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laundry
spot
and stain removal guide L-Z
A Note About Chlorine Based Bleaches
Don’t mix bleach with other household cleaning goods or
ammonia-the mixture can create toxic gases. Don’t
put bleaches in metal containers, as the metal can accelerate the
action of the bleach.
Chlorine bleaches are the strongest variety of bleach. They can
make permanent –press fabrics turn yellow and will destroy wool.
Only use on washable white fabrics and always rinse away
thoroughly. Use
bleaches sparingly.
Solvent
Cleaners
Solvent cleaners can miraculously move certain stains with very
little effort, and have saved many a garment, particularly those
made of fabrics suitable only for dry-cleaning. The solvent
cleaners include methylated spirits, dry-cleaning fluid,
turpentine and white spirit, just to name a few. All solvents are
flammable and must be treated with caution. They should never be
opened near a naked flame, nor near lit cigarettes, hot electric
elements or gas pilot lights. The fumes alone can ignite a fire
without the heat source coming in contact with the liquid; so
choose a flame free, well-ventilated area to use the solvent.
Solvents should
not be opened or stored near appliances that may spark, such as
washing machines. Store them in a safe place, well out of children’s
reach and, please, read and heed the cautionary advice on the
packaging.
Better
Safe Than Sorry
Unless you’ve previously tried a method of stain removal on the
same fabric, it’s always wise to do a spot check first. Find an
unnoticeable area on the fabric and try out the method, checking
that no damage or dye loss occurs. This may seem tiresome, but a
solution which successfully removes a determined stain might also
affect the colour. Always
rinse well after treatment. Some
fabrics are particularly sensitive to various cleaners.
Where Do
You Get It ?
- Ammonia -
supermarket (cleaning section)
- Bicarbonate
of soda – supermarket (cake ingredients section)
- Borax –
supermarket
- Cream of
tartar – supermarket (cake ingredients section)
- Dry-cleaning
fluid – selected hardware stores
- Dye
stripper – pharmacy
- Eucalyptus
oil – health food stores, supermarkets
- Glycerine
– pharmacy
- Methylated
spirits – supermarkets
- Rubbing
alcohol – pharmacy
- White
spirit – pharmacy
Common
Stains of Fabrics -
| Lipstick: |
1.
Soak the stain in milk for 30 minutes, then wash in warm,
soapy water. |
|
2.
For greasy lipstick stains, soak in ammonia (if fabric is
suitable), then wash in normal way. |
|
3.
Sponge with eucalyptus oil until lipstick is removed, then
wash in normal way. Eucalyptus oil or a cleaning spirit may
be suitable for non-washable fabrics.
|
| Mildew: |
1.
Chlorine-based bleach will remove mildew stains. Make sure
that fabric is suitable. |
|
2.
Apply lemon juice plus non-iodised salt on the affected area
and dry out in the sun. Wash in the normal way. |
|
3.
Very often a household washing powder, such as Drive, will
remove mildew stains.
|
| Nail
polish: |
Treat
immediately. Scrape off any excess, taking care not to
spread stain. Blot with nail polish remover until polish is
removed. Wash in normal way. Do not use nail polish remover
on acetates, as it will destroy the fabric. Unfortunately,
any solvents that will remove nail polish will also damage
acetate, so the stain is permanent.
|
| Perspiration
and deodorant: |
1.
Prevention of such stains is easier than cure. A gentle rub
with pure soap, such as Sunlight or Velvet, before washing
will prevent the stain from building up. |
|
2.
For fresh perspiration stains on white cotton or linen,
treat by sponging with ammonia, then rinse in cold water.
Use white vinegar on an old stain. |
|
3.
White garments also can be soaked in chlorine-based bleach,
following the manufacture’s instructions. |
|
4.
Another method is to apply a paste made from one teaspoon of
cream of tartar, Three crushed aspirin tablets and warm
water. Leave on the stain for 20 minutes, then rinse with
warm water.
|
| Red
wine: |
1.
Cover stain immediately with salt. Keep applying salt until
the wine is soaked up. If fabric is suitable, pour boiling
water through the stain from a height of 60cm, taking due
care. For other fabrics, sponge with warm water. |
|
2.
If stain persists, work warm glycerine onto the spot,
working lightly with fingers.
|
| Rust: |
Apply lemon juice and apply for 10-15 minutes. Then place a
damp cloth over the stain and iron; repeat if necessary.
Rinse and wash, using a washing powder. |
| Sap: |
Stains
on clothing from plants such as banana trees and Monstera
deliciosa are not usually noticed until after they have been
washed and they have set to a brown colour, which is very
difficult to remove. For colourfast fabrics, which can stand
high temperatures, dissolve one cup of Drive in half a litre
of boiling water, then add enough boiling water to cover the
stained article and stir well. Add article and leave to soak
overnight. Rinse well.
|
| Scorch
marks: |
1.
Rub well with white vinegar and rinse in cold water. |
|
2.
Very often a household washing powder, such as Drive, will
remove light scorch marks with little effort 9not for wool). |
|
Deep
scorch marks can not be removed, as the fabric has been
damaged
|
| Soft
drink: |
For
white cotton or white linen, pour boiling water through the
stain from a height of about 60cm, taking due care. For
other fabrics, sponge with warm water. If stain persists,
gently rub warm glycerine into the spot, work lightly with
fingers.
|
| Tar: |
Saturate
the stain with eucalyptus oil and cover with bicarbonate of
soda. Leave for an hour then wash in normal way. This
procedure may have to be repeated several times to remove
the stain completely. Mineral turpentine could be used to
sponge residual stain.
|
| Tea: |
1.
Run hot water through the stained spot. |
|
2.
On whites, lemon juice may be applied and left for several
hours. Then the article should be washed in usual way. |
|
3.
Apply glycerine, wait fir several hours, then wash with soap
in cold water.
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| Tobacco: |
It’s
best to treat this stain with a mixture of egg yolk and
methylated spirits. Glycerine can also be used as an
alternative. Rinse out after about half an hour with clear
alcohol. Older stains can be treated in the same manner but
a good idea is to moisten first with a drop of citric acid.
|
| Turmeric: |
1.
Turmeric is often the staining ingredient in curries,
pickles and some sauces. Soak the stained article over night
in a solution of Drive, then wash it in normal way. For
particularly stubborn stains, make a paste of Drive and
water and apply to moistened fabric, roll up and leave
overnight. Next day, wash in normal way. |
|
2.
Loosen the stain with a glycerine solution, then soak in a
solution of ammonia. Wash in normal way. |
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3.
Suitable white fabrics may be bleached.
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| Typing
correction fluid: |
Treat
immediately. Scrape off any excess, then blot with
correction fluid thinner until stain disappears. |
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Hint:
White typing correction fluid is excellent for painting over
chips in white goods and bathroom enamel surfaces. |
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When
the fluid is dry, paint over it with clear nail polish to
give a shinny finish.
|
| Unknown
stains: |
Anything
that can not be identified should be treated with caution.
Approach this unknown stain by analysing the situation and
identifying the type of fabric involved. Egg yolk is very
effective on coloured, washable fabrics. Once you have
soaked the stain, rinse it out with cold water.
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*To see the spot and stain removal guide A-K,
please click here |
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