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Stain removal guide
STAIN
TO REMOVE
Alcoholic
These stains turn brown with age, so treat immediately. Sponge or soak fresh
beverage
stains with cold water. Wash. If stain remains, soak 15 minutes in a
SOlUtiOn of
lukewarm water, liquid detergent and a few drops of white vinegar. Rinse and
rewash.
Blood
Rinse immediately or soak in cold water with enzyme presoak for 30 minutes
or longer. Rinse. Rub detergent into any remaining stains. Rinse. If stain
remains, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide on stain for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly. Wash.
Chewing
Use ice to make gum hard. Scrape off what you can. Sponge with a nonflam-
gum
mable dry cleaning solvent. Let dry. Wash.
Chocolate or
Sponge immediately with a nonflammable dry cleaning solvent or apply a
coffee
prewash soil and stain remover. Rinse. Wash. If stain remains, apply a liquid
detergent to stain or soak in warm water with an enzyme presoak. Rewash.
Crayon and
Scrape off excess with a dull knife. Place fabric between two blotters or facial
candle wax
tissue. Press with warm iron. Remove color stain with nonflammable dry
cleaning solvent. Hand wash until stain is gone, then machine launder in the
hottest water safe for fabric. If full load is crayon stained, take to cleaners or
coin-op dry cleaning machine.
Cream, milk
Sponge with a nonflammable dry cleaning solvent, or a prewash soil and stain
or ice cream
remover. Rinse. Wash. Repeat if necessary. If stain remains, apply a few
drops of liquid detergent and a few drops of ammonia. Blot dry and rinse. If
stain remains, soak in an enzyme presoak. Wash.
Deodorants
Light stain:
Treat with liquid detergent or your regular laundry detergent.
and anti-
Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
perspirants
Heavy stain:
Place face down on towel and treat with a paste of ammonia and
all-fabric bleach. Let stand for 30 minutes. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
Fat, grease
See Warning on page 3, then remove stains using one of the methods below.
or oil
Always hand wash before machine laundering.
l Use pretreatment stain remover. Follow label directions. Wash in hottest
water safe for fabric.
l Use talcum powder to absorb as much grease as possible. Sponge with a
nonflammable dry cleaning solvent. Rinse. Wash.
l Treat with liquid detergent or rub a detergent paste on the stain. Wash using
hottest water safe for fabric.
Fruit stains
Fresh stalns:
Soak immediately in cool water. Wash. If stain remains, cover
area with a paste made of all-fabric bleach, a few drops of hot water and a few
drops of ammonia. Wait 15 to 30 minutes. Wash.
Old stalns:
Sponge with white vinegar. Rinse. Repeat procedure for fresh
stains.
Grass or
Soak in warm or cold water with an enzyme presoak for at least 30 minutes,
green
or sponge with denatured alcohol. Wash in water temperature and bleach safe
vegetables
for the fabric. For colored fabrics, check colorfastness before applying alcohol.
For acetate, sponge with a nonflammable dry cleaning solvent. If stain
remains, bleach with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Rinse. Rewash.
Ink or
Spray stain with an aerosol hair spray or rubbing alcohol. Sponge stain
ballpoint
continuously until all bleeding stops. Let dry. Repeat if necessary. Wash. If
pen ink
stain remains, bleach if safe for fabric. (India and other indelible inks are
almost impossible to remove completely.)
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