How to Remove Laundry Stains
Even if you aren't accident prone, your clothes can get stained during regular day-to-day wear. Some stains are easy to remove--throw a scoop of OxiClean in with the load and the stains disappear, with no pre-treating required. Other stains are more stubborn, such as grease stains and blood stains. Stains from different sources need to be treated differently. Indeed, the remedy for one stain may make another even more difficult to remove. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Baking soda
- Bristle brush
- Liquid dish soap
- 1 tablespoon ammonia
- Water
- Distilled white vinegar
Instructions
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Removing Grease Stains
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1
Apply baking soda to the stain and allow it to sit for a few hours to absorb excess grease.
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2
Brush off the baking soda with a bristle brush.
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3
Rub liquid dish soap into the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
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4
Launder as usual.
Removing Blood Stains
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5
Blot off as much of the stain as possible.
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6
Mix a solution of 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 quart cold water.
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7
Let the soiled garment sit in the water solution for about 15 minutes.
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8
Blot the stain to remove the blood, working from the edge of the stain inward.
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9
Repeat if the stain remains visible.
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10
Wash the garment in cold water.
Removing Dried Red-Wine Stains
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11
Mix a solution with equal parts distilled white vinegar and water.
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12
Place the soiled area in the solution and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
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13
Launder as usual.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Treat stains as soon as they happen for best results. Dabbing on club soda really does help fresh stains. Dab hydrogen peroxide on stubborn blood stains in small amounts if necessary. White wine can remove fresh red-wine stains.
You must use cold water on blood stains because they set in warm and hot water. Make sure to check clothing after it comes out of the washer--before putting it into the dryer--to make sure that the stain has come off.
