Going through the day without a spill is hard to do. Whether it’s spilled coffee or ketchup on our white shirt, we know that stains can be annoying. If you have a handy laundry sink at home, you can work the stain out.
There are, however, some stains that are not that easy to remove. Take the ballpoint pen as an example. It was upside down in our pocket and we ruined our favorite shirt. In situations like this, oftentimes we try multiple products to remove resilient stains to no avail. But there are some tricks you can use to remove specific stains. In this article, we look at seven of the most common stains and some tips on how to remove them.
1) Dye Stains
Dye stains occur when you mix light colors, such as white, with darker colors, such as blue and black. The problem with removing dye is that dye is precisely what we use to get color into our fabrics to begin with. But have no fear, dye stains are far from permanent. One of the things you can do is to soak the stained clothing in a container filled with cold water. You then would pour some oxygenized non-chlorine bleach such as OxiClean into the bucket and allow the affected clothing item to soak for no less than eight hours. In some instances, you may have to repeat this process multiple times to completely remove the stain.
2) Organic Fluid Stain
Organic fluids can be best described as any liquid which came from a living organism, whether it be a dog or human. Organic fluids entail anything from vomit, blood, urine, sweat, and more. The key to removing organic fluids from your clothes is to use an enzymatic detergent in addition to an oxygenated non-chlorine bleach. An enzymatic detergent has the ability to break down proteins which are the reasons why bodily fluids like blood are so difficult to remove in the first place.
3) Coffee Stains
The key to removing coffee and tea stains is to rinse the clothing items as soon as possible. Coffee and tea are packed with tannins. Tannin is an essential ingredient in the dye-making process. Therefore, just like a traditional dying product, you can easily remove the stain by keeping the clothing item submerged in water before it has an opportunity to dry. To completely remove the stain, use an enzymatic laundry detergent in your wash cycle and use a hot temperature setting.
4) Grass Stains
Many people are convinced that grass stains are permanent. The reality is that they aren’t permanent if you tackle it as soon as possible. Grass is rich in natural pigments that stick to clothing fibers, similarly to how dye molecules stick to clothing fibers. To remove dye stains, soak the affected clothing item as soon as possible and wash it as you normally would.
5) Dairy Stains
Another annoying stain some people struggle to remove are yogurt, milk, ice cream and other kinds of dairy stains. Dairy stains fall under the same category as organic stains, but you have to use a different process to remove them. It is suggested to use warm water to remove organic fluid stains, applying hot or warm water to a dairy stain can “cook” the proteins which will cause the stain to discolor the clothing item even more so. In order to remove dairy stains, you should let the clothing item dry and brush off excess crust that’s on the garment. Then, add an enzyme presoak to a container of room-temperature water and let it soak for thirty minutes.
6) Red Wine Stains
The problem with red wine stains is based on a chemical that is found in grapes, which goes by the name of chromogen. Chromogens are what give plants their varied colors. Chromogens are also an essential ingredient for creating dyes. In essence, a bottle of red wine can be viewed as being a bottle of dye molecules. Additionally, red wine is also rich in tannins. Tannins are an important ingredient that’s necessary for creating ink. By mixing one part dishwashing liquid and three parts hydrogen peroxide, you can use this solution to rid your clothing items of wine stains.
7) Juice and Fruit Stains
If you have a child, chances are that you’re well aware of how difficult it is to remove fruit and juice stains. You’ll be glad to know that it’s relatively easy to remove this kind of stain. The trick is to let it soak in a container of detergent and warm water for no less than twenty minutes. Once it comes to washing the garment in your washing machine, use the hottest temperature setting.
