How to remove different types of laundry stains
Throughout our daily lives, we’re exposed to all sorts of foods and products that can get trapped in the fibres of our clothing and leave stains. Different kinds of stains respond to certain treatments, so it’s good to keep a well-stocked laundry shelf and a handy guide to the best stain-removal tricks.
Here are some of the most common laundry stains, and how to remove them:
Chewing gum: If you end up with gum stuck to your clothes, apply cold water or ice as soon as possible to harden it, then scrape as much as you can away with a dull knife. Then saturate with stain remover or cleaning liquid, rinse, then put through the wash.
Tomato sauce: Anything sugary like sauces, it’s best to begin by flushing the stain with cold water. Add some stain remover/liquid detergent, and use a soft laundry brush in an up-down motion to loosen the stain. Rinse. (You could also try washing with white vinegar at this stage and rinsing again). Repeat with the stain remover/vinegar until the stain is mostly gone, then launder.
Red wine/soft drinks/coffee/tea: soak the stain in cool water, or sponge it. Treat with stain remover or liquid detergent, then launder.
Candle wax: Start by scraping off any surface wax with a butter knife. Place the fabric between two paper towels and press with a warm iron. The paper towels will absorb the wax as it heats. Replace the towels as often as you need to absorb all the wax. Any remaining stain should be laid face down on paper towels, treated with stain remover, blotted, and allowed to dry before laundering.
Blood: For fresh blood stains, soak the stain in cold water. This is very important, as hot water will set the stain. Then launder.
Iron or rust discolouration: Look for specially-formulated products for removing rust stains. It’s very important not to use any products containing sodium hypochlorite bleach on rust because it will make the stain worse.
Cosmetics: Treat with stain remover or cleaning liquid before laundering.
Ink: The sad fact is that some types of ink may be impossible to remove from certain fabrics. Be very aware that washing an item with an ink stain may set the ink. Before laundering you can try pre-washing with a stain remover, sponging the stain with cleaning fluid or alcohol (it’s a good idea to place the fabric face down on paper towels and sponge the stain with the fluid, so the paper towels absorb the ink. Change the towels frequently).
Deodorant: pre-treat with your laundry detergent before washing.
For the best results, choose laundry products from the Living Green Laundry Range that contain only certified natural ingredients that won’t damage or weaken your clothing.