Cleaning advice on 1910s silk dress with net lace and velvet

[DaisyandStella]

Hi!
I have a 1910s printed silk dress that has some water stains.
The dress also has embroidered net lace and velvet attached.
I'm itching to soak the silk but am hesitant of ruining the dress.
I'd love to hear if anyone has experience with this type of cleaning and if I should leave as-is or try to tackle her myself.

Thanks much!
Brooke

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Is it actually silk, it almost looks like a sateen cotton in the photos. I would be afraid to try if it is silk, let's see what others have to say.

 

[DaisyandStella]

Is it actually silk, it almost looks like a sateen cotton in the photos. I would be afraid to try if it is silk, let's see what others have to say.

I'm pretty sure it's silk, I haven't tested it, but hadn't even considered it to be otherwise. I'm wondering if I removed the net lace and velvet if I could gently soak to lift the water stains. I don't have a lot of experience cleaning silk so I'm unsure if water stains are more set-in and hard to get out?

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

Personally, I would never clean or launder antique silk. My experience has been with the silk shattering or shrinking. Or fading.
Where the previous water had been, I have also had holes appear.

Our museum expert may have an additional idea.

 

[wyogems]

I heard you put honey in the wash to strengthen the silk. I have done this a few times when the silk is wet it will tear easily you just have to be very gentle.

I have had pieces of antique silk where it was clean it or don't list it. So I cleaned them.

Foxing or oxidized stains are hard to budge. With cotton you can use carbona coffee, tea, wine and juice treatment where I wet the area with a brush or cotton pad then sprinkle on the treatment let it sit and brush it off. It will lift some of the rust type stains you see on Edwardian cottons.

 

[Lady Scarletts]

I work at a prominent Museum part time and there advice to us is Never wash antique silk.

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

I sure wouldn't wash antique silk!

 

[DaisyandStella]

Thanks everyone for your input - I definitely appreciate it! The consensus seems to be to not wash it - which I'm leaning towards. It still presents beautifully and unless you look closely isn't very noticeable.

 

[Jonathan]

Yup - no wash... it won't end well...