Removing stains from silk sarees? Here’s the only guide you need

Handloom silk sarees, whether they’re Kanchipuram bridal sarees or treasured heirlooms passed from mother to daughter, are worn with pride and handled with care. So how do prevent stains from dulling their colour and beauty? Here’s what 101 years of manufacturing handloom silk sarees has taught us.

 In a time of overconsumption and fast fashion, handloom silk sarees are an anomaly. They’re timeless rather than trendy, and meant to be handed down to the next generation. Yet, given that silk is organic and more sensitive to damage, certain precautions go a long way. Let’s start with the basics. 

1. Act fast: Stains set quickly and darken with time. Rather than waiting to dry clean your handloom silk saree, we suggest spot cleaning first to remove as much of the stain as possible.

2. Start small: Test the stain removal technique on the inner corner of the saree first, to ensure that it doesn’t leach away the colours or make the fabric more delicate.

3. Use lukewarm water: Silk is a protein-based fibre. Hot water weakens the fibres and drains out the colours, thereby affecting the longevity of the silk saree.

4. Be gentle: Scrubbing the fabric vigorously not only spreads the stain, it also damages the silk fibres and makes them more prone to breakage. Dab the stained area with a wet tissue instead. 

5. Wash on the reverse side: This helps push the stain out rather than let it settle deeper into the fabric. This is especially true for embroidered silk sarees and designer silk sarees with intricate zari.

6. Avoid harsh chemicals: While strong detergents can remove stains, they also interact with the dyes of the silk saree and zari. This causes fading of the fibres and dulls the sheen of the zari in the long term.

7. Air dry in the shade: Avoid exposing your handwoven silk sarees to direct sunlight, since this can reduce the richness of the colours. This is especially true for naturally-dyed handloom silk sarees. 

Whether it’s coffee or tea, here’s how to keep silk sarees stain-free 

 Spilt filter coffee or dropped nail polish on your Kanchipuram silk saree? All stains aren’t created equal, so here’s a look at how to tackle specific blotches and blemishes. 

1. TEA & COFFEE STAINS
   Firstly, don’t scrub the area; instead, dab it with a tissue to ensure the stain doesn’t spread. The tannins in tea and coffee are acidic, which means they can be made water soluble with citric acid.

-        Next, mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with 2 teaspoons of mild liquid detergent in water.

-        For stubborn or older stains, try white vinegar. Mix one teaspoon of vinegar with a cup of water.

-        Dab gently using a soft cloth or sponge.

-        Rinse with cold water and air dry in the shade. 

2. LIPSTICK SMUDGES

The wax and pigments in lipsticks make the colour difficult to remove from silk sarees. Designer sarees with zari can prove trickier. So first, carefully scrape off the excess lipstick from the surface of the silk saree.

-        Apply talcum powder to absorb oils.

-        Gently brush the powder off after 15-20 minutes.

-        Alternatively, you could also dab the lipstick stain with an oil-free makeup remover.

-        Let the solution sit on the fabric for five minutes.

-        The makeup remover can then be rinsed off with mild water. 

3. FOOD STAINS
   Curries containing turmeric leave behind persistent yellow spots on silk, because turmeric is a fast-acting natural dye. But that doesn’t mean those splatters of sambar on your Kanchipuram silk saree are impossible to remove. In fact, all you need are talcum powder and vinegar.

-        First, blot the stain immediately with a tissue.

-        Sprinkle talcum powder or baking soda to absorb the pigment.

-        Brush the powder off after it has absorbed the colour.

-        Alternatively, you can dab with a mild detergent or a teaspoon of white vinegar dissolved in a cup of water.

-        For white or pastel silk sarees, lemon juice mixed with water works well.

4. BLOOD STAINS
   Pricked yourself with a safety pin while draping your saree? It’s quite common, especially with wedding sarees or embroidered sarees in which the silk is thicker. Unfortunately, the stains can stand out against light-coloured silk sarees. To remove the stains, use water that’s lukewarm or cold. Hot water sets the stain.

-        Rinse immediately with cold water.

-        Dab with a salt solution or mild vinegar mix.

-        For stubborn stains, a drop of diluted hydrogen peroxide may help, but only on white or pastel silk sarees. 

5. NAIL POLISH SMEARS
   Your first instinct might be to scrape the nail polish off your silk saree, but this will only make it spread. If the nail polish is still wet, do this instead:
   - Dab the spot with a little vinegar or acetone.
   - Let it sit for a few minutes.

- Wash the colour away using a mild detergent.
- Gently blot with a dry cloth.

6. OIL AND GREASE PATCHES

These stains are particularly tricky, since they seep into the silk threads and spread. Don’t rinse or scrub the silk saree, since this will only worsen the stain.
- Instead, sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch on the stain.

- Let it absorb the oil for 20-30 minutes.

- Brush the powder off and clean the area with a mild detergent.

- For grease, apply rubbing alcohol on cotton and dab the affected area. Rinse with water.

Of course, caring for handloom silk sarees goes beyond tending to stains, and you can read our full guide on washing and storing them here. Handloom Kanchipuram silk sarees have been known to last half a century, sometimes longer. With a little extra care and a few common ingredients that are close at hand, you’ll be able to wear your handloom silk saree for decades to come.