How to wash Guides

Tips for Removing Stains in Fabrics

The most important thing is to act quickly. The longer you leave the stain, the harder it is to remove, as it sets into the fibres. As a quick guide, I have created the table below. For stubborn stains, a few goes might be needed. Its important to get the stain out before you wash in hot water or dry on a high heat, as heat can bake the stain in more. Remember to follow the care instructions of the item as it’s a guide to prolonging the item’s life.

The Stain	The Method
Blood	Fresh blood can be hand scrubbed in cold water. Set blood can be sponged with hydrogen peroxide (added to sponge and not directly on the fabric). Before doing this, test the fabric with a cotton bud to make sure the colour doesn’t transfer to the cotton bud. Scrub the item again in cold water.
Coffee	Soak the stain in a solution of warm water, a teaspoon in dishwashing detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar for 15minutes. Rinse with warm water. If it remains, blot with rubbing alcohol and rinse or cover in bicarb overnight, then rinse and wash.
Crayon	Vinegar or dishwashing liquid works great. Use an old toothbrush to work the crayon stain and rinse with warm water.
Grease / Chocolate	Do not soak the garment but pretreat the stain with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Scrub with an old toothbrush to lift the stain. Then rinse and wash the item following it’s care instructions.
Gum (Chewing or Bubble)	Remove as much of the gum as possible. Use ice blocks to help lift the gum. Use vinegar to remove any residue and give it a warm wash -if the care instructions allow.
Ink / Grass	Use rubbing alcohol, hand sanitiser or hair spray. Sit for 10 minutes, blot off and rinse in cold water.
Lipstick	Use rubbing alcohol, hand sanitiser or vinegar. Sit for 10 minutes, blot off and rinse in cold water.
Poo	Scrap off as much as you can then pretreat the poo stains with cold water. If the stain needs more attention, scrub in vinegar or dishwashing liquid then rinse and wash as usual.
Sweat	Soak the stain with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Hand scrub to help. Then rinse and wash the item following it’s care instructions.
Wine	Add a little cold water and soak up as much of the wine as possible. Then add bicarb to the stain overnight to try and draw out more of the stain. Another method is to use vinegar and dishwashing liquid together to soak the stain then sponge dry and wash the garment following the care label.

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