Effective Stain Removal: A Guide

Doing laundry can be surprisingly simple, if only one knows how to. A plain old scrub-down with detergent and water might have sufficed in the past, but not anymore. With the advent of different fabrics in the market, there has arisen the need of different methods to do one’s washing.

Another important facet of laundry, arguably the most important, is stain removal. I speak from personal experience when I say that a lot of my favourite articles of clothing have been ruined by stains that refused to budge. And not for lack of trying, either. There are some stains that easier to get out, and some ( red wine, tea, ink) that once spilled on clothing, are almost certainly ruinous.

Over the last few years, I have carefully curated a list of tips and tricks I can turn to when I stain my clothes. And while all of these may not have a 100% success rate, they can be depended upon in times of crisis.

1.Containment

Never rub at a stain. Rubbing the stain only spreads it further, leaving it encompassing a larger area than it previously did. Dab at it instead, with a little water.

2.Use salt for oil stains

Oil stains tend to be colourless, they simply show up as grease spots that do not dry out easily. Take a little table salt and sprinkle over the affected area. The salt soaks up the oil and reduces the damage considerably.

Pro Tip: Chalk can also be used to soak up oil stains.

3.Club Soda and water

A simple home remedy, a mixture of club soda and water removes stains fairly well. The mix should be used sparingly.

4.Toothpaste for grass stains

Grass stains are unsightly greenish-brown stains that are obtained from the outdoors( it’s in the name) and do not wash away as easily as mud. An easy way to combat this to scrub the affected area with toothpaste and a brush.

Make sure you are not using a gel-based toothpaste.

5.Keep your collars clean

Collars have a tendency to look grimy after a while. Even if properly attended to during the wash, the turned-down crevices accumulate dirt and dust. Additionally, because of  its close proximity to the hair, collars fall an easy prey to dandruff, oil and other grit.

Fret not, however. Collar stains can be gotten rid of, by virtue of shampoo. Apply the shampoo to the collar, let it soak for a quarter of an hour and wash.

6.Ink Stains

Ink stains are possibly the hardest to remove, and are usually labelled indelible. And while laundry detergent might not do the trick, rubbing alcohol certainly does. Apply rubbing alcohol directly on the stain, and leave it on for fifteen minutes. Rinse with cold water.

7.Wine Stains

Another readily available home remedy, red wine stains can be removed with the help of baking soda. The baking soda soaks up the wine extracts. When dry, add a layer of salt and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Finally, pour boiling water directly onto the stain, from a height. The elevation allows the water the power to flush out the stain.

8.Fruit and vegetable stains

Fruit and vegetable stains are difficult to remove, owing to the natural vitamins they are composed of. Use an enzymatic laundry and detergent and cold water to dilute the stain before you rinse it.

9.Blood stains

As morbid as it may sound on the surface, even the smallest of nicks can stain clothing. Blood stains wash off easily, but leave residual damage that strengthens and yellows over time. Hence, it is best to get the stain out as quickly as possible.

As with fruit stains, enzymatic laundry detergents also work for blood stains. For the more stubborn variety, using a sparing amount of hydrogen peroxide before you wash the garment. [Note: Hydrogen peroxide might cause discolouration]

10.The power of citric and acetic acids

Lemon, I will have you know, functions admirably well as a natural bleach. It can lighten stubborn spots when applied with precision and care. However, it can also lead to fading of the colour.

Vinegar, too, can be used for pigment-based stains.

[Always dilute with water.]

Aside from all the home remedies and chemical solutions, there are a few other ways one can implement to keep staining in check.

• Blotting-The easiest and most effective method to curb the spread of stains, always make sure you blot at a stain gently. Never rub at it.

• Tamping-Often confused with scrubbing, tamping involves hitting the stained fabric with a dry brush. It helps break up the cluster, and works especially for less pliable fabrics, like carpets and upholstery.

• Flushing-Flushing a stain with cold water( running water) greatly lessens the strength of it.

• Presoaking-Presoaking, as a stain removal technique, works best for stains that are likely to take more than a single wash for removal. Use bleach or presoaking detergent of your choice and soak the garment(s). While overnight soaking generates the best results, be careful you do not oversoak as this can cause potential damage to clothing. Especially when bleach is involved.

If there is something I have learnt over the years, it is the stains must never be left unattended. The chances of you waking up one day and finding them gone are nonexistent. Deal with it immediately, contain the spread and treat it adequately in one of the many ways listed above!

With that being said, Dhobi G is a go-to help for anything related to laundry. You may browse many more similar tips at https://blog.dhobig.com/. Visit Dhobi G at www.dhobig.com. Make sure to check them out on Facebook as well at https://www.facebook.com/DhobiGOnline/.