Use Gentle Care for This Delicate Item

Use Gentle Care for This Delicate Item

Silk, wool and cashmere are protein fibers, and that is why they need a different approach than cotton. The OxiClean instruction sheet says not to use it on wool or silk, and Cornell Cooperative Extension says never to use chlorine bleach on wool, silk or spandex. Heat, aggressive rubbing and harsh products can also damage delicate fibers, so check the care tag before trying anything. The guiding rule is blot, never rub; Shaw Floors warns that rubbing can leave a fuzzy area on carpet, and the same logic applies to soft fibers. Lift as much of the stain as you can with a clean, dry white cloth pressed onto the spot.

If the tag allows a light home treatment, mix 1/4 teaspoon of mild soap in 1 cup of cool water, the same dilute solution carpet makers use for spot cleaning, using a clear dish soap or a detergent made for delicates. Dab the solution on with a white cloth, blot with a fresh cloth, then dab with plain cool water to remove the soap, and press the item flat between towels to dry. Test a hidden seam first and work in small steps. Avoid heat, and do not use oxygen bleach or chlorine bleach.

For silk, dry-clean-only pieces, formalwear and anything valuable, the best step is often no step. Bring the item to a professional cleaner as soon as you can, and tell them what caused the stain and what you have already tried, because that shapes their treatment. Do not scrub, and do not put the item in a dryer, since a stain that has not been treated will set with heat. A blotted, cool-water start is usually the most you should do at home.

Skip strong products altogether on delicates. Never combine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or any other cleaner, since the fumes can be dangerous, and rinse away one product before you try another. If a cleaning product was mixed by accident, or someone breathes fumes or swallows some, move to fresh air, open windows and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (America's Poison Centers, US). Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain or collapse.

Source: OxiClean product instruction sheet (as hosted on Home Depot's product page); Cornell Cooperative Extension, Removing Stains at Home; Carpet and Rug Institute, Simple Stain Removal Tips and Tricks; Shaw Floors, Carpet Care and Maintenance; Missouri Poison Center, Some Things Just Don't Mix. Note: follow the item's care tag, which always wins.

General household-cleaning guidance, not medical or professional advice. The label on your product always wins; never mix cleaning products. For a poisoning emergency call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 if someone has trouble breathing.

How Gentle care for delicates compares

* Illustrative starting amounts and notes, rounded -- use the calculators below for your exact numbers, and always check your product label.