Tough Stains and How to Treat Them

 In Blog

“Laundry is the real Neverending Story.”

“When I said ‘I do,’ I didn’t mean the laundry.”

“Don’t you just love those 12 seconds when the laundry is done?”

Sure, these are all funny quotes about a chore that most people don’t particularly like doing, but there’s definitely a grain of truth in them. 

And then when you have clothes that have really tough stains, it can make this task even more dreaded. After all, every stain requires a different treatment – and it can get confusing! 

But here’s a little cheat sheet on how to treat some of the toughest stains you may face when it comes time to do laundry.

  • Lipstick: Has that tube of lipstick ever slipped out of your hand and landed on your dress? Or has your grandma ever given you a kiss and a little bit of her red lipstick got on your shirt? Before you put that piece of clothing in the wash, treat it with a stain removal product, rub it in gently, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then wash in the hottest water that is safe for that fabric. Before you put it in the dryer, check to make sure the stain is gone. If not, start the process again. But don’t put it in the dryer until the stain is gone.
  • Chocolate: Chocolate is DELICIOUS! But when it gets spilled on your clothes – it creates a mess. The first thing you need to do is get as much chocolate as possible off of your clothes. (Try using a knife to scrape it off.) Then turn the clothing item inside out and run cold water over the stain (from the inside). Next, use your favorite stain remover or laundry detergent to treat the stain and let the clothing item sit in cold water for 30-60 minutes. Then launder as usual. Repeat as necessary. As with all stained clothes, don’t place it in the dryer until the stain is gone. 
  • Grass: If you have children who enjoy playing outdoors or participate in sports, you’ve probably encountered the dreaded grass stain. It can seem impossible to get out, but it’s not! The Maids have some advice that will help you get it out – and save your kids’ clothes and uniforms. 
  • Blood: Cut yourself shaving and not notice the drop of blood on your shirt? It happens. But how are you going to get it out? Hydrogen peroxide can help – a lot! Real Simple has all of the steps you need to get your shirt looking just like new!
  • Perspiration: Do you have perspiration stains on your favorite white shirt? Not ready to throw it out? Don’t! How Stuff Works has several recommendations for getting rid of these stains – so you can see what works for you. And, while it may be tempting just to bleach out perspiration stains – skip the bleach. It can actually make the stains worse.
  • Grease: Grease stains on your clothes are probably one of the most common laundry stains you face. After all, it’s so easy to have something spill or drop while you’re eating a meal. But when it comes to treating grease stains, it’s important you know what type of fabric you’re working with. Cleanipedia has several methods that can help you make that grease stain disappear.
  • Ink: Did a pen explode in your shirt pocket? Yuck! But it doesn’t mean you need to wave goodbye to your shirt. It just means you need to put a little extra effort to get it clean. Firstcry Parenting has a couple of recommendations for ink stains – so keep trying until you get it out.

Tough stain on your favorite pair of pants or shirt? You can treat it – and save it! Try these tips to make those stains go away.

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