How to treat common stains on clothing
It's a rare person who can go through life without getting at least one stain on his clothing. Wax, dyes, foods, bodily fluids such as blood, oils and rust all commonly cause laundry stains. Whatever the stain, quick treatment is the key to returning clothing to its former state. With proper treatment, you can continue wearing your clothing for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Ice
- Dull knife
- Paper towels or paper bags
- Iron
- Water
- Laundry pretreatment product
- Color removal laundry additive
- Liquid hand soap
- Ammonia
- Enzyme stain remover
- Dish detergent
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Lemon
- Cream of tartar
- Commercial laundry rust remover
Instructions
-
Wax-Based Stains
-
1
Rub ice across the wax-based stain to harden it. An example of a wax-based stain is candle wax.
-
2
Scrape the waxy stain with a dull knife to remove excess.
-
-
3
Layer a paper towel or a paper bag beneath and over the stain.
-
4
Run a warmed iron over the paper towel to attract the wax to the towel.
-
5
Replace paper towels with fresh ones and repeat as necessary until all the wax is removed.
-
6
Launder as usual.
Dye-Based Stains
-
7
You may have to perform multiple treatments to completely remove a dye-based stain. Run cold water over your dye-based stain and rinse until the water runs clear.
-
8
Soak the stain with laundry pretreater and let it sit for 15 minutes.
-
9
Consider a color removal laundry additive. Such an additive must be used with caution with bright or dark-colored fabrics.
-
10
Launder in hot water.
-
11
Check the stain after laundering and retreat if necessary.
Protein-Based Stains
-
12
Blot the protein-based stain to remove excess. An example of a protein-based stain is blood.
-
13
Rinse the stain with cold water until the water runs clear.
-
14
Soak the clothing for 30 minutes in a mixture of cool water and equal parts liquid hand soap and ammonia.
-
15
Rinse stain thoroughly.
-
16
Pretreat with an enzyme stain remover and launder clothing in cool water.
Oil-Based Stains
-
17
Carefully scrape off any excess oil if you can.
-
18
Sprinkle the stain with cornmeal to soak up the oil.
-
19
Apply a stain treatment or dish detergent to the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.
-
20
Consider adding a scoop of the commercial hand cleaner used by mechanics to the wash if clothing is heavily stained with oil. You can purchase these at automobile parts stores and include brands such as GoJo, Fast Orange and Zep.
-
21
Launder clothing in hot water unless the fabric is synthetic, in which case the water needs to be no hotter than 160 degrees.
Perspiration Stains
-
22
Working up a sweat can also work up stains on clothes. Blot stain with clean towel to remove excess perspiration.
-
23
Pretreat stain with white vinegar by pouring directly on the stain. You can also keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar in your laundry area for easier application.
-
24
Let sit 15 minutes.
-
25
Launder in the hottest water possible for fabric.
-
26
Use a stain pretreater on areas of perspiration every four to five washes to prevent stains from recurring.
Rust Stains
-
27
Treat small stains by sprinkling with salt and rubbing the cut side of a lemon against the stain. For larger or all-over stains, fill a pot with water with 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar per pint of water and bring to boil. Boil clothing in pot.
-
28
Rinse thoroughly and launder with laundry detergent.
-
29
Check stains after laundering and repeat treatment if necessary.
-
30
Treat stubborn stains with a commercial laundry rust remover. These include brands such as Iron-Out, RoVer and Whink. Follow package directions.
-
31
Rinse thoroughly and launder with laundry detergent.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Fresh stains are easier to remove than set-in ones.
Combination stains may require more than one attempt at stain removal. Start with the most difficult component of the stain and work to the easiest.
Check the stain after laundering to ensure it has been removed before attempting to dry clothing. Stains that remain will need to be re-treated before the drying process.
Stain removal may cause discoloration of clothing. Test on a discreet area of the fabric before proceeding with stain removal attempts.
Dry-clean-only clothing should be taken to a professional for stain removal. Attempting to treat the stain yourself may result in damage to the fabric.
Avoid rubbing if possible as rubbing may set the stain.
Do not dry clothing until stain is completely removed as the heat can set stains.
Do not use chlorine bleach on rust stains as it will set the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
