Say no to impossible stains on your laundry!

Here are the ABC's for taking care of your garments when they have stains.

Often stains can be stubborn, but following this guide, you will see that many can be eliminated.

General Tips

• Do not iron stained laundry as you will only settle them in.
• The immediate stain removal action taken is very important: wash the stain out with cold water immediately; this will prevent the stain from settling in.
• If a stain resists, do not experiment. Leave the garment in the hands of a professional.
• Use a good detergent to help eliminate any stains on your garments, and don´t forget to use Sta-Soft according to your laundry´s needs

Common Kitchen Essentials for Stain Removal

• Vinegar
• Oxygen Bleach
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Lemons or Lemon Juice

Baby Food

• Scrape off any excess baby food from the fabric, being careful not to spread it around further.
• Turn inside out & run the fabric under cold water to flush out as much of the spot as possible.
• Apply liquid laundry detergent to the stained area and let it soak in cold water for 15-30 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water.
• Pre-treat the stain with a laundry prewash stain remover.
• Wash in the hottest water the fabric will allow to get the spot out and use oxygen bleach.

Beer

• Option 1: You should rub the stain with a mixture of ¼ parts vinegar and ¾ parts water. Then rinse with water.
• Option 2: Spray the stain with a little hydrogen peroxide and then soak in water with a few drops of ammonia. Then wash the garment as directed by the label.

Beetroot

• Beet stains can be removed by rubbing the affected area with a clean, damp cloth.
• Then let the garment soak for an hour and wash as usual.
• If after that the stain has not come out, try adding a little lemon juice to water or using soap.

Blood

• If the stain is recent, immediately rinse the garment with cold water and wash as directed by the label. Never wash the garment in hot water.
• If the blood stain has dried, it is best to wash the garment with water and ammonia.

Candle Wax

First, remove all the wax possible from the garment by scraping it. Then place the fabric between two paper towels and iron the stain at medium temperature. This makes the wax stick to the paper. Then wash the garment as directed by the label.

Coffee

• Option 1: Dilute an egg yolk in water and rub the stain, and then rinse only with cold water.
• Option 2: Rub the stain with equal amounts of vinegar and alcohol, then wash and dry the garment as directed by the label.

Cooking oil

• Option 1: Before washing the garment, rub any oil stains with liquid soap while dry and without adding any water. Be careful if the fabric is washed cotton, because the stain may form a white ring.
• Option 2: You can also sprinkle the stain with baby powder, and then place a piece of paper towel over the powder. Iron over the toilet paper at a very low temperature – this allows the powder to absorb the grease, and will help the stain on the garment disappear

Curry

• Option 1: Slice a lemon in half, squeeze it onto the stain, and leave it for half an hour. Wash your garment normally.
• Option 2: If you have a pre-treat stain remover put it on the stain and then wash using oxygen bleach. If the stain persists, soak in a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to nine parts cold water for at least 30 minutes, rinse, and then wash again

Note: The faster you act the easier the stain should be to remove

Deodorant

Dissolve the stain by soaking it in detergent and warm water. Then wash as directed by the label.

Fruits

• Option 1: Wash with soap and water and then rub them with a cloth soaked in alcohol.
• Option 2: If traces of fruit remain, you must first remove by scraping. Then apply some coarse salt on the stain and brush. Finally, put a damp cloth on it, all preferably immediately after the stain occurs.
• Option 3: If the spots are from red fruits, you should make a mixture of water and detergent. Apply the mixture on the stain and let it dry. Then wash the garment as usual.

Gum

• Rub the stain with ice or put the garment in the freezer inside a plastic bag to harden the gum.
• Remove as much of the hardened gum as possible by scraping it.
• Then wash the garment as directed by the label.

Glues and Adhesives

• Option 1: Check if the glue has a single component, because unfortunately strong glue stains and / or combined cannot be removed. If not, try to remove the stain with nail polish remover or acetone (do not use on synthetic fabrics such as acetates, or bright colours, or black as you can spread the stain)
• Option 2: You can also try soaking the garment for a few hours with a mixture of warm water and vinegar, and then wash the garment as usual.

Ice Cream

• Wash clothes with warm water.
• If the stain persists, dilute hydrogen peroxide in water and apply on the stain using a cotton ball.

Ink

• Option 1: To remove pen ink stains, soak the garment overnight with liquid detergent. Then wash as directed by label.
• Option 2: Dip the stain in warm milk or lemon juice for an hour and then rinse with water.

Mold

To remove a mildew stain from your clothing, make a paste with vinegar and baking soda, apply it on the stain and leave it on for a while and then wash the garment as directed by the label.

Mustard

• Remove any excess sauce from clothing.
• Rinse with detergent and water and let the garment soak overnight.
• Wash as usual the next day.

Nail Polish

Use nail polish remover or acetone on the stain (do not use on synthetic fabrics such as acetates, or bright colours, or black as you can spread the stain). Then wash the garment as directed by the label.

Paint, Lacquer and Enamel

• Oily paints and varnish: Clean the stain with a sponge soaked in turpentine or commercial paint solvent before washing.
• Resin: Soak the stain with olive oil and then rub thoroughly with water and detergent then machine wash your garment as usual.

Red Wine

• Option 1: You should soak the stain for a few hours in cold milk then wash your garment as usual.
• Option 2: You can also remove the stain by spreading white wine on the stain. Soak for a few hours and then wash the garment as usual.
• Option 3: If you dropped wine on a white shirt or blouse, try to soak the affected area in boiled milk. If it is coloured, gently rub the stain with cold water mixed with a little ammonia.
• Option 4: Mix a little liquid soap with hydrogen peroxide and rub mix on the stain. If it resists, add a bit more peroxide to the mixture.

Rust

Sprinkle a little salt on the stain, then squeeze a little lemon juice and leave it on the garment overnight. The following day wash as usual. Note: If you do not want to use lemon, use vinegar the same way.

Shoe Polish

Apply some paint thinner (turpentine) on the stain and wash as directed by the label.

Spinach

Rub the stain with a raw potato and later wash the garment with soap and water.

Sweat

• To remove sweat stains from your clothes, it is best to soak them with water and vinegar.
• Try changing deodorant, there are some specially formulated to prevent stains on clothing.
• Try changing deodorant, there are some specially formulated to prevent stains on clothing.

Tea

• Soak garment in cold water for an hour.
• Wash as usual.
• If the stain does not come off, try remove with a mixture of white vinegar and alcohol.

Worcestershire or Soy Sauce

• Blot up any excess sauce with a clean cloth.
• Soak the stain in a solution of 1 litre warm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water.
• Sponge the remaining stain with surgical spirits and wash as normal as soon as possible.

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