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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 3:42:27
Does anyone know how to clean a silk lampshade? I just looked at a few Internet sites on this topic. Several said it was OK to dunk the lampshade in a tub of warm, soapy water. Other sites advised against any treatment except the dry cleaners. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Posted by wildcard11 on January 22, 2006, at 12:25:05
In reply to Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them?, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 3:42:27
Posted by LegWarmers on January 22, 2006, at 14:46:28
In reply to Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them?, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 3:42:27
I don't know, but I would not dunk silk in water. Personally I'd go to the dry cleaners
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 18:37:00
In reply to I *think* Auntie Mel may know..she helped me (nm) » Sarah T., posted by wildcard11 on January 22, 2006, at 12:25:05
Thanks, wildcard. I hope Auntie Mel logs on and reads my note.
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 18:39:44
In reply to very carefully!, posted by LegWarmers on January 22, 2006, at 14:46:28
Hi LegWarmers,
That's what I thought. It seems as if water would ruin it, but "in the olden days," they wore silk and they didn't have dry cleaners. Or maybe they didn't wash their clothes back then!
Posted by crazy teresa on January 22, 2006, at 21:12:39
In reply to Re: very carefully! » LegWarmers, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 18:39:44
and sweep them off.
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2006, at 21:34:55
In reply to Put the soft hairy attatchment on your sweeper, posted by crazy teresa on January 22, 2006, at 21:12:39
I'd toss them out and buy new ones. It will probably cost a fortune to dry clean them. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by crazy teresa on January 22, 2006, at 21:36:52
In reply to Re: Put the soft hairy attatchment on your sweeper, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2006, at 21:34:55
Posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 23:18:18
In reply to Re: Put the soft hairy attatchment on your sweeper, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2006, at 21:34:55
Hi Phillipa,
Oh, yes, dry cleaning is so expensive. Every year, in the spring, when I get my coats and sweaters cleaned, I'm in shock when I see the cost. And I wonder if the clothes really get clean. Sometimes I think "dry cleaning" just bakes the dirt into the clothes, but then, I don't know anything about dry cleaning other than that the clothes smell toxic for weeks after I pick them up.
Posted by LegWarmers on January 22, 2006, at 23:50:58
In reply to Re: very carefully! » LegWarmers, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 18:39:44
> Hi LegWarmers,
>
> That's what I thought. It seems as if water would ruin it, but "in the olden days," they wore silk and they didn't have dry cleaners. Or maybe they didn't wash their clothes back then!
>
>Hi Sarah,
I think.....they didn't lol or they wore ruined silk :)
You got me wondering about silk so I asked around...apparently its ok to wash silk in lukewarm water with a very mild soap or vinegar. IMO Id prefer not to take the risk, let someone else take the responsibilty :) then you can blame them if it ruins it ;)
Posted by LegWarmers on January 22, 2006, at 23:52:01
In reply to Re: Put the soft hairy attatchment on your sweeper, posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2006, at 21:34:55
> I'd toss them out and buy new ones. It will probably cost a fortune to dry clean them. Fondly, Phillipa
sounds fun, but NO WAY??? really? Dry cleaning would cost more?
Posted by LegWarmers on January 23, 2006, at 0:07:58
In reply to Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them?, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 3:42:27
Silk is the mainstay for the more elegant shade styles today. It is dressy and, being translucent, gives off a soft light, and with the proper care can last many years. That care includes removing the clear cellophane from the shade immediately, lightly dusting it periodically and, for quality shades, every two or three years washing in a mild detergent. Woolite is good, according to Ledbetter, who gives an easy-to-follow directive for the task:
Fill the bathtub, swish the shade up and down two or three minutes or until clean , then drain the tub, rinse out well, fill the tub with clean water and swish the shade up and down as you did for washing. Drain the tub again, then refill for a final rinse. Hang the shade in the sun to dry.
Hot summer days are a great time to do this, he says. The heat will cause the silk that might be somewhat stretched to become taut on the frame. If a trim comes loose in the washing process, wait until thoroughly dry, then use Elmer's GlueB. to affix it. The glue will dry clear.
The shade should look as good as when new. Don't be fooled by the fact that a shade doesn't look dirty. Silk not washed has a tendency to dry-rot. Small holes in the shade mean the silk is disintegrating.
**Let me know how it goes, now that I know I will have to do this with mine eventually :)
Posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2006, at 1:17:52
In reply to Put the soft hairy attatchment on your sweeper, posted by crazy teresa on January 22, 2006, at 21:12:39
...that seeing that particular subject line next to your name...
Didn't surprise me.
But now. C'mon.
Give me a break! I wasn't born yesterday...you all *say* you're talking about "cleaning lampshades" (never heard THAT euphemism for IT before!!)....YUH. Suuuuure you are.
"put the soft, hairy attachment on your sweeper"
"...very gently..."
Oh, but wait, it's probably just me and my dirty mind, though, right?
and then, to drag poor, innocent Auntie Mel into your sordid, little {clears throat} err..."cleaning game" (wildcard, she helped you?!! ...eeeek!)
nasty as ya' wanna be, all of you!
:-)
;-)
:-0
Posted by wildcard11 on January 23, 2006, at 3:33:04
In reply to ya' know......ct, I really just have to say.... » crazy teresa, posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2006, at 1:17:52
Posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2006, at 16:09:19
In reply to rofl........ (nm) » 10derHeart, posted by wildcard11 on January 23, 2006, at 3:33:04
Posted by Sarah T. on January 24, 2006, at 0:36:01
In reply to How to clean silk lamp shades- on a summerday : ) » Sarah T., posted by LegWarmers on January 23, 2006, at 0:07:58
Hi LegWarmers,
Thanks so much for your help. I'm going to try this in a couple of days. I'm not going to wait until summer. Before it got so dirty, it was such a pretty lampshade that it's certainly worth a try. I'll let you know how it goes, but I won't be doing it for a few days.
Sarah
Posted by Sarah T. on January 24, 2006, at 1:14:38
In reply to ya' know......ct, I really just have to say.... » crazy teresa, posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2006, at 1:17:52
Well, at least she didn't say, "Put the soft hairy attachment IN your sweeper."
Posted by 10derHeart on January 24, 2006, at 21:43:18
In reply to Re: ya' know......ct, I really just have to say.... » 10derHeart, posted by Sarah T. on January 24, 2006, at 1:14:38
Posted by crazy teresa on January 25, 2006, at 11:29:04
In reply to true, true, coulda been worse ;-) (nm) » Sarah T., posted by 10derHeart on January 24, 2006, at 21:43:18
Guess we know now where the term desparate housewives REALLY came from...
Posted by AuntieMel on January 28, 2006, at 15:01:14
In reply to Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them?, posted by Sarah T. on January 22, 2006, at 3:42:27
I just got here.
How bad is it? Dusty? Spotted?
If it's dusty, I'd vacuum it, shake it, vacuum it again and/or use a swiffer.
If it's spotted (stained) I think I'd just try to spot treat it with some lighter fluid or something similar.
More details needed.
Posted by LegWarmers on January 30, 2006, at 8:46:38
In reply to Re: Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them? » Sarah T., posted by AuntieMel on January 28, 2006, at 15:01:14
> I just got here.
>
> How bad is it? Dusty? Spotted?
>
> If it's dusty, I'd vacuum it, shake it, vacuum it again and/or use a swiffer.
>
> If it's spotted (stained) I think I'd just try to spot treat it with some lighter fluid or something similar.
>
> More details needed.
Should you ever put a silk lampshade in water? And when and how often? lighter fluid gets out stains?
Posted by AuntieMel on January 30, 2006, at 13:47:33
In reply to Re: Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them? » AuntieMel, posted by LegWarmers on January 30, 2006, at 8:46:38
I personally wouldn't put any silk in water unless I knew it was washable.
Last year I redid an old silk tapestry and it had been glued (on the edges only, thankfully) to a backer board. The *only* way to get it unglued without tearing the silk (it was one my Great Grandfather brought back from the far east years ago and very delicate) was to get it damp and peel carefully. The water spotting was horrid and I spent weeks with barely damp things blending it all together so it didn't show.
Posted by LegWarmers on February 1, 2006, at 0:52:11
In reply to Re: Silk lampshades -- how do you clean them? » LegWarmers, posted by AuntieMel on January 30, 2006, at 13:47:33
> I personally wouldn't put any silk in water unless I knew it was washable.
>
> Last year I redid an old silk tapestry and it had been glued (on the edges only, thankfully) to a backer board. The *only* way to get it unglued without tearing the silk (it was one my Great Grandfather brought back from the far east years ago and very delicate) was to get it damp and peel carefully. The water spotting was horrid and I spent weeks with barely damp things blending it all together so it didn't show.
oh that sucks! Well thanks for the info. Apparently, you can't put wool in the dryer ; ) who knew? lol I accidently, ok it wasnt really an accident I wanted it dry faster and forgot about it, but i put a wool sweater in the dryer and now, it looks like it was meant for a 2 year old!
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