There are some stains out there that require more than a good wash with laundry soap. The major offenders are grease, wine, grass, ketchup, blood, dirt, and chap-stick/lipstick. These tips can help save your favorite clothes. Step one is treating the stain as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more your chances go down of removing the stain. The stains should be treated before washing and drying them. The heat from the dryer will actually permanently set the stain making it near impossible to remove. It is important to note that after following these steps and washing in the washing machine if you still see the stain don’t use the dryer. You will want to repeat these steps and wash again.
Removing dirt stains- Soak the garment for fifteen minutes in a solution that is one part white vinegar and one part warm water. If the stain has not dissipated then you can sponge it with rubbing alcohol. Then you should rinse the garment with warm water. Then you can wash and dry as usual.
Removing grass stains- Spot treat or soak in an enzyme-based stain remover for at least fifteen minutes. Oxi-clean or Zout are good ones to use for this. Next, you will want to use some liquid laundry detergent on the grass-stained area and scrub with an old toothbrush or one you don’t plan to use again. If it’s a really deep grass stain then put the garment with the stain face down on a paper towel and scrub the back side of the garment with the truth brush and laundry soap over the reverse side of the garment where the stain is. This will help the stain to rub off on to the paper towel.
Grease stains- To get tough grease stains out start by covering the spot with clear liquid dish soap (dawn) and rub in gently. Rinse with white vinegar diluted with water. There is also an option of applying baby powder to the grease spots and let sit for 30 minutes. Then scrub the spot with a toothbrush dipped in white vinegar until the spot is gone. If the stain does not seem to be going away you can try dabbing the stained area with chlorine bleach (for whites) or color safe bleach (colors). Then after all that let the garment dry out. Once dry wash and dry as normal.
Chap-stick/lipstick stains-If you are like me then you have probably washed pants with chap-stick in them more than once. Lipstick stains can also be removed using these tips. You will want to place the stain face down on a paper towel. Rub a stain stick like stain remover on the back of the garment’s affected area and let it sit for fifteen minutes. If the stain stick does not get the stain mostly out then you can try dabbing rubbing alcohol to the garment with a paper towel or rag. Then rub a liquid laundry detergent on the stain and scrub in hot water. Then you can wash and dry as normal.
Wine stains-Let’s face it when drinking red wine it is only a matter of time until you spill on yourself or someone else. Start out by soaking the stain in a mixture of one-quart warm water, one tablespoon white vinegar, and one half teaspoon dish soap. After the fifteen minutes are up, rinse in warm water. Next, you will want to lightly sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol. It is important to start at the center of the stain with the rubbing alcohol and move to the outer edges of the stain. The next step is to use an enzyme-based stain remover like Oxi-clean or Zout and let sit for thirty minutes. Then you can wash and dry as usual.
Blood stains-If you have a blood stain it is important to let the garment soak in cold water as soon as possible. This will help loosen the stain. After the soak, you will want to try to scrape off (with a butter knife) any excess blood from the garment. Then you will want to soak the stained garment for around fifteen minutes in a mixture of one-quart cold water, one half teaspoon dish soap, and one tablespoon of ammonia. You can purchase ammonia and most grocery stores.
Coffee stains- Start with pouring cold water on the back of the stain over a sink or container. Then you will want to rub in liquid laundry detergent and massage the affected coffee stained area. Next, soak it in cold water for about 30 minutes. Then you should be good to wash and dry as normal.
Chocolate stains- You will want to get off as much of the chocolate from the garment as possible. So use a butter knife to scrape off as much excess chocolate as possible. Then pour milk over the chocolate stained area and let sit for about five minutes. Next, you will want to run the stain under cold water and massage with liquid laundry detergent. Then you can apply a stain stick to the area and wash and dry as normal.
Armpit Stains- Option one is to pour some distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle and spary the underarm areas. Let it sit for about ten minutes and then wash like normal. Option 2 is to pour shampoo on the stain. Rub it in and let it sit out for ten minutes. Then rinse with cold water. If that does not work trying pouring cold water on the armpit stain and sprinkling salt on it. Then let sit for five minutes before washing off the salt.
