Satin Bed Sheets.

How to Remove Stains from Satin Bed Sheets Safely

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If you’re trying to remove stains from your satin bed sheets then you might be wondering how to do this safely without damaging the delicate material.

To remove stains from satin bed sheets safely, you should take them to the dry cleaner for specific advice and treatment; or you can use Woolite Extra Delicates Detergent for general stains, salt water for blood stains, enzyme detergent for protein and starch stains, and steam for water marks.

The rest of this article explains in detail how to remove different types of stains from satin bed sheets.

4 Ways to Remove Stains from Satin Sheets

The safest way to remove stains from your satin bed sheets or satin clothes is to take them to the dry cleaner for specific advice and treatment.

I strongly recommend doing this if you have silk bed sheets or silk satin sheets because they tend to be much more expensive than other types of bed sheets.

But if you’re determined to do this yourself then the first thing that you need to do is check the label.

Do NOT skip this step.

Because the label will tell you the rules for washing, drying, and ironing your sheets – as well as any specific things that you shouldn’t do like using bleach or fabric softeners.

With these limitations in mind, take a look at the 4 methods below for removing various kinds of stains from your satin bed sheets.

I’ve pooled several strategies from around the web into this one page so that you won’t have to waste time looking at several sites at once – although I’ve included linked references too if you’d like to continue your research.

1: Woolite Extra Delicates Detergent for General Stains

This technique will remove most stains from your satin bed sheets safely [1].

You will specifically need to buy the Woolite Extra Delicates Care Detergent either online or in your local store.

Or you can use another detergent but make sure that it’s been specially formulated to deal with delicate fabrics like satin, wool, silk, and any of the other types of fibers that your bed sheets contains (look at the label to find out what your sheets are made of).

You’ll want to avoid detergents that contain bleach, enzymes, and other harsh chemicals to prevent damaging, shrinking, pilling, or warping the sheet.

Try to tackle stains when they are fresh since they will be easier to remove – older stains that have set may require repetition of the stain removal process below.

  • Place your bed sheet on top of a white absorbent towel on a hard, flat surface.
  • Take a colourless cloth and dab away any excess around the stain.
  • Mix a small amount of the Woolite Extra Delicates Care Detergent with cold/cool water in a bowl or container to create your spot cleaning solution.
  • Take a different colourless cloth and dip it in the cleaning solution.
  • Gently dab at the stain with the cloth – do NOT rub the stain because this can damage the fibers and push the stain further in.
  • Keep dabbing at the stain until the colour of the stain has faded – use different areas of the colourless cloth and dip it into the cleaning solution to avoid re-transference of the stain.
  • Wash your sheets as normal by following the instructions on the care label.
  • Do NOT dry the sheets until the stain has gone because drying can cause the stain to set – instead repeat the above spot removal and washing sequence until the stain has gone.
  • Once you’re happy, dry your sheets by following the instructions on the care tag.
  • NEVER wring out your satin sheets because wet satin can tear easily – to remove excess moisture, place your sheets between two colourless towels on a flat surface and gently flat press them with your hands.

2: Salt Water for Blood Stains

Use this salt water technique to remove small blood stains from your satin bed sheets if the above technique hasn’t worked or you can’t get the Woolite detergent [2].

  • Check the label to ensure that your bed sheet is made out of washable materials and is not for dry clean only.
  • Use a colourless cloth to blot away any excess if the stain is still fresh.
  • Dissolve 4 tablespoons of salt into a gallon of cold water in a suitably sized container such as a bucket (ensure there are no bleach residues in the container that may damage your sheets).
  • Soak your sheets in the solution for up to an hour or more until you see the stain start to fade.
  • Either hand wash or machine wash your satin sheets by following the guidelines on the label (see my satin washing guide for more info too).
  • If the stain still remains after washing, soak the sheets in a mixture of cold water and a bleach-free detergent for 30-60 minutes – rinse in cold water once done.
  • Let the sheets air dry once the stain has gone – hang dry out of direct sunlight (do NOT wring out your satin sheets because this could cause damage – gently press them between two towels on a flat surface to remove excess moisture).

3: Enzyme Detergent for Protein and Starch Stains

If you’re trying to remove bodily fluids such as vomit, or starch-based food stains like pasta from your satin bed sheets and you’ve had no luck with the Woolite technique then you might be able to use this enzyme detergent technique [3].

But you need to be VERY careful.

Because you must NOT use this technique if your satin sheets contain wool, silk or any other protein-based fabric because the enzymes found in biological laundry detergents will permanently damage these kinds of fibers [4].

  • Mix half a teaspoon of the enzyme-containing biological laundry detergent with half a cup of tepid water (two parts cold water and one part boiling water).
  • Place the sheet on a flat surface on top of an absorbent white towel.
  • Dip a colourless cloth into the enzyme solution and use it to blot gently at the stain until the colour has lifted (do NOT rub at the stain because this could damage the fibers and push the stain in further) – rinse the cloth and repeat as required.
  • Run cool water over the stain to remove the cleaning solution and the stain colour.
  • Wash your bed sheet as normal by following the instructions on the label.
  • If the stain remains do NOT dry it yet because this can cause the stain to set – instead repeat the spot cleaning process above and then wash the sheet as normal again.
  • Once the stain has gone – hang dry the sheet out of direct sunlight or tumble dry following the instructions on the tag.

4: Steam and Spoon for Water Marks

Sometimes, if non-distilled water comes into prolonged contact with satin it can leave a water mark due to trace minerals being left behind.

Here’s how you can remove water marks from satin bed sheets using steam and a blunt object like a spoon [5].

  • Take a clean kettle and boil at least 1 cup of water in it.
  • Place a clean dishcloth over the spout to keep the water droplets inside the kettle.
  • Take the water marked portion of the satin sheet and hold it 3 inches from the spout until it becomes slightly moist – do not allow the satin to become too wet.
  • Place your satin sheet on a clean, hard surface and rub the water mark with a spoon – work from the outer edges inward.
  • Rubbing the satin in this way with a dull object will draw the watermark out of the satin.
  • Repeat until the water mark has gone.

What’s the Best and Safest Way to Get Stains Out of Satin?

The best and safest way to get stains out of your satin sheets or clothes is to take them to a dry cleaner because you’ll get specific advice for your situation.

But if you’d rather tackle the problem yourself then I’d say that the Woolite Extra Delicates Detergent strategy is the safest because the detergent has been specifically formulated for delicate materials.

The enzyme cleaner technique is probably the most risky because it’s harsher on the fibers and should NOT be used if your satin sheets contain silk, wool, or any other material made from a natural protein because biological detergents work by attacking proteins – which could lead to holes appearing in these kinds of natural fabrics.

Do You Need New Satin Sheets?

If your satin sheets are damaged beyond repair and you’d like a new set – check out my list of the best satin sheets to buy here.

But if you’re tired of dealing with delicate materials like silk and satin – click the button below.

And you can see my reviews for the best bed sheets to buy online – many of which are made from materials like cotton that are typically easier to clean and maintain without special care.

Click Here to See the Best Bed Sheets Now

Sources and References

[1] How to Clean Stuff – How to Remove Stains from Satin. Accessed 5/2/20.

[2] WikiHow – How to Remove Blood from Satin Sheets. Accessed 5/2/20.

[3] SF Gate – How to Remove Stains From Satin Sheets. Accessed 5/2/20.

[4] MYK Silk – An In-Depth Look at How to Care for Your Silk. Accessed 5/2/20.

[5] Hunker – How to Remove a Water Mark on Satin. Accessed 5/2/20.

Important Disclaimer

Always check the label and/or care instructions for the exact terms for washing and drying your bed sheets properly – the information in this post is general and may not be correct for your bed sheets. If in doubt, take your sheets to a dry cleaner for specific advice.

Image Licencing and Attribution

Main image: ‘Bed With Purple Satin Blanket’ by Pixelshot – used with permission under Canva’s One Design Use License Agreement.