Getting an accidental stain on your clothing can be a nuisance. Here are some fixes for common stains. Important! 1)Treat the stain quickly to lessen the chance of it setting in. 2) Suggested treatments are for non fading, washable fabrics. Check care instructions before trying anything.
Blood
Soak in cold water to remove as much of the stain as possible. Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater. (hydrogen peroxide also works great) and launder as usual.
Body stains (sweat, collar/cuff soil, deodorant)
Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater. Soak in a mixture of warm water and mild detergent for 15-30 minutes. Launder as usual.
Coffee / tea
Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater. Soak in a mixture of mild soap (detergent not bar soap) & cold water for 10-20 minutes. Launder as usual.
Candle wax
Remove the dried wax with a dull knife or card. Place stain side down between white paper towels and press with a slightly warm iron until no more stain transfers. Change paper towels often. Apply a spot remover, Hand wash in warm soapy water. Rinse and hang dry.
Chewing gum
Apply ice to harden the stain. Scrape carefully with an object with a dull edge (e.g. spoon, plastic card). Blot (do not rub) with stain treater. Launder as usual.
Drinks (beer, fruit juice, soda, berries)
If stain is fresh, rinse with cold water. Soak item in a solution of mild soap (detergent not bar soap) and cold water for 15 -30 minutes. Launder.
Felt tip pen
On color fast washables, Soak for 10 minutes in a mixture of soap and a few drops of amonia. Rinse and then launder as usual. Some felt markers will leave a permanent stain.
Gravies / sauces, ice cream
Treat with stain treater. Rinse with cold water. If stain persists, soak garment in mild detergent and cold water for 15-30 minutes. Launder as usual.
Grease (oil, butter, dressing, etc)
Use stain treater and launder as usual. If stain remains, sprinkle with cornstarch or un-medicated talc powder. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Repeat.
Lipstick / makeup (for colorfast washables)
If stain is fresh, use stain treater and launder. If dried, try blotting with rubbing alcohol. Immediately rinse and launder as recommended.
Ink /ballpoint
For colorfast washables, spray with aerosol hairspray. Launder in cold water as usual. Repeat if necessary.
Nail polish
Place stain down over paper towels. Carefully sponge with acetone for 10-15 minutes. Rinse in cold water and launder. Acetone can damage some fabrics. Do not use on DYNEL, ACETATE or SPANDEX.
Wine (red or white)
If stain is wet, saturate with club soda and blot (do not rub) with a clean towel. Wash in cold water