How To Remove Stains

You can never be careful enough with stains.

Whether it was the bright-red curry that splattered onto your t-shirt while you were cooking dinner, or the laksa gravy spots which “decorated” your white blouse while you were happily slurping up your noodles. Or that stubborn lipstick stain on your collar from this morning, when changing into your clothes half awake?

These uninvited substances just seem to have you targeted all the time.

If you’re lucky, stains can be easily removed by simply rubbing soap water onto the fabric; if you’re not, they can ruin an otherwise perfect piece of clothing.

Just like that.

With the huge amount of money we spent buying new clothes at stake, it’s important to learn how to tackle persistent stains in order to lengthen the lifespan of your clothing.

Here are a few essential tips on how to remove stains:

Tip 1: Prevent Stain Setting In Before Wash

Those few minutes after you get hit is golden because it is key to avoiding the substance from setting into the fabric and staying forever. Some substances, especially oil based ones, can bond chemically with the fabric.

At this point, you may sometimes find that the fabric has decolorized all together. The tiny fibres in the fabric have worn off, while you were attempting to scrub off the stains.

Therefore, be sure to treat stain immediately with water – that is, if the proper solvent is not available.

Using a paper towel or napkin, dab water onto the affected area until the stain is thoroughly soaked. The patch will look visible at first, but the stain material will take time to dissolve.

When you have reached home, proceed with gently scrubbing the patch with detergent, followed by rinsing with lukewarm water. This should do the trick, and the stain should come off pretty easily.

Tip 2: Specialized Treatment For Persistent Stains

If the stains still appear to be persistent despite your attempt to prevent it from setting into the fabric, this calls for specific treatment during laundry.

Different stain materials require different attention. Stains from household materials such as food and baby powder, are usually easier to tackle as compared to commercial products.

Tip 3: Studying The Fabric

It is essential to take note if the solvent you are working with is going to damage the fabric. You may end up destroying the whole fabric if the wrong product is used.

To be on the safe side, be sure to check the label for washing instructions. Generally, cotton can endure pretty much any solvent, including bleach and light acids at any temperature. It is usually the easiest when it comes to cleaning cotton.

As for wool, this material is more delicate as compared to cotton. Wool is heat-sensitive and fragile. Applying too much force will risk tearing off the delicate fibre.

The most suitable way to treat wool is to keep it soaked in the right solvent instead of scrubbing it. Unlike cotton, bleach and acidic substance would damage wool quickly.

Synthetics such as rayon and polyester are tougher than wool. They can endure harsh scrubbing. On the flip side, they are vulnerable against bleaches that contain hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, stick to regular detergent for synthetics.

Tip 4: Using The Right Methods

It is necessary to gain some knowledge about applying the correct solvent for different kinds of stains, and considering the different types of fabric involved. This ensures that the right care is given when treating different stains.

Listed below are the specific solutions for removing different types of stains:

How To Remove Blood Stains
How To Remove Coffee Stains
How To Remove Grease Stains
How To Remove Ink Stains
How To Remove Oil Stains
How To Remove Water Stains
How To Remove Wine Stains
How To Remove Cement Stains
How To Remove Curry Stains
How To Remove Paint Stains
How To Remove Rust Stains
How To Remove Tea Stains