A Basic Stain Removal Guide
If an ultimate stain removal guide were to be drafted, it would be an awfully long document, as the most appropriate stain removal method often depends on what type of stain you are dealing with. From grass stains, to ink, to wine, there are countless items that can stain our favorite garments. Although we cannot cover the remedy for each stain, we can discuss the most effective line of treatment for clothing based on the “texture” of the stain. Let’s take a look…
Greasy Stains
This part of the stain removal guide applies to basically any substance that has a greasy texture. Whether your favorite shirt bought home a souvenir from a burger joint or you need to get a tough motor oil stain out of your jeans, these are classic examples of greasy stains and can be a real nuisance to remove. Butter, cooking oil, massage oil, and many other substances also fall under this category.
There are a couple of ways that you can try to coax out oily substances from fabrics. Begin by blotting out any excess oil from the cloth. You can use a tissue for this, but make sure that you don’t scrub the oil more deeply into the fabric. You can also use an absorbent powder such as corn starch or talcum powder by sprinkling it lightly over the grease stain. Allow the powder to sit for a few hours, then gently shake or wipe away the excess powder. Now the stained area can be washed individually using dish detergent. Simply dip the soiled piece of fabric in warm water and work a little dish detergent into the stain. Rub the area gently, then rinse with warm water. Liquid dish detergent is best because it is designed to cut through tough grease, however if you don’t have any on hand then complete the process using laundry detergent instead. Now you can wash the cloth as normal using a strong laundry detergent.
If you are dealing with a hardened grease stain, then you’ll need a blunt-edged object, such as a knife. Use the blunt edge to work out the grease buildup, but try not to grind the hardened grease further into the fabric. After you have scraped away the excess grease, treat the area with dish detergent as mentioned above, then wash as usual.
Dye Stains
Dye stains are those which most of us dread removing because an unsuccessful removal can still result in a bold stain. This group of stains includes things like dark berries (cherries, blueberries, raspberries), bleeding colors, non-washable ink, grass, kool-aid, and some paints. These are some of the most difficult types of stains to remove, therefore they must be pre-treated before being washed. To pre-treat a dye stain, dip the stained area in warm water and work a strong detergent into the cloth. Allow this to sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Now place the fabric in bowl of warm water and dissolve a bit of all-colors safe bleach product in the water. Woolite has a bleach product that is safe for colors. After 15 minutes of soaking in the bleach-water mixture, wash the fabric alone with a heavy duty detergent. Unfortunately, if the stain has not come out by this time, there is no hope for future removal of it.
Oil/Dye Combination Stains
Combination stains require the use of both treatment methods. Start by absorbing or scraping off as much of the excess grease as possible. Next, dip the stain in warm water and apply a heavy duty laundry detergent or dish detergent to the fabric and work it in very gently with your hands. Allow the detergent to set for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. After the detergent has been rinsed away, soak the fabric in a color-safe bleach-water solution, as described in the “dye stains” section. After 15 minutes of soaking, rinse the fabric and wash it as usual.
There are other stains not mentioned in this stain removal guide, and one must also take into consideration the type of fabric they are working with. Delicate or special-care fabrics such as silk, fur, and leather require very delicate and specific care. If you are ever in doubt about treating a garment of a delicate nature or one that is particularly special to you, it may be best to take it to a dry cleaner rather than running the risk of setting the stain in permanently through a failed stain removal attempt.