Sarah Aguirre posted these tips on how to get stains out of clothes.
This is not the kind of articles that you will usually see here.
Thanks for the great advice Sarah!
TLB
Removing stains can sometimes seem like a complex algebra problem. By
the time you determine the stain type, origin of the stain, fabric type
and color scheme you can feel pessimistic about stain removal. Try
these 10 simple stain removal rules to get your laundry in shape.
1. Act quickly.
Fresh stains make stain removal an easy task. Give yourself the upper
hand by treating stains as promptly after they happen as possible. If
your stains are on a non-washable fabric, take them to the dry cleaners
as soon as possible. Be sure to point out the stain to the dry cleaner
and describe the nature of the stain. This makes the likelihood of
success greater.
2. Follow the directions.
Follow
the directions on any stain removal products you use. Don't forget to
follow washing directions on the stained clothes. Getting the stain out,
won't make much difference if you ruin the clothing in the process.
3. Test in a hidden area.
Don't
forget to test any stain removal methods on a hidden seam or other
inconspicuous spot. You want to check for colorfastness before applying a
treatment to a large or noticeable area of the clothing. Do not use if
the color changes.
4.Remove stains from the back.
Place
the stained garment with the stain upside down on top of a clean white
cloth. Apply stain treatment to the back of the stain. Our goal is to
remove the stain from the clothing instead of making it travel all the
way through to the other side. Make sure to move the stained clothing to
a fresh spot as the stain begins to remove itself from the clothing and
onto the cloth.
5. Be careful with dry cleaning solvents.
Make
sure to rinse thoroughly, and allow to air dry any garment that's had
dry cleaning solvents used on it. These solvents can be a fire hazard in
a washing machine. Remember never to put dry cleaning solvents directly
into the washing machine.
6. Be wary of color removal with bleach.
Bleaching only one stained spot on a garment may result in uneven color
removal for the entire garment. Consider using the appropriate bleach
listed in the garment tag to bleach the entire garment.
7. Don't mix stain removal products.
Mixing different chemicals can cause toxic odors and mixed results on your clothing.
8. Wash stain treated items.
Remember
to thoroughly wash items that have treated with stain removal products
to remove product residue along with the stain residue.
9. Be patient.
Stain
removal can take time. Sometimes repeat treatments may be required.
Be sure to thoroughly check the garment before drying to determine if a
repeat treatment is necessary. Drying will cause a stain to set.
10. Some stains won't leave.
For some stains, no stain removal idea or tip can get rid of them
without damaging the clothing or its color. But take heart in the fact
that the other 9 general stain removal tips will give you a fighting
chance against all the stains in your laundry basket. Just a few simple
guidelines can take the guesswork out of stain removal.
10 stain removal tip
