[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I have been asked to clean silk wall panels , has anyone any experience of these ?

Cheers

Doug

[Ken Wainwright]

No experience of silk wall panels Doug, but have done the usual dry cleaning of curtains and some upholstery and also wet cleaned upholstery.

The inspection will be crucial though. As you and I both know, but perhaps some less experienced may not be aware, silk is prone to not only sun fading, but also sun rot.  A rotted area may look intact, but the lightest of touches can break the fibres and ruin the fabric. This can happen generally or may be restricted to just one particular colour.

If the panels are cushioned behind, you'll need to know what the fillers are as these could bleed through.

I wouldn't advise using your truckmount wand though. not even with a glide fitted   If is passed all the thorough tests, I would be tempted to a Woolsafe dfc or microsplitter and towel, or perhaps in severe cases a CFR upholstery tool type of rinse with an 01 jet.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[expro]

Silk? I think the safest way is dry clean with a solvent.But! you do have limited results.

[Nigel_W]

Hi Doug,

I have quite alot of experience of cleaning silk fabric walling. I would need more info to be able to advise you sensibly. I am going to assume that the silk is stretched across battens and not glued to a paper backing (wallpaper style). Don't go near the silk wallpaper with anything other than a chemical sponge.

In general I usually prespray natural silk fabric walling with a mist of wool safe microspitter, agitate with a cotton towel and extract using a 5 inch cfr tool (01 jet). I usually use the Ninja (400 psi/low flow) rather than the TM. Fans to dry quickly and evenly as well. I strongly recommend that you test clean a corner (behind a curtain) and dry it off quick with a powerful hair drier. This hsould give you the confidence to continue (or not.)

However, as Ken has pointed out, there are many pitfalls and I would advise extreme caution. Check the fabric all over for weakening especially in areas where the sun catches and around light switches (sweaty hands). Make sure the fabric is well attached at the battens as it may come away as you are cleaning. Also look out for any place where holes may have been drilled through the walling as it is likely that you will draw brick dust through to the front of the fabric as you clean. This tends to happen where pictures have been hung after the installation of the fabric walling.

It is also worth pointing out that not all silk fabric behave the same way. Some have a very high gloss finish which is sensitive to water

If you want to contact me to talk in more detail send me a pm or email. If it is in Central London maybe I could look at it for you.

Nigel

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Thanks for some informative a answers.

I am going up to clean chairs there on Saturday and will try to take a couple of pics.

Nigel, it's in the City but I wouldn't want to bother you on a Saturaday,but may take you up on the email, once I've had a look.

Cheers

Doug

[will01]

Hi Doug:

I detest cleaning silk with a passion. I clean a massive solk rug for the local gentry once a year using dri pro from prochem.

tbh it dosent really make that much of a difference but the customer always seems happy with it.

[Mark Lane-Matthews]

Hi Doug
I would go along similar to Nigels route.Pre-vac,mist with woolsafe micro-splitter,but then just extract with a curtain tool.

                    Mark