While stains are an inevitable part of life, not all things are created equal. A common coffee or ketchup spill should be treated differently than more complex stains–it’s oftentimes the more unusual stains that pose a challenge to remove. It’s crucial that you know what to do in the (hopefully) rare occurrence of one of these difficult stains. Here are some tips and tricks to remove some uncommon stains from your everyday garments.
Candle wax
Have you ever wondered: “how to remove candle wax from clothes?” If you are anything like us, you’ve only found contradicting answers to this complex question. Whether it drips from your favorite candle during a cozy evening or you accidentally tipped over the candle with liquid wax at the bottom, wax can look impossible to remove. What you must do first, is allow the candle wax stain to harden–you can speed up this process by placing the garment in a colder room. Once solidified, gently scrape as much wax from the surface as possible with a spoon. Place a paper towel over the remaining wax stain, and by using an iron on low heat, press it over the paper. The heat will melt the wax, which will then be absorbed by the paper in between. Repeat this process until your paper returns dry every time. Finally, give the garment a good laundry wash on the highest allowed heat.
Ink stains
Ink stains look the most daunting of all, especially on lighter-colored clothing–luckily they are manageable. Grab a paper towel or cloth and place it under the stained area to prevent the ink from spreading. Dab the stain with rubbing alcohol or a professional ink remover, while working from the outside to in to avoid further spreading the stain to the rest of the garment. After treating the stain, it is important that you wash the garment immediately and separately from other garments. If the ink still remains, you may need to repeat the process.
Grass and mud
Maybe the most common of the uncommon bunch, especially for kids and active folks: the grass and mud stains. To remove grass stains, apply a liquid detergent to the stained area and gently rub it in. Leave it on there for a few minutes before rinsing it off with cold running water. For mud stains, just like with the candle wax, allow the mud to fully dry first–brush off the hardened excess mud later. Using a specified stain remover can help speed up the process, but liquid detergent works as well. Apply it, rub it in, let it sit for a few minutes, then toss it into the washing machine at the maximum allowed temperature. Always check the garment’s care label before applying any treatment.
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Removing uncommon stains from common clothes requires quick action and the right cleaning methods. For ink stains, blot with rubbing alcohol before washing. Oil or grease stains can be absorbed with baking soda or cornstarch, followed by dish soap. Red wine stains should be treated with salt and club soda. Sweat stains disappear with a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Blood stains respond well to cold water and hydrogen peroxide. Grass stains can be lifted using white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Always test on a small area first and wash as per fabric instructions.