Stain Removing Shortcuts

Household cleaners can be very costly, but removing stains in clothes doesn’t have to be a break of the bank. Here is a small list of different kinds of stains and shortcuts to removing them with things you may already have in your home.

Paint Watercolour Watercolor by Prawny

1. Blood. Needs to be treated right away. The quickest and most effective way to remove blood from clothes is *COLD water. Some of it will fade right away by just holding the affected area under the running water. To fully remove use the handsoap that’s by your sink (liquid or solid/bar — doesn’t matter) and rub clothing together with soap and running water. Then, lay clothing to air dry.
2. Grass. Can be removed with lighter fluid like Ronsonol brand (for example). Grass is a tough stain like blood, so treating it when it happens will have longer lasting effects than waiting. Squirt the affected area with the lighter fluid, let it soak for 5–10 minutes, and throw it in the washer with the rest of your load.
3. Ink. This applies to pens and markers. Is easily removed with rubbing alcohol. Squirt or pour a small amount of alcohol on the ink stain and watch it fade. To remove the remaining stain, run *COLD water over it, more alcohol, while rubbing the cloth together. Once, you have removed the stain lay clothing to air dry.
4. Oil/Grease. Can be removed with Brake Cleaning Spray. Use sparingly and apply in a well ventilated space or open space.
5. Wine. Can be lifted with hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing soap. Combine three parts peroxide to one part dishwashing fluid and apply with a sponge or rag to spot on fabric. Scrub, dab, repeat. Pat dry.
6. Tomato sauce and strong stains. Try Huggies baby wipes. Moisten the stain, press, dab, repeat. The lanolin in the wipes helps lift the toughest stains with no residual mess. It may take some time, but it’s good to keep these around for accidents and spills.

These treatments will save you money and energy while providing peace of mind.

*Water temperature is very important. Hot water will prevent and in some cases slow down the stain removal process. Cold water is your best bet in fighting difficult stains.