Candle wax. Harden wax by freezing or using ice. Scrape off as much wax
as possible. Place paper towels on both sides of the stain and, with the stain
side down, press with a warm iron. Change paper towels frequently to soak
up more wax. Do not put an item in the dryer until all of the wax is removed.
Chewing gum. Harden gum with an ice cube, then scrape off as much
as possible. Soak in dry-cleaning solvent until the rest of the gum can be
removed.
Chocolate. Pre-treat by soaking in warm water with a stain treatment. If
laundering does not remove the stain, wash again with the appropriate bleach.
Coffee/tea. Soak the item in cold water, then pre-treat with stain remover
or laundry detergent. If the stain does not come out after the first wash,
rewash with the appropriate bleach.
Berries. Soak in cool water and wash in warm suds. If, after rinsing, the
stain is still visible, use the appropriate bleach.
Grass. Pre-treat spot with an enzyme product. If the stain does not come
out after the first wash, rewash with the appropriate bleach.
Grease. Pre-treat the fabric with a stain remover or laundry detergent, followed by laundering with the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Ink. Sponge with rubbing alcohol and launder as usual.
Ketchup and other tomato-based products. Soak in cold water before
laundering. If a greasy stain remains, treat with dry-cleaning solvent.
Lipstick. Pre-treat with stain remover and launder as usual.
Makeup. Pre-treat with stain remover and launder as usual.
Mildew/mold. Wash in bleach safe for the fabric in the hottest water possible.
Paint. For water-based paint, soak the still-wet item in warm water and
launder as usual. For oil-based paint, use turpentine or other suggested thinner, then rinse and treat with a stain remover or laundry detergent before
laundering.
Rust. Treat with commercial rust remover before laundering
Scorch mark. If the fabric has not been damaged, wash item in warm
water using the appropriate bleach.
Urine (human). Rinse the stain with cold water and wash in warm, sudsy
water with the appropriate bleach.
Wine, red. Soak the item in cold water and treat with stain remover or
laundry detergent. Wash in warm water with the appropriate bleach.
Wine, white. Sponge the stain with cool water, rub with liquid laundry
detergent and launder as usual. A
No stain,
no pain
Stain removers are designed to
help treat a spot before it sets and
becomes a permanent feature on an
item of clothing. Typical use means they
can be left on for a few hours—or even a
few days—before washing. They come in
store-bought (such as Oxiclean, which is
available at Costco) and homemade
varieties, which can include as ingredients rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, dry-cleaning fluid, mild synthetic laundry
detergent, household ammonia, bleach,
hydrogen peroxide or enzyme detergent.
Linda Cobb, better known as the
Queen of Clean, has several recipes for
stain removers. See page 72 for instructions on making all-purpose and oil-stain removers.
Sources: Cleaning Plain & Simple, by Donna Smallin, and Good
Housekeeping’s The Complete Household Handbook.
