Washers - Stain Removal for Clothes

Common stains and the proper removal procedures:

 

Blood: soak in cold water, then launder in warm water.

 

Chewing gum: rub with ice, scrape off excess, sponge with cleaning fluid, rinse and launder.

 

Chocolate: soak in cold water for 15 minutes, rub detergent into fabric and launder in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

 

Coffee/tea: soak in cold water, then use bleach treatment with the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Launder.

 

Cosmetics: apply undiluted liquid detergent to stain, or dampen stain and rub in soap, forming a paste. Work until stain is gone and rinse well. Repeat if necessary, bleach if safe for fabric.

 

Crayon: loosen stains with kitchen shortening, apply detergent, working in until outline of stain is removed; launder as usual.

 

Cream/milk: sponge or soak stain with cool water for 30 minutes or longer, work detergent into stain and launder as usual.

 

Deodorants/antiperspirants: scrub area using white vinegar. If stain remains, saturate with denatured alcohol and scrub, rinse, and launder as usual.

 

Fruits, fruit juices, wine: follow same procedure as for coffee. If stain persists, blot with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Where hot water cannot be used, sponge well with cool water and work glycerin into stain.

 

Grass: rub detergent in stain, launder in bleach, if possible.

 

Grease: scrape off as much as possible, rub plenty of detergent into stain, launder as usual.

 

Ink/ballpoint: spray stain with hairspray until wet looking, allow to soak briefly. Hand scrub using heavy application of liquid detergent. Launder and repeat, if necessary.

 

Ketchup: scrape off excess, soak in cold water, launder as usual.

 

Meat juice: scrape off dried portion. Sponge with cold water. Rub with detergent, launder as usual.

 

Mildew: pre-treat with detergent, launder. If stain remains treat with hydrogen peroxide, launder as usual.

 

Mud: brush off dried portion, sponge with cold water then launder in the hottest water fabric can take. If stain remains, sponge with 1 part rubbing alcohol and 2 parts water, launder as usual.

 

Mustard: work glycerin into stain. Pre-treat with detergent, launder as usual. (You should be able to obtain glycerin at drug stores.)

 

Nail polish: do not use nail polish remover. Sponge with chemically pure "amyl acetate" (i.e. banana oil - can be purchased at local drug stores). Launder as usual. If stain persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol and launder.

 

Oil: pre-treat with concentrated detergent. Let it sit for 1/2 hour, then launder in the hottest water possible, bleach if fabric can withstand. Launder as usual.

 

Perspiration: if color is affected, sponge fresh stain with ammonia. Old stain, sponge with vinegar. Rinse and launder in the hottest water that is safe for fabric. If fabric is yellow, bleach if possible.

 

Rust: apply rust remover, using manufacturer's directions.

 

Soft drinks: sponge immediately with cold water and launder.

 

Transmission oil: usually impossible to remove. Best possible treatment is detergent and the hottest water the fabric can handle.