Re: Stain on silk

["Mary W. Ballard" <BallardM@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Joanna" You have reached a discussion group of textile conservators (restorers) for whom stains are usually antique and permanent. However, your problem may have historical roots in the fact that dyes and finishes for silk gowns (and scarves, etc) are not necessarily fast to water, ethanol, or surfactants, even today--and this is a common problem for earlier evening silks as well. The purpose of drycleaners is to make the garment wearable--to remove the stain or soiling as generally a stained garment is not useful to its owner. Whether your drycleaner tried too hard to please his client or whether the manufacturer did not try hard enough to create a garment stable to stain removal and cleaning can be determined by approaching one of the drycleaning associations that arbitrate such problems (and perhaps can minimize the damage). It is unclear from your description what the stain was, whether you tried to treat it before going to the cleaners, how long you waited to contact the!
 cleaner, and what exactly the drycleaner did to the stain--and the rest of the dress. You will want to list these out and discuss the matter with your cleaner. Best wishes, M. Ballard


>>> <joanna.faux@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 01/06/00 07:51PM >>>
I am not in any of your discussion groups, but I hope you can offer me some 
advice.
I have a pure silk dress, the top layer of which is made from silk georgette 
(or similar thin silk fabric). At a party I spilled some white wine on it (I 
think) or some other form or clear alcohol which caused a small stain a darker 
colour than the original pink fabric. This led me to believe the stain was a 
clear liquid. I took the dress to a commercial drycleaner who specialise in 
formal wear and silks. They could not get the stain out, but what is worse, 
their treatment has discoloured the stain into a light orange colour and caused 
fading around the spot. This is my favourite dress and am I am shattered. Is 
there anything I can do now to get the stain out or is it set forever??

Please help!!

cheers,

Joanna

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