They are the enemies of summer clothes: mustard dribbled from that hot dog at the barbecue; grass stains from watching the fireworks on your back; blood from the scuffle on the soccer field. They’re stubborn, seasonal stains that ruin a perfectly good dress or pair of pants.
What’s a clean freak to do? We figure you’ve collected a few of these unsightly smears over the past few months. But with proper cleaning, these soiled garments just might have another life.
Here is a list of common summer stains and the most effective way to zap them out. Keep in mind that the advice – culled from cleaners, Cotton Inc. and how-to books – is for hearty, washable fabrics. For valuable clothes, dark colors such as red and black, and delicate materials such as silk, take clothes to a dry cleaner pronto, before the stain sets in.
Barbecue sauce. Try a spot remover or pre-treat with a squirt of liquid detergent before laundering as usual. Take a look to make sure the stain is gone before throwing it in the dryer, which tends to set the stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Grass. Soak the garment in a mixture of a half-cup of powder detergent dissolved into a gallon of warm water. Make sure the entire garment is soaking in the solution. Launder as usual and make sure the stain is gone before putting the garment in the dryer. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Fresh fruits. Rinse with cold water. Apply a little liquid detergent or dishwashing soap on the area, rub gently and let stand for a few minutes. Rinse and repeat if necessary. If stain remains, try pre-treating with a stain remover before tossing into the washing machine.
Grease. From juicy burgers to salad dressing, oily stains require speedy action. Treat immediately by sprinkling a little artificial sweetener on the spot to absorb the oil. Brush it off just before applying a spot remover or a liquid dish soap such as Dawn or Ivory. Rinse with warm water. Launder as usual. Let it air-dry to make sure the grease stain is gone.
Sunscreen. Apply a spot remover on the stained area. Then pre-treat the garment in a mixture of liquid detergent and warm water for about 30 minutes before laundering.
Mud. Remove as much of the dried mud as you can with a soft bristle brush. Rinse the area in cold water to dilute what remains. Once most of the mud is gone, wash the garment in warm water. If the stain persists, try a spot remover or liquid-detergent soak for several hours and launder again.
Ketchup. Pre-treat the stain with a solution that is equal parts white vinegar and water. Use an eyedropper if the stain is in a small spot. Rinse with water and proceed to a regular laundry cycle.
Mustard. Scrape as much of it off as possible, then rinse the stain from the back thoroughly with cold water. Rub liquid detergent on the stain and allow it to stand for about 30 minutes. Rinse and repeat. If stain remains, use a spot-remover stick or spray, then try laundering as usual. Make sure stain is gone before putting the garment in the dryer.
Perspiration. For new stains, pre-treat with a liquid detergent, then wash the garment as you would normally. For old stains, use a sponge to dab on a solution of one tablespoon ammonia and a half-cup of water or one tablespoon white vinegar and a half-cup of water. Wash shirts with a bleach-free detergent in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric.
Lipstick. Place the stain face-down on a folded paper towel. Sponge area with dry-cleaning solvent. Replace the towel as the stain transfers onto it. When you’ve removed most of the lipstick, let it dry. Before laundering, rub liquid detergent into what remains. Repeat if needed.
Sodas. Mix a quarter-cup of hydrogen peroxide with three cups of water. Using a spray bottle, spray soiled area and let stand for 10 minutes. Rinse in a solution of a quarter-cup of white vinegar and three-quarters of a cup of cold water, then blot dry.
Ice cream. First, blot the spill. Then mix one teaspoon of a mild detergent such as Ivory with a cup of lukewarm water and soak the area. If the spot remains, try a pre-treating solution before laundering as usual.
Blood. Scrape off anything dried on, then flush cold water through the stain for several minutes. Soak for 15 minutes in a mixture of one quart of lukewarm water, half a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon ammonia. Don’t use hot water, which can permanently set protein stains. Rinse and repeat if stain remains. For stubborn blood stains, let the garment soak for several hours in the water-detergent-ammonia solution. For a heavy stain, make a paste out of powder detergent and water and let it dry on the garment. Rinse off before laundering.
Mildew. Brush or shake off mildew. Pre-treat the stains by rubbing the areas with a heavy-duty liquid detergent and letting it set for about an hour. Launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric; use chlorine bleach if possible. Let item dry in the sun. Make sure the stain and the mildew smell is gone before putting garment away.
