TYPES OF STAIN AND TREATMENT TO USE

Acids:

Act quickly, as soon as you can, because acid can damage the fabric, use immediately cold water, then sprinkle the stain with baking soda. If the acid has dried on the garment, neutralise with baking soda before putting it in the washing machine otherwise the water will react with the acid which will continue its corrosive action, damaging the spotted garment.

Coffee:

Rinse immediately with carbonated water; if the stain is old, soak for 30 minutes in hot water, then rub with liquid detergent and mild bleach, (colour-safe bleach), let air dry. If there is still a ring on the fabric, repeat the operation again.

Coal, soot, tar:

Gently brush every trace of stains, then wash with lukewarm water. In order to remove the tar, use a specific stain remover.

Tar:

Rub the stain with a paste of water with baking soda rather than a detergent; if the stain is particularly resistant, polish with essence of petroleum and eggshell, then rinse thoroughly with water adding a tablespoon (tbsp: 25 g) of baking soda to the last rinse.

Foods, sauces, soups:

If the stain is greasy, use an absorbent product such as talc or chalk, then use a specific stain remover. If the stain does not contain traces of grease, wash it with lukewarm water and detergent.

Glue: (not PVA: polyvinyl acetates):

Wet the stain with cold water, scrape it off with a blunt knife, then treat with water and ammonia.

Water-soluble colours:

Rinse and dab the stain with cold water, then wash as usual.

Grass:

Remove the stain with pure alcohol, then wash the garment; soak it for a few hours if necessary.

Mud:

Let it dry and then brush off as much mud as possible; if it persists, soak garment with 2-3 tbs (tablespoons) of ammonia and 2-3 tbs of detergent and water, rinse, let dry and if necessary, dab with alcohol to remove the ring.

Ice cream:

Remove with cold water; on wool: gently use trichloroethylene.

Chewing gum:

Put the garment in the freezer or put an ice cube on the chewing gum to harden it up, then gently use a dull blade or plastic knife to remove the gum. You can also use the adhesive tape.

Solid grease stains, wax:

Remove the excess parts by scraping with a dull knife; to absorb any residue, place the stained fabric between two clean, white blotters and press with a warm iron, changing the blotter as it becomes soiled; Then treat with a solvent or a stain remover.

Grease on polyester fabrics:

Rub baking soda on stains, then brush off.

Grease on synthetic fabrics:

Rub baking soda on the stain, then brush off.

Ink on leather garments:

Lay the garment on a flat surface and sprinkle the stains with baking soda, let act until the ink is completely absorbed, then brush off. Repeat the operation if necessary.

Lemons, vinegar, acidic substances:

Wash immediately with water and soap, after rinsing, dry the excess water.

Liquors, sugar, soft drinks:

Rinse with tepid water, then wash as usual. If garments are white, you can bleach them with hydrogen peroxide to remove rings.

Shoe polish:

Treat with petrol and essence of turpentine.

Ballpoint pen ink stains on leather garments:

Lay the garment on a flat surface and sprinkle the stains with baking soda. Leave on until the ink is fully absorbed, brush it off, and then repeat if necessary.

Pencil:

Sprinkle a damp cloth with baking soda and lightly rub the stain. Rinse then thoroughly.

Oil and grease:

For oil stains, put a drop of turpentine; when it has evaporated, put a blotting paper on the reverse side of the fabric and press with warm iron.

Pen, ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen:

Try to act promptly, because dry ink is very hard to remove. Treat the stain with water and alcohol or pure alcohol, putting blotting paper under the stain; wash then with water and mild detergent.

Pollen:

Do not rub the fabric with your hands because the stain could set on the fabric. Let the stain dry, then brush the pollen off. You can also use an adhesive tape: gently place the adhesive tape over the pollen-affected area, do not press hard otherwise the pollen will be pressed into the garment. Lift it up gently and quickly so that the pollen can come up with it.

Perfume:

It suffices to treat the stain with a spray stain remover before washing, then wash as usual. As an alternative you can apply a paste of baking soda and ammonia making sure about the colour fastness of the fabric; Let the paste dry, preferably in the sun, if possible. Then, wash as usual.

Lipstick, pastels:

You can use a solvent to remove the stain or a bit of dishwashing detergent, then you can proceed with washing, following the instructions on the label of the garment.

Rust:

Use the appropriate packages of oxalic acid, taking care to put blotting paper under the fabric, then wash with cold water.

Blood:

Dab the stain with a cotton ball wet with hydrogen peroxide, then proceed to wash with cold water and detergent.

Nail polish:

Use nail polish remover, applying it on the reverse side of the stained fabric. Do not use on fabrics such as acetate and modacrylic.

Swet:

Before washing, rub the stain with a paste of baking soda and water; for stubborn stains, let the paste act for 2/3 hours.

Sweat, urine:

In this case you must act promptly: wash with water and ammonia, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.

Tea:

Treat the stain with lukewater and lemon juice.

Red wine, fruit:

Dab and rinse with lukewarm and soap or with ammonia. Another method is washing with cold water with vinegar or lemon juice.