Cleaning may not be your favorite pastime. It is downright aggravating to see a spill or stain on your favorite chair, new carpet, or linens! Whatever your attitude toward cleaning, we can help you with this quick list of stain removal tricks below. Quick action is always the key to removing a stain, however we know that this is not always possible. We hope this information will help you with stain removal on most fabrics. Remember to bookmark this page as you don't know when you might need any of the spot removal tips listed below.
Red Wine - For your washable linens or fabric: Sponge off with cool water. Spread fabric over bowl, pour salt on stain, then pour extremely hot water through the fabric from a height of 12 inches. If garment is delicate, pour salt on stain, moisten with water, let stand, then scrape off and rinse. Non washable linens or fabric: Use oil solvent, use vinegar/water, then rinse.
Tea- Spread washable fabric or linens over a bowl, pour boiling water through fabric from a height of 12 inches, use combinations of solvent/ cool water, use oil solvent if needed, rinse with vinegar water, then plain water. Non washables linens: Use glycerin, let stand 30 minutes, rinse with cool water.
Rust- For your washable fabrics or linens use paste of salt, vinegar, let stand 30 minutes, wash. Use paste of salt/lemon juice, rinse use bleach if needed. For your nonwashable linens: dry clean the garment.
Ashes, Soot- Carefully brush all fabrics off. Masking tape can also lift ashes from a fabric surface. For your washable linens: moisten stained area with water, apply detergent and a few drops of ammonia, launder as instructed by fabric label. For nonwashable linens, apply detergent, rinse thoroughly as instructed by care label.
Bacon Grease- Washable linens need an absorbent to remove as much grease as possible, then apply a combination solvent followed by petroleum jelly. Nonwashable fabrics should be treated with an oil solvent.
Ballpoint Pen Ink- Apply glycerin, treat with detergent and rinse washable linens. For nonwashable fabrics: apply glycerin, treat with an oil solvent. Beer- Blot your washable linens with a dry cloth, rinse with cool water and vinegar, rinse, and apply digestant. If needed, try nonchlorine bleach. Nonwashable fabrics require cool water and vinegar rinse.
Candle wax - Take your washable linens and scrape wax off the fabric. Spread the fabric over a bowl, and pour boiling water through fabric from height of 12 inches, apply vinegar to remaining stain. You can use bleach if the fabric is white. For nonwashable linens, sandwich the fabric between paper towels, use warm iron. Apply oil solvent to any remaining stain.
Chewing Gum- Soften the bulk with peanut butter, then remove or freeze with ice. Break with a hammer. To remove the remaining gum from you washable linens, rinse with cool water, use a combination solvent.
Beer- Blot your washable linens with a dry cloth, rinse with cool water and vinegar, rinse, and apply digestant. If needed, try nonchlorine beach. For your non washable linens use cool water and vinegar, rinse.
Coffee- Washable linens require a combination solvent, rinse, spread the fabric over a bowl, pouring boiling water throughout the fabric from a height of 12 inches. Use oil solvent on dry fabric for cream stains, use vinegar if needed. For non washable linens use an absorbent, brush off, then use an oil solvent.
Chocolate- Apply absorbent to linens then use an oil solvent. Use digestant for any remaining stain. Nonwashable linens require dry cleaning.
Cooking Oil, Butter- Washable linens require a combination solvent, then launder, dry. Use oil solvent if needed. Nonwashable linens require the use of an absorbent, brush off, then use an oil solvent.
Ground In Dirt- Use combination solvent on washable linens. Wash with bleach if care instructions advise that bleach can be used. Nonwashable linens should be spot cleaned with detergent, use oil solvent on dry fabric.
Iron Scorch- Severe scorch can not be completely be removed, particularly on synthetic linens. Washable linens can be brushed or rubbed on the fabric surface with fine sandpaper, wash, and bleach remaining stain with water and vinegar. Bleach only if care instructions advise that bleach can be used. Nonwashable linens can be brushed or rubbed with fine sandpaper, sponge bleach on remaining stain. ( Use bleach only if care label advises bleach can be used on linens.)
Lipstick- Use oil solvent on washable linens. If needed, use liquid soap mixed with ammonia, rinse well, repeat if necessary. Nonwashable linens require a spot cleaning with an oil solvent.
Nail Polish- Washable linens can be treated with acetone, use mild bleach if needed and only if care label advises that bleach can be used. Nonwashable linens can be treated with acetone, bleach with vinegar and water. (acetone can be purchased at a paint store.) It is important that you use caution when using and storing acetone; it is flammable.
Paint (dried) oil or latex- Washable linens can be soaked with mineral spirits, and then apply liquid soap. Nonwashable linens can be spot cleaned with mineral spirits, rinse the spot area with water.
Paint (wet) Latex- Apply liquid soap to a washable fabric, rinse with water, repeat as needed. With nonwashable linens, you can apply liquid soap to the spot, rinse the spot, and do not launder.
Paint (wet) Oil- Soak washable linens in mineral spirits, apply liquid soap, rinse with water. Apply mineral spirits to spot on nonwashable linens, then apply an oil solvent.
Disclaimer: The treatments have been tested and shown to work in most instances. As with any situation, fabric blends are different. It is impossible to use all treatments on all linens and blended combinations. This site does not warranty the effectiveness of treatments suggested in any particular situation. This website is not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use of the treatments listed above.
Policies
Shopping Cart
