Stains can crop up at the most inconvenient times. During a romantic candlelight dinner, for example, you notice that the candle wax is dripping on your favorite tablecloth. Or your child comes running into the house and throws himself into your arms, but you realize too late that they are totally covered in mud. Or perhaps you kiss your loved one and leave marks on his clothes.
Although it can sometimes be impossible to prevent them, fortunately enough there are some simple ways to get rid of stains. Even seemingly impossible to remove stains like tea, blood, and red wine stains can be tackled with the right detergent and stain remover.
With the right detergent, you can remove many stains on your clothes. By pretreating with a quality detergent such as Persil® ProClean® Original and Persil® ProClean® Stain Fighter, you can achieve much more. Many different substances can discolor clothing, as well as tough oil, water, and protein-based stains. That means it's very handy to know what to do if you notice a stain on your T-shirt or trousers.
- First, you should always check the information on the care label. This will not only tell you what kind of fabric you are dealing with, but also at what water temperature you should wash your clothes. It also tells you whether to machine wash or wash by hand, and helps you choose the right detergent for stain removal. It's important to make sure your detergent is suitable for delicate fabrics – Persil® ProClean® detergents, for example, are suitable for most kinds of fabrics.
- Before you apply the detergent, you should remove any excess solids and liquids. These will just get in the way during stain removal and make it more difficult. Some stains should also be rinsed from the inside out with cold water.
- Do not dry your clothes until the stain has completely disappeared. You can use different pre-treatments to get rid of stains, as long as the stain hasn't dried yet.
Every stain is different. However, in general there are three different categories: liquid, oil, or protein-based stains. Liquid-based stains include fruit juice, red wine, and blood stains. Oil-based stains are for example grease and oil stains or stains caused by creams. Finally, protein-based stains are normally caused by blood or sweat.
When getting rid of stains, you should always look up the specific methods for removing each type of stain. Some require washing in hot water, while others require cold water. Some stains can be removed quickly, while others are more stubborn and require more time and effort.
Are you wondering what you can do to get your clothes white again and remove stains? Check out the answers to commonly asked questions below.
- Can I use bleach to brighten my clothes?
Bleaching garments is certainly an option, and it can sometimes produce good stain removal results. However, using bleach can also seriously damage your clothes. It can lighten the colors in a certain area of the stain and thus create a new stain. Bleach can also damage certain fabrics. Polyester, for example, can turn yellow due to bleach and cotton fibers can be permanently damaged. If using bleach, thoroughly read all of the use instructions prior to use, and like all household cleaning products, ensure bleach is stored out of reach of children.
- What about natural remedies?
You can also get rid of stains with natural solutions. Be careful, though, they can sometimes do more harm than good. You can bleach your clothes safely with some solutions, like hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. Other solutions, such as vinegar and salt, can cause permanent damage to your washing machine.
- How do I prevent stains from setting when I am not at home?
No one wants a permanent stain! If you are not at home while the stain is forming, you should keep it moist until you get home (this applies to most types of stains). Once they are dry, many stains are much more difficult to remove.
- How can I prevent a stain from spreading?
Dab the stain. Don’t rub. Always dab.
If you got stains on your clothes, tackle them with these basic tips to remove stains.