Stains are a part of life, but they don’t have to be a permanent addition to your clothes. Simply find the stain you wish to remove below for step-by-step instructions on how to remove it.
For the following fabric types:
Acrylic, Cotton, Linen, Lycra / Spandex, Nylon, Polyester, Rayon, Washable Silk, Washable Wool
REMOVE BALL-POINT INK
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Check an invisible corner of any colored fabrics to be sure that the treatment you choose will not affect the color of the garment.
3. Stretch the fabric with the stained area over the mouth of a jar or glass.
4. Drip rubbing alcohol through the stain so the ink drops into the container as the soil is removed.
5. If necessary, follow up with a wash in color-safe bleach.
6. Air dry and check the garment carefully for any residue before you put it in the dryer again.
REMOVE INK
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. If manufacturers’ directions will not work, take garment to a dry cleaner.
REMOVE PENCIL
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Pretreat with liquid detergent and wash in warmest water safe for your garment. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – EITHER HAND WASH OR USE THE WASHER CYCLE DESIGNED FOR HAND WASHING)
3. If necessary, repeat treatment.
4. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE CRAYON
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Scrape the affected area with a spoon or the back of a butter knife, being sure to remove any excess wax from the fabric.
3. Place the stained area face down on a white paper towel or a brown paper bag, and place another paper towel on top of the item.
4. Run a warm iron over the paper towel – the heat will melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the bag or towel.
5. Keep changing the paper towels until no more stain transfers.
6. Pretreat the stain, and wash in the warmest water possible for that garment.
7. Line or air dry – be sure all wax has been removed before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE FELT-TIP PEN
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Check an invisible corner of any colored fabrics to be sure that the treatment you choose will not affect the color of the garment.
3. Stretch the fabric with the stained area over the mouth of a jar or glass.
4. Drip rubbing alcohol through the stain so the ink drops into the container as the soil is removed.
5. If necessary, follow up with a wash in color-safe bleach.
6. Air dry and check the garment carefully for any residue before you put it in the dryer again.
REMOVE GLUE
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. For water soluble glue, remove by rinsing with cool water and wash according to care label on garment.
2. For water proof glue, consult the garment’s care label or bring to a dryer cleaner.
REMOVE MILDEW
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Soak the garment in a mixture of detergent and water for up to 30 minutes before washing in hottest (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – WARMEST) water safe for the garment.
3. If necessary, repeat treatment.
4. Follow-up with a wash in color-safe bleach for colors, or liquid chlorine bleach for whites. (SKIP FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL)
5. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE CANDLE WAX
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Scrape the affected area with a spoon or back of a butter knife to remove any excess wax.
3. Place the stained area face down on a white paper towel or brown paper bag, and place another paper towel on top of the garment.
4. Run a warm iron over the paper towel-the heat will melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the towel or bag.
5. Keep changing the paper towels until no more stain transfers.
6. Pretreat stain with liquid detergent, then wash in the warmest water safe for the garment.
7. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE SHOE POLISH
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. If manufacturers’ directions will not work, take garment to a dry cleaner.
REMOVE ANTIPERSPIRANT
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Turn the garment inside-out and pretreat stain with liquid detergent. Let garment sit for up to 30 minutes.
3. Wash in the hottest water safe for the garment. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – EITHER HAND WASH OR USE THE WASHER CYCLE DESIGNED FOR HAND WASHING)
4. Air dry and check for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before placing the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE TOOTHPASTE
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Rinse in warmest water safe for your garment.
2. Pretreat stain with a gentle liquid detergent and wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – EITHER HAND WASH OR USE THE WASHER CYCLE DESIGNED FOR HAND WASHING)
4. If necessary, repeat treatment.
5. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE COUGH SYRUP
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Rinse in warmest water safe for your garment.
2. Pretreat stain with a gentle liquid detergent and wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – EITHER HAND WASH OR USE THE WASHER CYCLE DESIGNED FOR HAND WASHING)
4. If necessary, repeat treatment.
5. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
REMOVE DIRTY SOCKS STAINS
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Soak socks in solution of non-chlorine/color-safe bleach and detergent solution in a bucket for about 15 minutes.
2. Remove from bucket and stretch the sock back and forth a couple of times.
3. Place sock in the washer with chlorine or color-safe bleach — whichever you prefer.
4. Wash in the warmest water possible.
REMOVE BLOOD
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on the garment.
2. Rinse in cool water or soak in a solution of cold water and detergent.
3. Wash in cold water with detergent and an oxygenated bleach for colors, or chlorine bleach for whites.
4. Repeat process if necessary; make sure all residue has been removed before drying.
REMOVE COLLAR/CUFF RINGS
Always read the label and follow any directions first.
1. Check the care label on your garment.
2. Rub liquid detergent into the stain and let work for up to 30 minutes, then wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – PRETREAT STAIN WITH A GENTLE LIQUID DETERGENT, THEN WASH THE GARMENT IN THE WARMEST WATER SAFE FOR THE FABRIC – EITHER HAND WASH OR USE THE WASHER CYCLE DESIGNED FOR HAND WASHING)
3. If necessary, follow-up with a wash with color-safe bleach for colors, or liquid chlorine bleach for whites. (FOR WASHABLE SILK & WASHABLE WOOL – IF NECESSARY, REPEAT TREATMENT)
4. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.