Do You Eat Like A Slob? Here's A Guide To Removing Stains.

Nothing is more frustrating than finding a stain on your favorite hoodie or a new pair of jeans. Even clothes you have had for ages get stained and need some loving care. Everyone offers advice on how to get a stain out and a lot of the advice is based on the type of stain. Here are some tips that actually work.

Red Wine Stains

Start by spraying the stain with diluted dishwashing detergent and blot gently. Flush the detergent out and then put white vinegar on the stain and blot it. After allowing the vinegar to work for about 5 minutes, rinse it out. If the stain remains, apply hydrogen peroxide and flush after a few minutes. These methods should remove almost all red wine stains.

Coffee and Tea Stains

You will need to use lemon juice or white vinegar to remove these stains. However, you do not want to just pour these cleaners directly onto the fabric, because they will lighten the unstained areas. For best results, use and eyedropper and put the cleaners directly on the stain.

Chocolate Stains

The first step is to scrape any excess chocolate off of the clothing. Next, spray the stain with diluted dishwashing detergent and gently blot it. Before washing the garment, apply a laundry detergent with enzymes directly to the stain.

Lipstick Stains

You will need to use a knife to scrape off the excess lipstick first. You will want to use a dull knife, so that you do not cause further damage to the material. You will want to use an eyedropper to put a dry solvent such as acetone or mineral spirits on the stain. You do not want to use these dry solvents in a confined space. Blot it gently. Rinse the stain using the eyedropper with isopropyl alcohol. You can repeat this process until the stain is gone.

Ketchup, Barbecue Sauce and Tomato Sauce Stains

First, you will want to scrape off extra sauce starting at the outside of the stain, so that it does not spread. Next, spray the stain with diluted dishwashing detergent and then allow it to soak in room temperature water. If you can still see the stain, you can remove the color using white vinegar applied directly to the stain with an eyedropper. Rinse all the vinegar out, treat the area with a laundry detergent with enzymes and wash it.

Cleaning Stains from Specialty Fabrics

Treating stains in less common materials like silk or fleece fabric typically means treating it based on the type of stain. First, you will want to put the item in cold water to loosen the stain by soaking it. You can work the stain with your nails or a stiff brush. You can use commercial stain removers, hairspray, or rubbing alcohol. You will want to avoid harsh solvents like acetone or white vinegar, because they can damage the fabric.

So...What About My Wool Sweater?

Wool clothing items should never see the inside of your washing machine unless you want the item to fit your 5-year old daughter. However, in many cases, you can remove small stains without taking the garment to a dry cleaner. You can use stain removers that do not have alkaline in them, wool-safe laundry detergents and vinegar mixed with a laundry detergent this is wool safe and applied with a dropper. You will want to allow these stain removers to sit for at least 30 minutes before you rinse the area. You do not ever want to treat wool with a product that has a high alkaline content.