Stain Removal
For all us bachelors:
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Treatment for Individual Stains
Acids
Act quickly so that acid cannot damage the cloth. Sprinkle the stain with
baking soda, dampen
with water and allow to stand till bubbling stops. Rinse well in warm water.
Alternatively, hold the
dampened stain over an open bottle of household ammonia so that the fumes
can neutralize the
acid. Rinse well.
Adhesive Tape
Sponge or soak the dry fabric stain with a suitable laundry pre-soak (spot
stain remover) or in a
grease solvent or kerosene. Kerosene will make the cloth oily, so if used,
must be followed by
washing in warm soapy water.
Alcohol
Always treat these as soon as possible. Often stains are almost colourless
at first, but turn brown
on standing, washing and ironing. Fresh stains can be removed by sponging
several times with
warm water. If there is any mark left, pour glycerine on the dampened stain,
rub lightly between
the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water.
More stubborn stains may be sponged on dry fabric with equal quantities of
methylated spirits
(wood alcohol) and ammonia (test on colours first) or laundry pre-soak (spot
stain remover).
Rinse well in warm water. If any stain is left on white material, a laundry
bleach may be used.
Choose and use your bleach according to instructions given earlier.
Alkali's
Alkali's, such as washing soda and ammonia, or cuticle remover, may destroy
colour and rot
material. Rinse at once in equal quantities of vinegar and water. Rinse well
in warm water. If
colour has been affected this cannot be corrected.
Ball-Point Ink
See under Ink for stain removal suggestions
Baby Oil
Rub some dishwash liquid into the stain, leave for 10-15 minutes, then hot
wash (60-65�C) using
your normal laundry detergent. If any stain remains, repeat the process. For
unwashable fabrics
or articles, see under Butter.
Bleach
Treat immediately in copious amounts of cold water. For chlorine bleach, add
1 Tbsp. vinegar in
each 600 mls water. If the colour has been removed by the bleach, it cannot
readily be restored,
but try holding in fumes from an open bottle of ammonia.
Blood
If fresh, sponge with cool salted water (1tsp : 600 ml water) and rinse
with clear water.
Should stain persist, soak in a diaper wash/sanitiser from the
supermarket that contains
sodium percarbonate - read the diaper wash/sanitiser label for the
chemical make-up of
the product (may state sodium carbonate peroxohydrate or oxygenated
bleach). Sodium
percarbonate is derived from a manufacturing process of concentrated
solutions of sodium
carbonate and hydrogen peroxide (sodium carbonate peroxohydrate)
therefore you could
try using the hydrogen peroxide suggestion first. Or you can try any of
the following
suggestions, and they are in no particular order...
Dilute hydrogen peroxide (1 part : 9 parts water). Purchase the
strongest solution
available from a pharmacy - usually "20 Volume". Rinse well.
Sponge with a 10% solution of Oxalic Acid, warmed to about 45�C.
Rinse well.
Sponge with dilute ammonia (1 Tsp. : 600 ml). Rinse well.
For thick or unwashable articles, e.g. mattresses, carpets,
sprinkle with pepsin
powder (from your pharmacy), or spread with a thick paste of raw
starch and water,
leave to dry, then brush off. Repeat if necessary.
Blue
Rinse fresh marks in cold water. Soak any more difficult stains in a
solution 1 Tbsp. vinegar in
1200 ml of warm water. Wash as usual.
Boot Polish
Sponge with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or with dry cleaning
fluid.
Butter, Cream & Fatty Stains
Wash in warm sudsy water if a washable fabric. If not, sponge dry fabric
with a grease solvent,
e.g. laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or dry cleaning fluid.
On upholstery and carpets, use the absorbent powder treatment, followed by a
shampoo with
liquid detergent, such as a Carpet/Rug Shampoo, a good quality laundry
liquid or Quilt/Wool
Wash. Avoid wetting backing of carpet or fabric, or discoloration occurs. Do
not use grease
solvents, e.g. dry cleaning fluid, on carpets or fabrics with rubberised
backing.
On wallpaper, scrape off as much as possible, then use warm iron and
absorbent paper. Treat
remaining stain with paste of cornflour and a grease solvent. Allow to dry,
brush off, and repeat if
necessary.
Candle Wax
Candle wax and chewing gum can be effectively removed by placing the object
that has been
stained into a freezer until the staining agent is quite hard, and brittle,
then the material can be
literally shattered off the object that has been stained.
...then treat any residue as follows: place the stain between clean, white
blotters and press with a
warm iron, changing the blotter as it becomes soiled. Then sponge with dry
cleaning fluid or a
laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover).
In the case of coloured wax there may still be a colour stain. Sponge with a
liquid made by
adding � c of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) to � c water.
Carbon Paper & Transfers
On washable fabrics heavy suds of soap and water are usually successful.
Otherwise, sponge
over a pad with methylated spirits (wood alcohol), following with a cold
water sponge.
Chewing Gum
Scrape away as much as possible first. Rubbing the stain with ice will
harden the gum and make
this easier, especially on rugs and other heavy materials. Refer further
under Candle Wax
If the material is washable, soak in kerosene and wash in hot soapy water.
For unwashable
articles, use dry cleaning fluid. Several applications may be necessary.
Chocolate & Cocoa
First scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife. Hot soapy water will
then remove fresh
stains from washable articles. If a brown stain remains, soak in a solution
of a diaper
wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate followed by a good rinse in
warm water.
For unwashable materials, sponge with dry cleaning fluid. Allow to dry.
Repeat as necessary with
a clean portion of pad beneath. If any mark remains, sponge with equal
quantities of methylated
spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia (test on colours first). Follow
with warm water. A
spray-on dry cleaner may be used.
Cod Liver Oil
Fresh cod liver oil stains can be removed successfully, but old stains set
by washing and ironing
are almost impossible to remove, even with bleach. Wash very fresh stains in
warm water and a
good quality laundry liquid or any one of the concentrated Laundry Powders
available, applying a
little neat liquid detergent to the stain.
Stubborn stains on all fabrics respond to soaking in a diaper wash/sanitiser
container sodium
percarbonate. Wash as usual.
Coffee & Tea
Remove fresh stains from cotton and linen materials by first rinsing in warm
water then pouring
boiling water from a height of 2 - 3 feet onto the stain. Follow by washing
in soapy water. If a trace
remains, bleach in the sun, or with a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium
percarbonate. Tea
stains on cottons and linens can also be removed by soaking in borax and
water (1 Tbsp. borax
in 1 c of warm water).
Stains on wool and silk or any fabric may be sponged with lukewarm water,
then apply glycerine,
rubbing lightly between the hands. Let stand for half an hour. Rinse with
warm water. If a grease
spot remains from cream, sponge with dry cleaning fluid.
Crayons
Treat as for Candle wax. If on wallpaper, after scraping cover with blotting
or brown paper, iron
with warm iron, shifting paper repeatedly. Final traces may be covered with
a paste of cornflour
and cleaning fluid. Allow to dry, brush off and repeat if necessary. Go to
Crayola's Stain Removal
Tips for helpful hints on removing art material stains from clothes, walls
and other tough spots!
Deodorants & Antiperspirants
Sponge dry fabric stain thoroughly with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain
remover) and warm water.
Rinse. If some stain remains, use a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper
wash/sanitiser
container sodium percarbonate. Antiperspirants may cause fabric damage and
colour damage
in some dyes. Colour may be restored by sponging with ammonia. Dilute
ammonia with an equal
volume of water for use on wool or silk. Rinse well.
Dyes & Running Colours
These are difficult to remove and no one treatment is successful in all
cases. Immediate copious
rinsing in tepid water, forcing the water through the stain, is sometimes
effective.
Washing and sunning will gradually bring results in some cases. Equal parts
of methylated spirits
(wood alcohol) and ammonia may also succeed. White fabrics may be bleached.
Use a
chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium
percarbonate for linens
and untreated cottons, hydrogen peroxide for silk, wool and delicate
fabrics.
Dye - Setting
Common household salt can be used to "Set Dyes" at a rate of quarter to half
a cup per wash tub
load. Leave to soak half an hour, rinse, then hang to dry. Salt is a common
additive to Laundry
Powder formulations. Among it's many uses, salt minimises the risk of
"running dyes" when
laundering garments.
Egg
Scrape away as much as possible. Sponge with lukewarm water. Never use hot
water, as heat
hardens the stain. If this does not succeed, spread the stain with a paste
of cream of tartar and
water, adding a crushed aspirin to the paste. Leave for 20 - 30 minutes.
Rinse well in warm
water. OR use a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.
Fruit Juices & Berries
Fresh stains are easy to remove, but once dry, they are very obstinate.
Treat with cool water first
and follow up, if necessary, by soaking in a chlorinated laundry bleach or a
diaper wash/sanitiser
container sodium percarbonate. Rinse.
White cottons and linens may be stretched over a basin and boiling water
poured through from a
height. Any remaining stain may be removed with chlorinated laundry bleach.
Coloured fabrics or washable silk, etc., may be soaked in a diaper
wash/sanitiser container
sodium percarbonate or a warm borax solution (1 Tbsp. : 1 c water), or
covered with a paste of
cream of tartar and warm water. Leave half and hour or until stain goes,
then rinse well.
For persistent stains apply equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) and ammonia.
Rinse well after treatment. This method is safe for all fabrics, except
triacetate (e.g. Tricel). Dilute
mixture with an equal quantity of water for fabrics with fugitive dyes. Old
stains may be softened
in glycerine before treatment. Damp stain, apply glycerine, leave 1 - 2
hours, then add a few
drops of vinegar, leave 5 - 10 minutes and rinse well.
Glues, Gums & Cellulose Adhesives
Soaking in cool water will remove water-soluble glues, e.g. casein glue. For
waterproof varieties,
use spirit solvent, e.g. methylated spirits (wood alcohol) or amyl acetate
(test before using on
synthetic fabrics). Artificial Nail glue can be removed used acetone (test
on an inconspicuous
area first). Acetone evaporates quickly, so hold a wad of absorbant paper or
soft cloth against
the glue, and soak the acetate through from the other side. (The glue soaks
on to the wad of
absorbant)
Grass & Other Garden Foliage
Soak in a solution of a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper
wash/sanitiser container sodium
percarbonate. OR sponge with methylated spirits (wood alcohol). Remove this
with warm water
and where possible wash the article using Laundry powder or Liquid.
Ice Cream, Milk & Cream
For washable materials, first sponge with lukewarm water, then wash as
usual. If the material is
not washable, sponge with dry cleaning fluid then with cold water.
Indelible Pencil
Do not use water as this spreads the stain. Sponge over a pad of soft cloth,
using equal
quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia (test
coloured fabrics
first). Should the colours run, try methylated spirits (wood alcohol) alone.
Rinse or sponge with
warm water.
Ink
Because INKS differ in composition it is impossible to find removers that
are equally effective for
all types of ink spots. The following is a range of suggestions from which
you can choose. The
best treatment we have discovered is using a D'limonene based product. (read
our
notes on each product HERE), however, General Instructions using D'Limonene
are:-
Dry the stained area. Mix together 3 parts dishwash liquid with 1 part of
D'limonene. Soak the
stained area in this solution for 10-15 minutes. After the soak time, rinse
in water as hot as is
suitable for the fabric, then wash as usual, but preferrably with a Laundry
Liquid. This treatment
may require repeating. Other treatments you can try include the
following...
Ballpoint Pen Ink: First, saturate material with an alcohol-based hair spray
(this seems to be a
very popular method). The alcohol content in the hair spray will break up
the ink. Be sure to place
an absorbent paper towel or rag under the stain to catch the excess. You
then need to blot the
stain with a rag. Repeat the process until the stain is removed, then
launder as usual. A word of
caution before trying this method: some fabrics may be damaged by the hair
spray solution. If in
doubt, test on an inconspicuous area first, or consult with a professional
dry cleaner.
Water Based Inks: Try an all-purpose cleaner instead of hair spray. Be sure
to place an
absorbent paper towel or rag under the stain to catch the excess. You then
need to blot the stain
with a rag. Repeat the process until the stain is removed, then launder as
usual. A word of
caution before trying this method: some fabrics may be damaged by the
cleaning solution. If in
doubt, test on an inconspicuous area first, or consult with a professional
dry cleaner.
NOTE: If the stain is still wet, apply an absorbent - french chalk, talcum
powder, starch or salt - to
absorb excess ink and stop it from spreading. Continue this treatment,
removing the discoloured
powder and applying fresh, until there no further change is achieved.
Alternatively, take up excess
ink with blotting paper, pressing fresh patches of blotter into the stain
until it no longer discolours.
Then treat as required.
These suggestions are also suitable for dried writing ink, ball point pen,
or marking ink. Soak the
stain in "sour" milk - this is an old fashioned, but effective method. Fresh
milk also works, but
sour milk is faster. Sponge or dip the stain in equal quantities of
methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) and household ammonia (test on coloured fabrics first). Rinse in
warm water. Rinse
again in warm water containing a little ammonia, then finally in fresh
water. Sponge with pure
Dettol. If not effective, try iso-propyl alcohol or dry cleaning fluid (from
chemist).
Iodine
Very fresh stains can often be removed by normal washing or by moistening
the stain with water
and placing in the sun or before a radiator. If not successful, apply a
solution of 1 tsp. sodium
thiosulphate, (from chemist) in 1cup warm water. Rinse well.
Light Oils, e.g. sewing machine, hair oil, baby oil etc.
Rub some dishwash liquid into the stain, leave for 10-15 minutes, then hot
wash (60-65�C) using
your normal laundry detergent. If any stain remains, repeat the process. For
unwashable fabrics
or articles, see under Butter.
Lipstick & Other Cosmetics
e.g. eyeshadow, mascara, blusher - washing with your usual laundry product
may remove these
stains. Pre treat the dry fabric stain with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain
remover). On an
unwashable fabric, first try dry cleaning fluid.
If stains are stubborn, sponge with equal quantities of methylated spirits
(wood alcohol) and
household ammonia. (Test on coloured fabrics first). If colour fades, reduce
ammonia by half and
test again. Rinse in warm water, or wash if possible.
Medicines
Try to find out from doctor or chemist what the medicine contains, as this
will aid in selecting the
correct treatment: e.g. iron tonics - treat as for iron rust: medicines
containing alcohol, rinse with
methylated spirits (wood alcohol), etc.
Where contents cannot be discovered proceed as for "Unknown Stain".
Mildew
Treat as soon as discovered, before the mould has time to weaken the cloth.
Slight, fresh stains
can often be removed by washing with your usual laundry product and drying
in the sun.
Otherwise, try these methods in turn, proceeding carefully with coloured
articles:
a] Chlorinated laundry bleaches may be used for white untreated cottons
and linens,
according to general instructions given by the manufacturer. Rinse
thoroughly before
washing.
b] Vinegar added to the final rinse will help remove any traces of smell
remaining from the
bleach.
c] A diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate is safe on all
white and coloured
fabrics.
Motor Grease & Heavy Motor Oil
Scrape away as much as possible. For washable materials, rub lard or
Vaseline into stain or
treat dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). Wash in a
quality Laundry powder or
Liquid. On unwashable materials, such stains are difficult. Treat repeatedly
with dry cleaning fluid,
continuously changing the pad and the sponging cloth. Finish with a sponging
of lukewarm water
and synthetic detergent, then warm water to rinse. If contaminated with
metal particles, an iron
stain my remain. Treat as for Iron Rust.
Mud
Allow to dry, then brushing off. Any remaining stain may be removed by
washing or sponging with
your usual laundry powder or liquid or if greasy dirt, pre-treat dry fabric
with a laundry pre-soak
(spot stain remover) or use a grease solvent, e.g. dry cleaning fluid.
Mustard
Scrape any excess mustard from the fabric, ensuring you don't spread the
stain any further. Dry
the mustard-stained area. Mix together 3 parts dishwash liquid with 1 part
of a D'Limonene
based product (read our notes on each product at this link). Soak the
stained area in this
solution for 10-15 minutes. NOTE: On occasion the mustard stain will turn
very dark, but DON'T
PANIC - it will wash out! After the soak time, rinse in water as hot as is
suitable for the fabric,
then wash as usual, but preferrably with a Laundry Liquid. This treatment
may require repeating.
Nail Polish
Apply acetone or amyl acetate (polish removers), but take care with
synthetic fibres, as both of
these dissolve some type of rayons. Wash or sponge with your usual laundry
product after
treatment.
Remove any remaining colour with a bleach, using a chlorinated laundry
bleach for white cottons
and linens. A diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate for
colours, and hydrogen
peroxide for wool and silks.
Ointment
Treat as a grease stain - see under Butter
Paint
Modern paints vary greatly in composition and it is not possible to give one
treatment for all
types. As a guide, use the solvent suggested on the paint tin label for
thinning paint and cleaning
brushes. Treat promptly, as set stains are very difficult to remove. If
paint has dried, soften with
glycerine before applying treatment.
For oil paint, enamels and alkyd type paints, scrape off as much as possible
and soak remaining
stain in turpentine, or kerosene. Then wash in usual way.
Latex or plastic water-base paints, e.g. Acrylic and P.V.A. will wash out
easily with cold water
when fresh. Remove any remaining stain with methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) (test first to see
that acetate fabrics are not affected). Once dry, these paints are virtually
impossible to remove.
Pencil Marks (lead)
Try a soft rubber for unwashable garments. Use a quality laundry powder or
liquid on lead pencil
marks, but never for indelible pencil. If not successful, follow
instructions for Indelible Pencil.
Perfume
Wet area, apply glycerine and rinse out well, or sponge with equal parts of
full-strength hydrogen
peroxide and water. If the colour has already been removed from the fabric
by the alcohol in the
perfume, it may be helpful to add a few drops of methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) to cheesecloth
pad and sponge fabric lightly, working towards the centre of the stain, thus
distributing remaining
colour evenly.
Perspiration Stains
New perspiration stains are normally acid and may be removed by washing. If
the dye is affected,
hold the mark in fumes from an open ammonia bottle.
Older perspiration stains turn alkaline and sponging with 1 Tbsp. vinegar in
� c water will often
restore the colour. This treatment also helps to remove perspiration odours.
To remove perspiration stains from unwashable garments or for any stubborn
marks, apply a
paste of 1 Tbsp. cream of tartar, 3 crushed aspirins and warm water. Leave
for 20 minutes.
Rinse well in warm water. Repeat if necessary. Follow this with vinegar and
water to restore the
colour if necessary.
Rust
Any of the methods given below are safe for white fabrics, but test on
coloured fabrics before
use.
Lemon Juice - suitable for light stains on delicate fabrics. Spread stain
over a bowl of boiling
water and sprinkle with lemon juice. After a few minutes, rinse well and
repeat if necessary.
Lemon Juice and Salt - sprinkle stain with salt, rub with lemon juice and
place in sunlight. Keep
moist with lemon juice till stain goes. Rinse well.
Cream of Tartar - for extensive staining, boil in a liquid made from 4 tsp.
cream of tartar in 600
ml water. Rinse well OR if less extensive, dampen stain, spread with cream
of tartar, hold in
steam from boiling kettle. Rinse immediately stain goes. Do not use on
fabrics that cannot be
washed in hot water.
Scorch
Scorch marks are different from a true stain in that the actual fibre is
damaged. Severe marks on
any fabric, or scorch marks on wool and silk can seldom be restored.
Brushing with fine emery
paper may improve a scorched woollen surface.
Very light scorch marks can often be removed by immediate washing with your
usual laundry
product, followed by a day in the sun. Alternatively, sponge with 1 Tbsp.
borax in 1 c warm water.
Light scorch marks on white materials can be treated with hydrogen peroxide.
Dampen a scrap
of white cotton cloth with hydrogen peroxide and lay it on the mark. Cover
with a clean dry cloth,
then press with a medium warm iron. If the peroxide soaks through the top
cloth, move to a dry
position. Repeat the treatment until the stain is removed. Rinse well in
warm water.
Light scorch marks on any fabric (test colours first) may be treated by
sponging with diluted
hydrogen peroxide to which a few drops of ammonia have been added. Rinse
well in warm
water. (Instructions for dilution under directions for using bleaches).
Shoe Cleaners
Scrape off any excess with a dull knife. Shoe creams can frequently be
removed from washable
materials by washing with your usual laundry product.
If this is not successful, treat washable fabrics with glycerine. Pour on to
the stain, rub lightly
between the hands, leave for half an hour, then wash or rinse in warm water.
On unwashable fabrics or for very stubborn marks, sponge with equal
quantities of methylated
spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia. (Test on coloured fabrics
first). Then sponge with
warm water.
Silly Putty
Scrape off the excess with a blunt knife, then apply a warm to hot solution
made up of 1 part
D'limonene, 1 part dishwash liquid, 10 parts water (read our notes on each
product at this
link). Massage into the putty, and use absorbent towelling to absorb the
"gunk". You may need
to repeat this. Finally rinse with warm water and let dry naturally.
Or Crayola recommend that you Scrape the excess Silly Putty with a dull
knife or metal spoon.
Spray with WD-40� (car part lubricant) and let stand a few minutes. Again
scrape excess Silly
Putty with knife or spoon, and re-spray with WD-40�. Wipe stain with cotton
balls. If any stain
remains, saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, blot the stain and
rinse. Wipe any remaining
residue or remaining stain with a damp sponge or cloth moistened with liquid
dishwashing
detergent.
Soft Drinks
Pre-treat dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) prior to
washing with a quality
laundry product in the usual way. Alternative treatment: sponge with equal
quantities of
methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and water. Old or obstinate stains may be
softened in glycerine
before treatment as above.
Soot & Smoke
First treat with absorbent powder, then wash. For unwashable articles sponge
with dry cleaning
fluid or other grease solvent, followed by airing to remove smell of smoke.
For carpets, mix solvent to a paste with cornflour, talcum or french chalk.
Apply thickly - leave to
dry, then brush or vacuum off. Repeat if necessary. Use absorbent powder
only on rubber backed
carpeting. Or use a spray-on dry cleaner.
Soy Sauce
Dry the soya sauce-stained area. Mix together 3 parts dishwash liquid with 1
part of a
D'Limonene based product (read our notes on each product at this link). Soak
the stained
area in this solution for 10-15 minutes. After the soak time, rinse in water
as hot as is suitable for
the fabric, then wash as usual, but preferrably with a Laundry Liquid. This
treatment may require
repeating.
Tar & Asphalt
Scrape away as much as possible with a dull knife. Sponge with Jeyes fluid
and water (1 part
Jeyes to 3 of water) or pre-treat with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain
remover) then wash with a
quality laundry product, rinse in warm water.
If this is not successful on washable materials, rub Vaseline or lard into
the stain. Leave for half
an hour, then wash in hot soapy water.
For unwashable materials the stain will be very difficult. Sponge repeatedly
with dry cleaning fluid.
If the mark still persists, rub with Vaseline, leave for half an hour, then
dip in dry cleaning fluid. If
possible, finish by sponging with a solution made from a good quality
laundry liquid, starting well
to the outside of the stain.
Tarnish
Metallic stains from belts, jewellery, etc., sometimes stain clothes. Sponge
with vinegar, lemon
juice or 10% solution acetic acid (check synthetics first).
For tarnished metallic fabrics, e.g. lame, if practicable, boil in salt
water (2 Tbsp. to 600 ml). Not
suitable for plastics. Otherwise, sponge with methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) or dry cleaning
fluid.
Tobacco
For stubborn tobacco stains, first try pouring glycerine over the stain. Rub
lightly between the
hands, or pre-treat the dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain
remover), leave for half an
hour then wash in the usual way. If this is not successful, use sodium
thiosulphate as directed for
iodine stains.
Tomato Juice, Relish or Chutney
Sponge thoroughly with cold water first. Pour glycerine over, rub lightly
between the hands and
leave for half an hour. Or, pre-treat the dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak
(spot stain remover),
leave for half an hour then wash in the usual way. Rinse in warm water.
Remove any remaining
stain with a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitiser container
sodium
percarbonate, as directed.
Twink (Whiteout) (Liquid Paper) (Liquid Correction Fluid)
Purchase some Spray & Wipe from your supermarket, and use concentrated on
the stain. Most
Spray & Wipe formula�s contain a solvent which will dissolve the liquid
paper. OR Try a little
gasoline on the stain, with some good absorbent paper or old cloth behind
it. Then use some
dishwash liquid or a good quality laundry liquid to wash out the gasoline.
OR Purchase some
xylene, or toluene, these are some of the solvents used in making the stuff.
Use as if using the
gasoline. These are stocked by gasoline companies and you may be able to
request a small
sample. Always test an inconspicuous piece of material before proceeding.
Unknown
If a stain cannot be identified, treat with cool water first, then sponge
with a good quality laundry
liquid solution. Rinse well and if stain persists try equal quantities of
methylated spirits (wood
alcohol) and ammonia, testing first to note effect on colour and fabric. If
colour is affected, omit
ammonia. As a last resort, try a mild bleach, e.g. A diaper wash/sanitiser
container sodium
percarbonate.
Urine
These stains differ in composition, so that the same method may not be
successful in all cases.
Normal urine is usually acid. First soak in a solution of a diaper
wash/sanitiser container sodium
percarbonate or sponge with a solution of 1 Tbsp. household ammonia in � c
warm water. Rinse
well.
If this is not successful, try equal quantities of vinegar and warm water in
case the stain is
alkaline. Rinse well in warm water. For stubborn stains, sponge with diluted
hydrogen peroxide,
then wash or sponge - rinse with clear warm water. Old stains may destroy
the colour of the cloth
and nothing can be done to restore it in this case.
Vomit
Sponge with warm water containing a little ammonia. If extensive, dampen and
sprinkle with
pepsin powder, leave half an hour, then rinse off. OR soak washable articles
in a diaper
wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.
Water Spots
Some silks, rayons and wools are spotted by water. To remove such spots,
hold in the steam
from a rapidly boiling kettle. It is wise to cover the spout with butter
muslin first to prevent any
droplets of water reaching the fabric. Allow the fabric to become damp, but
not wet. Shake and
press while still slightly damp, rubbing, if possible, with a piece of the
same or a similar material,
or with fingernail or spoon.
Water stains on carpets become brown because of impurities from backing or
underfelt. Mop up
spills, wipe with cool water, cover with pad of blotting paper, tissues or
absorbent cloth. Weight
down with books, etc., and dry quickly with the aid of fan heaters, vacuum
exhaust, etc. This
causes stain to wick through to absorbent material. Repeat if required.
Wine
Red Wine? Straight away pour White Wine on the affected area and soak
up. Then wash
in cold water and ammonia.
White Wine? Wash in cold water and ammonia. If unsuccessful, follow
other treatments
under Alcoholic Beverages.
Treat promptly
Try mild measures first
Rinse thoroughly
Wood SAP
Turpentine (enamel paint thinners) 1 part and dishwash liquid 4 parts. Mix
together and rub in to
the sap stain. Leave for 20 minutes and then wash in water and your usual
laundry detergent as
hot as the fabric will allow. You may have to repeat this process.