yourself from the risk of catching blood-borne diseases.

Things You'll Need

  • Pieces of cloth (Cold Saltwater Method)
  • Paper towels (Cold Saltwater Method)
  • Salt (Cold Saltwater Method)
  • Spray bottle (Cold Saltwater Method)
  • Cloth towel (all methods)
  • Glycerin (Wet Spotter Method)
  • White dish-washing detergent (Wet Spotter Method)
  • Absorbent pad (Wet Spotter Method)

Related Articles

  • Remove Blood from Embroidery Fabric

Sources and Citations

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