 General stains removal guidelines
Added: 10/19/2005 |
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The article includes general information on stains, useful tips on cleaning stains on the clothes and many other things. Important precautions on dealing with stains are given in the concluding part of the article. There you will also find a brief list of persistent stains that may not be worthy the efforts of their removal.
Although stains are considered to be very unpleasant things, a greater part of them can be successfully removed from the clothes and household materials, thus, restoring their quality and making their service life longer. In general, a stain is a chemical reaction between the staining reagent and the finishes and fibers of a fabric.
Since the chemical structure of each stain and reagent is unique, there is no universal remedy for removing all possible stains. There are certain rules though, that, if pursued, may increase the chances of removing a stain to very good ones. It is obvious that fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones. But some staining agents are so sturdy that they will not respond to any attempt to remove them. A lot of commercial remedies have been developed. But whenever you decide to purchase a commercial stain removal remedy, be sure that this particular product is capable of removing the specific stain that you have. Just keep in mind, that there is no universal product capable of removing all kinds of stains.
Here are some general tips on how to get rid of typical stains on the clothes:
1) Always follow directions. First of all, and this is an all-important rule, always follow the cleaning directions on a garment's label.
2) Wash out as soon as possible. Timing is a key factor. Try to wash the affected part of the garment right away.
3) Pre-treat. Always pre-treat the affected area on your clothing and this will definitely ease the process of stain removal. Put laundry detergent right on the stained area and launder right away.
4) Always practice your stain-removal method on less noticeable areas of the garment.
5) Try not to rub. Instead, treat the stain quietly with a cloth and liquid.
6) Take into account that in order to remove a stain successfully, you may need to resort to more than one technique.
7) There are some kinds of stains that extremely steadfast and not worthy your efforts to remove them. If you are not sure with what type of strain you are dealing with, you should consult an expert cleaner or look for additional information.
There are also some precautions that everyone should follow whenever he or she deals with stains. Here they are:
- Read labels on fabric carefully;
- Test stain removal agents on less visible area of a garment. For this, apply a few drops of the agent and rub softly with a clean light towel. If either color changes occur or color conveys to the cloth, contact an expert cleaner but do not proceed the cleaning on your own;
- Never use metal containers or spoons with bleachers;
- Never use chlorine bleach on silk, wool, or spandex;
- Never overwet. Place spongy material under the stain. Use solvents cautiously. Tamp stain with brush or spoon;
-Use solvents in a well air-circulated room where there are no potential sources of sparks and combustions. Do not smoke. Avoid spilling solvents on skin or clothes. If this occurs, wash it off immediately.
-Be patient. Some of the stains (ink, coffee, chocolate, concrete stains, etc.) react very slowly. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedures.
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