Tips On Removing Stains

How To Remove Stains

It’s a fact of life. Stains happen. And it always seems they come when and where you just don’t want them. You don’t have to be a “Suzy Homemaker” to learn how to get rid of common household stains in clothing and other fabrics or even on your carpets, upholstery, etc. So, if you are looking for great stain removal tips, just read on.

Types Of Stains

One of the first things you need to consider is what type of stain it is. Unfortunately, there is no cure-all stain remover so your best stain removal tip will vary according to what type of stain it is.

Where Is The Stain Located?

The next thing you need to consider is where the stain is at. Is it on your brand new suit, your favorite tie, your living room couch, the carpet of your bedroom?

The location of the stain plays a role in how you remove it as well since some things simply can’t be thrown into the washing machine.

Treat The Stain As Soon As Possible

The earlier you treat the stain, the better chance you have of removing it. The longer the stain sits in your fabric, the harder it will be to get it out. Stains that have been washed and dried into a material are near impossible to remove.

When you get a stain on something, you should at least pre-treat it right away but it is best if you can go ahead and get it treated and washed as soon as it happens.

Pre-treating The Stain

One very popular stain removal tip is to pre-treat. You will apply a treatment directly to the stain and allow it to soak in. Depending on the stain and what you are using to remove it, the time can vary. Then you might wash it as you normally would. In the case of furniture or something that doesn’t fit in a washer, you can blot the spot clean with a clean, damp white towel. Do not rub; it will make the stain deeper in the fabric.

Clothing Stains

Here are some more tips to keep in mind when it comes to stains on your clothing:

1. Remove all stains before putting clothing in the dryer. Heat from the dryer will set the stain.
2. Pre-treat trouble areas like the armpits of shirts or knees of jeans.
3. Test your stain removal on a less visible part of the fabric to be sure it doesn’t ruin the fabric or remove color.
4. It might take more than one technique to completely remove the stain.
5. You might have to treat the stain more than one time to get rid of it completely.

Emergency Stain Removal

As you know, your stains don’t always happen on your clothing and they are not always easy to get out. What if you get a stain while at work or school and you don’t have the opportunity to change? There are some things you can do.

1. Stain sticks – there are many different brands of “stain removal sticks” on the market today and many are efficient at clearing up a stain that you might get. Then you cap it and put it back in your pocket or bag.
2. Soda water- this is often good for getting fresh stains out of fabrics and is readily available in public places like restaurants, etc.
3. Water- if it is a water based stain, often plain water can remove it. It’s usually better to use cool water instead of hot and be sure to blot instead of wipe.

Tips for Car Stain Removal

Getting a stain inside your car is not always as easy to deal with and taking it to a professional can be very expensive. Depending on the type of stain and the type of material in your car, some of the tips used for clothing can help remove it. Just be sure to test it is a spot that no one can see to be sure it doesn’t ruin the upholstery.

Tips for Carpets Stain Removal

There are many products on the market that claim they can remove stains from carpets but often a good, old fashioned method works best. The number one tip for stain removal is always to treat it as soon as possible. Grab a clean white towel and blot at the stain – don’t rub. After you try blotting and removing the stain with water, you can try putting a dab of liquid dish detergent on the stain to clean it up. Again, don’t rub it down into the fibers. This will spread the stain. Just continue to blot at it until it comes out.