The key is to be gentle, because rubbing can harm the silk fibres. When you discover a stain, try and treat it as soon as possible before it dries and settles. This increases your chances of success. First lay the silk item flat on top of a clean towel. The towel can absorb any water or detergent and ensures the silk doesn’t slip away. This is especially helpful with silk eye masks. Make a solution Then, spot treat the stain with a 50/50 mixture of water and silk detergent. You only need a few drops of detergent. If you don’t have a silk or delicate detergent at hand, a mild baby shampoo can work. Don’t use any store-bought stain remover liquids, as these are too harsh for silk. Spot Clean Dip a cotton bud into your solution of water and silk detergent, and gently dab it onto the stain. Don’t go too hard or over-rub the spot, as this can damage your silk. Then turn your silk over and repeat this process on the backside of your silk. The stain is now treated, and your scarf should now be ready for hand washing.