First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot up wet drool with an absorbent cloth.
- Sponge the spot with cool or lukewarm water.
- Treat it before it dries if you can.
- Test a hidden spot before treating the stain.
Saliva and drool on silk are a body fluid stain, and they lift far more readily while still wet than after they dry. Old marks resist lifting more than new ones, and a few won't respond to home treatment. If the label says dry clean only, a professional is the safer route, and so is any spot that shows color transfer in a test.
Dab, never rub, so the drool doesn't spread across the silk. For drool stains on a silk pillowcase, use a delicate laundry detergent in cool water and skip hot water. Rinse the spot from the back with cool water, then let the pillowcase air dry away from direct heat.
Before you start
What silk & satin can take
Use with care4
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Enzyme cleaners
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
4 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Absorbent clothLifts wet drool off the silk without rubbing it deeper into the weave.
- Cool or lukewarm waterLifts the drool without setting it the way hot water can.
- Clean dry towelLets you press out moisture without wringing the silk.
- Clean white clothShows whether a hidden spot test has moved any color. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot up the wet drool
Press a dry, absorbent cloth onto the spot and let it soak up as much of the wet drool as it can. Lift the cloth and press again on a clean area until little moisture comes off.
Tip. Work from the outside edge toward the center so the wet spot doesn't spread.
Step 2 of 6
Test a hidden spot first
Find a hidden seam or the inside of the hem and dampen a small patch with cool water. Let it dry, then check it for color transfer, a dull ring or any change in shade.
Step 3 of 6
Sponge the stain with cool water
Dampen a clean cloth in cool or lukewarm water and dab the spot gently. Switch to a clean section of cloth as it picks up the stain, and keep the wet area small.
Careful. Hot water can cook the drool into the silk and set it, so keep the water cool or lukewarm.
Step 4 of 6
Squeeze the water out gently
Fold a dry towel around the damp spot and press to draw out the moisture. Keep the silk flat and lift the towel rather than twisting the fabric.
Careful. Do not wring silk; squeeze gently instead.
Step 5 of 6
Let the pillowcase air dry
Lay the pillowcase flat on a clean towel in a room with good airflow, not in direct sun. Leave it until it is completely dry before you check the spot.
Careful. Do not dry silk outdoors or leave it in the sun for long; sunlight damages silk.
Step 6 of 6
Check the spot once it's dry
Look at the spot in daylight, not under a warm lamp, and compare it with the fabric around it. If a faint mark remains, sponge it once more with cool water and let it dry flat again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for saliva on silk & satin
When you buy a stain remover, skip enzyme-based and oxygen bleach products, since their labels rule out silk. Choose a product whose label clearly says it's safe for silk, and test it on a hidden spot first.
Woolite Delicates
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on silk & satin, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A treated spot dries to the same shade as the rest of the pillowcase, and the silk feels smooth rather than stiff or tacky. A faint ring or dull patch means the drool is still there, so treat it again with cool water rather than reaching for heat.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your silk & satin
Silk blend pillowcase
Blends that mix silk with other fibers still follow silk's rules, so the same blot, test and cool water steps apply. Leave out any whitening or stain-removing product whose label doesn't clearly say it suits silk.
Check the care label for the other fibers before you start, then test a hidden spot first, as with any treatment.
Dry clean only silk
If the label says dry clean only, skip home treatment and take the pillowcase to a professional as soon as you can. Tell the cleaner about the drool so they can treat it. Dry cleaning is the preferred method for silk, so this is the right route even if the stain looks small.
You can blot the spot with an absorbent cloth on the way, but don't add water or cleaner at home.
Colored or printed silk
Colored and printed silk can bleed or change color, so the hidden spot test matters more here. Dab a small test patch on an inside seam with cool water, let it dry, and check for color transfer on a white cloth. If the color moves or changes, stop and take it to a professional cleaner.
If the test patch stays the same, carry on with the normal steps and keep the wet area small.
Silk with no care label
If there's no care label, don't guess at a washing method. Keep the pillowcase flat and out of the dryer while you decide. Blot and sponge with cool water only, after testing a hidden spot first.
If the spot doesn't lift after that, take the pillowcase to a professional and tell them the fiber is unknown, so they can check it before treating it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A drool stain that has dried and gone old is harder to lift than a fresh one, and some stains won't respond at all. On silk, don't reach for enzyme soaks or oxygen bleach to make up the difference, since silk can't take those treatments. Repeat the gentle cool water sponge a few times instead of scrubbing harder.
If the stain went through the dryer, the heat has most likely set it and made it more permanent. Don't keep drying or ironing it to see if it lifts.
If the mark is still visible after repeated gentle sponging, take the pillowcase to a professional dry cleaner and point out the drool. On old or heirloom silk, a long-set stain may already have weakened the fibers, and removing it can leave a hole, so the cleaner may advise leaving it alone.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on saliva on silk & satin?
Plenty of home remedies are designed for other stains, and several are a poor fit for silk. Here is what each one does for this drool stain and whether it belongs on the pillowcase.
Skip2Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub or scrub the spot
Rubbing and brushing damage silk, so every step here is a blot or a dab. Even a stubborn spot doesn't need more force.
Don't use bleach or enzyme cleaners
Chlorine bleach is not safe on silk, and enzyme detergents shouldn't go on it either. Oxygen bleach products are also off limits, because their labels rule out silk.
Don't use heat before the stain is gone
Don't run the pillowcase through the dryer or touch it with an iron while any mark is left. The heat of drying sets the stain and makes it more permanent.
When to call a professional
Take the pillowcase to a professional dry cleaner if the label says dry clean only, if the hidden spot test shows color transfer or change, or if a mark remains after home treatment. Tell them about the drool so they can check the fibers before treating it. Dry cleaning is the preferred method for silk, so it's the safer choice whenever you're unsure.
Questions
Does drool stain silk pillowcases?
Yes, drool can leave a mark on silk, especially if it dries or goes through the dryer. It is much easier to lift if you blot it right away and sponge it with cool water. Once it has dried and set, the job takes more patience and may need a professional.
Can I use bleach on a silk pillowcase?
No. Chlorine bleach isn't safe on silk, and oxygen bleach products whose labels rule out silk are off limits too.
Stick to blotting and cool water, which is all this stain needs at the start. If the mark stays after that, a professional can choose the right treatment.
Is hot water okay for drool on silk?
No. Hot water can cook the drool into the fibers and set it, which makes the mark harder to lift.
Use cool or lukewarm water only, and keep the water away from the spot until it has been treated. If you're not sure how hot your tap water runs, let it cool before you use it.
Can I put a silk pillowcase in the dryer after a drool stain?
Not until the stain is gone. The heat of drying sets the stain and makes it more permanent, so air dry the pillowcase flat, away from direct sun, instead. Check the spot once it's dry, and if a mark remains, go back to the cool-water sponging step and air dry it again.
Can I use an enzyme stain remover on silk?
No, enzyme detergents aren't safe on silk. Enzyme presoaks are common advice for drool on other fabrics, but silk is the exception, so skip them here. Cool water and gentle blotting do the job without the risk.
Does a silk pillowcase need dry cleaning after drool?
Not always, but dry cleaning is the preferred method for silk. Go to a professional if the label says dry clean only, if a spot test shows color change, or if a mark is left after home treatment. Tell the cleaner about the drool so they can choose the right method.
Can I use vinegar or rubbing alcohol on silk?
Skip vinegar here, since as a weak acid it can make protein stains harder to lift, so cool water is the better choice. Rubbing alcohol is a no, since it can set some stains and bleed silk dyes. Keep both out of this method and stick to cool water.
Saliva on other materials
Other stains on silk & satin
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.