Your favourite shirt, ruined by that splotch of grease. Your best tablecloth, forever stained by past dinner parties. It seems like everyone we know has had something ruined by a stain that just won’t go away.
Of course for spills and splatters, speedy action is the key to success. But even quick work doesn’t stop some from staining. Which is why we have compiled a list of hints to help your remove just about any type of stain from fabric.
Of course remember to always read the manufacturer’s care label and test on a hidden part of the fabric first.
Alcohol
If you spill alcohol on fabric, sponge the area as soon as possible for a few minutes with cold water. This helps to stop it setting. Whilst it’s still wet, rub detergent into the stained area. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wash. Tough stains may need you to repeat the process.
Blood
If blood gets on fabric, soak the offending area in cold water for around thirty minutes. Use cold water only as hot water will set the stain.
Then rub laundry detergent into any staining that remains, leave for a couple of minutes, then rinse under the tap.
If your stain is still lingering, carefully put a couple of drops of household ammonia on it, then rub again with detergent. Once you’re done wash the garment according to care instructions.
Coffee & Tea Spills
If coffee or tea is spilled on fabric, soak in cold water to prevent the stain setting. Once you have one this gently rub the stain with detergent and wash in warm to hot water if it contained milk.
Make Up and Nail Polish Stains
If make up or nail polish gets on fabric, dry cleaning fluid is the best way to tackle these cosmetic stains and marks. You can buy it from just about any dry cleaner. Use it sparingly and gently. A small sponge with a few drops of the fluid on it should help you to remove most cosmetic marks.
Nail polish can be removed on white cotton using nail polish remover. Just make sure you put the garment straight into the wash after you have removed the stain.
Fruit juice
If fruit juice is spilled on fabric, then like most liquid stains, sponging with cold water is always the first thing you should do.
Then leave the garment to soak in warm sudsy water for an hour or two, before popping it into the wash.
Grease or Oil
If fabric is stained by grease or oil, dampen the stain then dab on some Eucalyptus Oil, working from the outside of the stain inwards. Rub detergent into it then launder using the maximum recommended amount of detergent or soak in Napisan.
Ink
Ink can be tough to remove from clothing. If you’re uncomfortable trying our cleaning recommendation, then take the stained garment to your local dry cleaner.
Strange as it may seem, spray a good amount of hairspray onto the stain. Leave it for a minute or two, then rub the stained area with detergent. Leave this for five minutes, then wash the garment as normal. Tough stains may require you to repeat this process.
Texta and other felt tip pen stains can also be removed this way. Permanent markers however are just that. Permanent!
Milk
You’d be amazed at how badly milk can stain. It contains a small amount of fat, which can leave a grease mark that’s very difficult to remove.
If milk is spilled on fabric, soak first in cold water then wash in the hottest water that the fabric can withstand and add some bleach.
Soft Drinks
If soft drink is spilled on fabric, like most liquid stains, sponging with cold water is always the first thing you should do.
Then leave the garment to soak in warm sudsy water for an hour or two, before popping it into the wash.
Sweat
Sweat stains are the liquid stains we never think about. They just seem to happen, particularly in the under-the-arm area of shirts.
To get sweat stains off fabric, add a small amount of cold water to some Napisan or other soaker, to make a paste.
Once you’ve done this rub the paste onto the stained area of your shirt.
Let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes, then wash the shirt at the recommended temperature.
Tomato Sauce
If tomato sauce is spilled on fabric, use the back of a knife to gently scrape away any excess sauce. Then leave the offending area to soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Remove the garment from the soak and rub detergent into the stained area. Leave it for ten minutes, then drop it into the wash.
