Even if you're the most cautious person in the world, accidents happen. When you've got a wine spill, coffee stain or grease on your clothes, it's important to know what to use to remove these stains without damaging your clothes. Here are some tips to remove the most common types of stains with products that actually get the job done.
Bleach
Whether it's urine stains, dirt, grease or wine, bleach is a great way to remove most common stains. Always follow the laundering recommendations on the labels of your clothes as wool, spandex stretch fabrics, silk and fabrics with certain dyes should not be bleached. Most stains will disappear when clothes are laundered with bleach. The amount of bleach to use when doing laundry is normally provided on the product packaging. For tougher stains, try blotting the area with diluted bleach and then rinsing the garment as quickly as possible. Be sure to rinse the garment thoroughly as the bleach may create holes in the fabric otherwise.
Rubbing Alcohol
If the ink from a felt-tip marker comes in contact with your clothes, you'll need to act swiftly before the stain sets in. Place the garment with the stain facing downwards on paper towels. Apply rubbing alcohol around and directly onto the stain with a sponge or clean white cloth. Replace the paper towels as needed and continue applying alcohol to the stain until most, if not all, of the ink is gone. Then rinse and launder the garment. Rubbing alcohol may also be used for stubborn stains caused by cranberry juice, cough syrup and ink from ballpoint pens.
Ammonia
When bleach may not be safe for your clothes, ammonia can be used as a stain removal replacement in most cases. For deodorant stains that have changed the color of your clothes, apply ammonia if the stain is fresh. Treat the garment with a prewash stain remover and launder using hot water. You may also use ammonia to treat hair dye, sweat, soy sauce and steak sauce stains. Do not mix ammonia with bleach as the fumes from these combined products are potentially hazardous.
White Vinegar
White vinegar may be used to remove stains involving raspberries, strawberries, baked beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, cranberry juice and salsa. Only white vinegar should be used in treating these stains as other forms of vinegar such as balsamic vinegar and red wine vinegar have dyes and additives that may cause stains of their own. Remember also that white vinegar is acidic. If you use it on your clothes, be sure to rinse or sponge the area so that it does not cause further damage.
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