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Laundry Fact Sheet Notebook
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Pages: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [Back to Fact Sheet Notebook Main Page] REMOVING STAINS FROM WASHABLE ITEMS Garments can become unwearable long before they wear out if spots and stains are not treated properly and promptly. Many stains will come out in the wash, especially if good laundering techniques are used. Some stains, however, are more complex than others and require special treatment. Treat them as soon as possible. When items remain in a hamper for days, stains become much more difficult to remove. Some stains may even be impossible to remove. SOME GENERAL RULES
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS Basically, the following three procedures can be used to deal with stains prior to laundering. The choice depends primarily on the kind and extent of staining. Soaking Whether done in a basin, laundry sink or washer, soaking can effectively loosen heavy soils. A product containing enzymes can be helpful in removing protein-based stains. A laundry presoak, detergent and/or an appropriate laundry additive should be mixed in water or added before the clothes. When there's a quantity of items to treat, the washer is handiest. Use either an automatic soak cycle or manually set the controls as needed. Sorting before soaking is important to prevent dye transfer from one item to another or to keep a white or light item from picking up color that has bled into the water. Soak whites separately from colors. Soak colors that bleed separately or with fabrics of like color. Follow label directions for the presoak, detergent or other additive as to soaking time and temperature. Generally, they call for a 30-minute or longer period in warm or cool water. Spin or wring solution out of the garment before beginning the wash cycle. Elasticized garments should be soaked separately and for just a short period of time. Yellowing can occur with prolonged soaking. Prewashing Taking less time than soaking, a prewash provides an agitated washing of loads with heavy or greasy soil that might not come out in a single regular washing. Some washers have a prewash cycle that includes a short soak period; the washer may also advance to the regular wash automatically. Refer to appliance instructions for either an automatic cycle or for setting controls manually to agitate and then spin. A presoak product, detergent and/or other laundry additive should be used in a prewash. Follow with a regular wash using detergent according to label directions. Pretreating This involves treating and sometimes completely removing individual spots and stains prior to laundering. Some of the most common methods are:
PRODUCTS FOR REMOVING STAINS There are a number of laundry products and aids which can be used in stain treatment and removal. The most commonly used products and the stains that they are most effective on are listed below. Detergents Form: powders, liquids Uses: effective in removing most soils Powders: especially effective on clay and ground-in dirt Liquids: especially effective on food, greasy and oily stains Soaps Form: powders, bars Uses: When used with washing soda, soap is effective in removing crayon. Bars are especially effective in removing fabric softener, perspiration and tobacco stains Detergent Boosters Form: powders, liquids Uses: especially effective in hard water Bleaches Form: sodium hypochlorite, oxygen, color removers Uses: Bleaches: All bleaches aid in stain removal and help whiten and brighten fabrics. Sodium hypochlorite bleach is a laundry disinfectant. Color Removers: reduce or completely remove colored dyes from garments. Effective in removing rust stains or dye stains which have transferred onto white garments Enzyme Presoak Products Form: powders Uses: especially effective in removing protein stains such as egg, blood, grass, baby formula, dairy products, chocolate and body fluids Prewash Soil and Stain Removers Form: aerosols, pump sprays, gels, sticks, liquids Uses: especially effective on polyester fibers and on oil-based stains such as body soils, cosmetics, cooking oils, animal fats and motor oils For Safety's Sake:
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