Stain Removal

Removing Tough Stains: Stain Removal Tips

You just washed and dried your new sweater and notice a coffee stain on the sleeve. The stain is set now, might as well throw it in the trash. Well, maybe not.

Stain Removal Products

The common commercial stain removal products are often big on promises and price and low on delivery. Some of the best stain removers are common grocery items that you likely already have around your house. They are inexpensive to purchase and they you can easily make your own stain removal kit.

Fruit Stain Removal

Fruit stains will be removed quickly and easily if you get to it right away. For berry stains, pour boiling water on top of the stain until the stain disappears.

Blood Stain Removal

Blood stains can be easily removed with cold water and a bit of shampoo. (note never use hot or warm water on a blood stain) If this does not work, try hydrogen peroxide.

Coffee Stain and Tea Stain Removal

Coffee and tea stains can be removed by pre-treating the stain with liquid laundry detergent and then washing the garment in hot water. If the stain remains, repeat, but do not dry the garment in the clothes dryer until the stain is gone. Using the dryer on a stain will set the stain and make it permanent!

Acrylic Paint Stains

Hairspray, pine cleaner or alcohol works really well at removing acrylic paint from clothing. Test a small spot first, then spray on the hairspray (or alcohol or pine cleaner) and rub gently to remove the paint stain. You may have to wash the garment twice. Soak, scrub, repeat.

Removing Berry Stains

Blot the stain to remove as much liquid as possible, then rinse it in cold water. Rub the stain with a cut lemon or pure lemon juice, let it sit for approx 30 minutes then rinse, and air dry. Use a pre-wash treatment stain remover and then launder as usual.. You can also pour boiling hot water on a berry stain. It will remove berry stains immediately out of clothing, even the white ones.

Bubble Gum Removal

Place your clothing into the freezer. Wait 2 or more hours before removing. You can gently scrape off the frozen gum and then blot the rest with dry cleaning solvent to remove any residue.

Crayon Stains

Use dry-cleaning solvent if the stain is on clothing. You can also try adding 1/2 cup of baking or washing soda and in your washing machine on the hottest setting you have. (add detergent too). Use the pre soak cycle, then wash normally. This also works well on lipstick stains.

If the stain is on the wall, I have the absolute best solution here:. Mr. Clean Magic erasers do work like magic and the crayon stain, ink stain or whatever mark on your wall will wipe off instantly.

Ketchup Stains

Just pour some Mr. Clean onto the stain and let set for about 30 minutes. The stain should be gone, if not just soak a few minutes longer. Just rinse and wash as usual.

Removing Crazy Glue, Krazy Glue and Super Glue Stains

Here is a new tip that is hot off the press- It’s tested and approved by Mrs. Clean. We have the usual tube of super glue (aka crazy glue or krazy glue- Its all the same) in our cupboard. My husband had a minor repair project that he was using the glue for, but he neglected to put some paper down on the counter top. Don’t you know it, we had a very large hardened glue stain left on the counter. He tried to chip it off, but the glue would not budge.

Not a problem- Here is what you do to remove the glue stain. Before you try this you But before you should test this in an inconspicuous area to insure that the stain removal solution will not damage the surface in any way.

• Get some acetone nail polish remover, either scented or unscented- It does not matter.
• Wet a white paper towel or napkin thoroughly with the nail polish remover, (wet enough of an area to cover the stain) The napkin should be wet, but not dripping.
• Place the napkin directly on the stain
• Cover the wet napkin with a piece of plastic such as a baggie or plastic wrap, and then place something heavy on top of the plastic to keep the nail polish solution in contact with the glue. I placed a wet towel (dish rag) over the plastic wrap, but a book or something similar should do just as well. The goal is to keep the nail polish remover from evaporating, so it will soften the crazy glue.

It took about 1 1/2 hours for my glue stain to soften and come completely off- Check the progress about every 30 minutes, and reapply more nail polish remover if necessary. Before you know it, the glue stain should be gone.