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Stain Removal Guide
Stain Removal Suggestions
STAIN
TREATMENT
Adhesive tape, chewing
gum, rubber cement
Apply ice. Scrape off excess. Place stain face down on paper towels. Saturate with prewash
stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid.
Baby formula, dairy prod-
ucts, egg
Use product containing enzymes to pretreat or soak stains. Soak for 30 minutes or more.
Wash.
Beverages (coffee, tea,
soda, juice, alcoholic
beverages)
Pretreat stain. Wash using cold water and bleach safe for fabric.
Blood Rinse with cold water. Rub with bar soap. Or, pretreat or soak with product containing en-
zymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Candle wax, crayon Scrape off surface wax. Place stain face down between paper towels. Press with warm iron
until wax is absorbed. Replace paper towels frequently. Treat remaining stain with prewash
stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid. Hand wash to remove solvent. Wash us-
ing bleach safe for fabric.
Chocolate Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe
for fabric.
Collar or cuff soil, cosmet-
ics
Pretreat with prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap.
Dye transfer on white
fabric
Use packaged color remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Grass Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe
for fabric.
Grease, oil, tar (butter,
fats, salad dressing, cook-
ing oils, car grease, motor
oils)
Scrape residue from fabric. Pretreat. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric. For heavy
stains and tar, apply nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid to back of stain. Replace towels under
stain frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric.
Ink Some inks may be impossible to remove. Washing may set some inks. Use prewash stain
remover, denatured alcohol or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid.
Mildew, scorch Wash with chlorine bleach if safe for fabric. Or, soak in oxygen bleach and hot water before
washing. Badly mildewed fabrics may be permanently damaged.
Mud Brush off dry mud. Pretreat or soak with product containing enzymes.
Mustard, tomato Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Nail polish May be impossible to remove. Place stain face down on paper towels. Apply nail polish
remover to back of stain. Repeat, replacing paper towels frequently. Do not use on acetate
fabrics.
Paint, varnish WATER BASED: Rinse fabric in cool water while stain is wet. Wash. Once paint is dry, it can-
not be removed. OIL BASED AND VARNISH: Use solvent recommended on can label. Rinse
thoroughly before washing.
Perspiration Use prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap. Rinse. Wash using nonchlorine bleach in
hottest water safe for fabric.
Rust, brown or yellow
discoloration
Use rust remover safe for fabric. Do not use chlorine bleach because it may intensify discol-
oration.
Shoe polish LIQUID: Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water. PASTE: Scrape residue from
fabric. Pretreat with prewash stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid. Rinse. Rub
detergent into dampened area. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Tomato Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Urine, vomit, mucus, feces Pretreat or soak in product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Wine Pretreat or soak in cold water. Wash in hottest water and bleach safe for fabric