Removing water spots from velvet?

Last time I wore my favorite purple velvet skirt out dancing, it rained! 

The skirt now has a bunch of water spots:  both from direct raindrop hits, and from splash-up from a nice long hike through said rain.  The spots stayed through drycleaning.

How can I get them out?

Comments

[rojo.balloon]

Steam! I have just steamed my black velvet coat.

[Goodhart]

I would probably test the following on a small bit before using on the actual piece, but spots from water are normally caused by the hardness of the water (calcium mostly) and so if one misted some white (clear) vinegar on to the cloth while gently brushing backwards, rinsing with distilled water, and then patting dry, it should come out without much of a problem.

[acidbass]

brush then back to the cleaners worked on my jacket (suede interior velvet exterior same situation)

[azharjaved2000]

Water spots on velvet are just like water spots on Nubuk, you just have to brush in opposite directions to loosen the pile then set the pile in its own direction, the spots would disappear.

[jj.inc]

I have no Idea about actually cleaning cloth. You may not be able to use water on velvet, but if you can i would use a iron with a steam thing, fill it with evaporated/distilled water, either that or purified, use the one people water plants with. Steam the water spots and get them as hot as you are comfortable to expand the fibers. Then get a damp rag (still use special water) and wipe both sides of the spot in a side to side, up down, twisting pattern.

If velvet is like silk and will sort of dissipate when wet, use a cheesecloth and only go with the threads, also, press lightly. The reason silk can't be machine washed is because the wet strands become extremely weak, so if velvet is alike, be very delicate, yo could also steam from both sides and hold the spot up so that the hot steam slides through, helping to remove deposits.

Explanation:
Water spots are formed when minerals in the water are left behind, distilled water doesn't have those minerals. The heated material expands helping to release the mineral deposits, which are also loosened by the heat.

[RavingMadStudios]

A hand steamer and a lint brush. Just lightly steam the area to dampen it, then use the lint brush to restore the nap. If the lint brush isn't quite aggressive enough to raise the fibers, a dry washcloth will do the trick.

[rickharris]

It may be bast to get the opinion of a dry cleaner as anything you do may make things worse.

[Computothought]

Depends on what type of velvet, if it's cotton velvet take it to a dry cleaners and ask them to pass the steam gun over it ( they'll know what you mean .) Silk velvet is difficult as it is delicate but this somtimes works, spray a piece of same coloured silk with a LITTLE BIT of water and gently smooth it over affected area and then pass over a hairdryer on a medium to cool heat !