Stains 101
When was the last time you wore white and survived the day stain-free?
Chances are, the success rate of avoiding dirt, drinks, lipstick, or grass from getting on your clothes is slim to none.
And so, as we head into summer, Prestige Cleaners is here to fill you in on some tips and tricks of the laundry trade when it comes to treating the inevitable: stains.
Before we get going, the most important thing to remember is to pre-treat immediately. The sooner you can soak a stain, the better. Yes, stains come with a sense of urgency , and the same can be said in order to eliminate odors. Remember, after employing the following techniques, it’s best to bring in your garment to one of Prestige Cleaner’s eight Scottsdale locations so that our dry cleaning professionals can perform a follow up and thorough cleaning.
Now for our handy stain tips:
First, grass.
Use diluted white vinegar or ammonia to remove the greenish tint. Gently go over the grass stain with an old toothbrush and watch the stain disappear!
Next, red wine.
Oh, yes, it’s happened to the best of us. But the good news: there’s hope. Initially, you’ll want to cover the stain with a handful of salt. The salt should begin to absorb the color, turning it pink. After that, soak the garment in cold water with enzyme detergent. It’s best to do this overnight. But if you can’t wash your garment right away, try treating with club soda- it usually does the trick.
Here’s another––chocolate.
Rule of thumb: let the chocolate harden before gently removing. If that doesn’t work, treat with colorless dishwashing liquid and water. Blot, blot, blot. A few drops of ammonia might help too.
Gum and other sticky stuff—yuck!
For gum, freeze the garment in the freezer. The gum will then harden, and should be easily removable with no visible stain remaining. For other sticky substances (like glue), try using a product specifically made for getting rid of goo, easily found at your local hardware story.
If you’re a juice or coffee drinker, luck isn’t always on your side.
If you happen to spill some juice on your shirt, soak the clothing in cold water for 30 minutes, followed by adding a drop of enzyme detergent and warm water to soak it further. Rinse with cool water then apply a solution of white vinegar and water; allow to sit for 10 minutes. And finally, coffee. Cover the spot with stain remover and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Wash in warm water using an enzyme detergent.
One final thought: blot, don’t scrub. And remember to stay calm. Stains happen, but the magic of removal is possible. And, remember, if in doubt, Prestige Cleaners is here to help.
