There are a number of cheap, readily available and environmentally friendly items that can help you clean even the most stubborn of stains, and while they may not work on more delicate materials such as silks or cottons (seek professional advice for cleaning these), they work wonderfully well on cotton and many other synthetic fabrics:
Take fast action!
All stains are easier to remove if you treat them as soon as possible, and for most stains, soaking them immediately in salt water can help to break down the stain and prevent the fabric from drying and setting the stain further.
Use a different method for protein stains:
Stains caused by blood, dairy products and eggs for example, should be washed in plenty of cold water as soon as possible, in fact, some protein stains disappear with water alone. However, if the stain persists, soak it in cold, salted water until the stain goes. NEVER use hot water on protein stains, or acids like lemon or vinegar; they’ll simply set the stain.
After soaking, use mild soap to rub the stain before rinsing it with cold water. Once the stain has gone, wash the item as normal.
Fruity stains can be cleaned with vinegar:
For an item of clothing with a fruit stain, rinse it in water before soaking it in a mixture of vinegar and water, and watch as the stain miraculously dissipates.
Sweat stains can also be cleaned with vinegar; soak the item in vinegar, or for more stubborn sweaty stains, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda and rub it all over the stain. Leave the paste on the stain for at least thirty minutes before washing.
Use dish soap, vinegar and baking soda to remove oil stains:
For oil stains, hot water is necessary, and you can wash the stained item in hot water and use a little dish soap. This is usually effective, however, for very stubborn oil stains, pop the item of clothing in a big bowl and pour boiling water over it before adding a little vinegar or baking soda. Leave it to soak for a while and the stain should begin to disappear; you might need to scrub it lightly with a soft brush and a bit of dish soap.
A winning homemade stain remover:
Lemon essential oil is an amazing safe and great smelling stain remover, and can be used on most fabrics (but perform a spot test first), just be sure to add it to water in a glass spray bottle, as it will corrode plastic.
Stains are a pain, but removing them need not be. Follow the above tips to help you eradicate unsightly stains, and seek advice from a professional cleaning company if you have a stain that is particularly troublesome.
