How to Remove Stains and Salvage Your Clothing

Do you shiver in fear and frustration when your crisp, white shirt gets stained with red wine? Many of us have probably been there, and dread these unfortunate incidents. However, they are not as much of a disaster as we often might think. In this guide, we will present some methods for stain removal well worth trying next time an accident happens.

Red Wine

Soak the stain in a mix of soapy water and ammonia, then rinse with lukewarm water. Wash the garment at the highest temperature indicated on its washing instructions.

Grass

Wash your garment at the highest temperature it can tolerate. If the stain does not come off, try rubbing the remnants with gall soap, before hand-washing.

Blueberries

If your garment can tolerate it, put the stained area in boiling water and see if it dissolves the stain. If this does not help, apply some white wine, or apple cider, vinegar to the stain and leave it to work for a minute or two, before washing with soap or gall soap.

Blood

Immediately soak the garment in cold water and liquid laundry detergent until the stain has mostly disappeared, then wash your garment as usual. Be aware that warm water will cause the blood to coagulate and make removing the stain very difficult.

Ink

Dampen the stain with gall soap and rinse with clean water. Take care not to spread the stain further while trying to remove it. Use water sparingly. Repeat the procedure until the stain no longer gives off any ink. Finally, rub the stain with soap and water and wash the garment as usual.

Fat/Grease

Try washing the garment at the highest temperature it tolerates. If the stain is not removed, treat with a stain remover or gall soap.

Chocolate

Gently scrape off excess chocolate from garment surface, though make sure to avoid spreading the stain over a larger area. A dull table knife can be used as a scraper to avoid pressing more chocolate into the fabric. Wash the garment in laundry detergent containing bleach (if the fabric allows) at the highest temperature suitable for the garment.

Chewing Gum

Put your garment in a bag in the freezer for about an hour. This hardens the gum and makes it fragile. Now break the gum and remove the pieces. Use white spirit to remove potential gum residue (Caution: this may damage synthetic fabrics). Wash as usual.

Lipstick

Pre-treat the stain with liquid laundry detergent, then wash your garment as usual. If the stain is not removed, you can try treating it with white spirit and then rewashing.

Candle Wax

Let the candle wax cool off and harden somewhat before trying to removed it. Make sure the stain does not spread while the wax hardens. Scrape off the wax as thoroughly as possible. After, place a sheet of blotting paper over the stain and iron on a temperature just warm enough to liquify the wax. Repeat the process using a new sheet of paper if the first becomes saturated and does not soak up any more wax. Now soak the stain with white spirit and rub it with soap and water to remove the last of the stain. Finally wash your garment as usual. Stain removal wipes for ties and baby wipes have been known to work wonders in a pinch, after wax has hardened. Tread carefully.

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Please note that all advice given above is meant for garments that can be washed in water. If your garment should be dry-cleaned, please consult your dry-cleaner.