So you’ve dropped something on your clothes at work and it will be hours before you can get to the laundromat. What should you do? Cry and hope your tears will wash out that ketchup stain? Well, you can but we have a few other suggestions.
- You want to deal with a stain as soon as possible so it doesn’t have a chance to set. If you can’t throw it into the washer immediately you want to put some stain remover on it. Soak it in water if you can.
- If you can’t launder the clothing item right away mix some oxygen bleach with cool water or buy a product that contains enzymes and soak the item for at least an hour.
- Launder the clothes as soon as you can. If the stain is still there when you take it out of the washer, don’t dry it because you will set the stain. Treat the stain again and launder it again.
There are particular things to do for certain types of stains:
Fresh Blood Stain – soak in cold water and then launder.
Dried Blood Stains – soak the stained item in warm water with a product that contains enzymes.
Coffee or Tea Stains – Soak the stain in cool water. Pretreat with a stain remover or a detergent/ water paste.
Grease & Oil Stains – Use liquid dish soap on the stain before laundering.
Sweat Stains – apply ammonia to fresh stains or white vinegar to old ones then launder with the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Pen & Ink Stains – Apply rubbing alcohol or hair spray to the stain and let it sit for 1-3 minutes. Dab the stain with a cloth or paper towel. Repeat until all the ink is removed and wash in cold water to recondition the fabric.
Messes are inevitable. Stains don’t have to be!
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