10 | USING THE WASHING MACHINE |
HOW TO REMOVE SOME STAINS
Stains exist that cannot be removed by machine washing alone. Before trying to remove any type of stain by hand, first try the removal procedure on a small area of hidden fabric. Start from the edge of the stain and working inwards, this will prevent a dark ring from forming around the site of the stain. A few methods to adopt for removing stains are reported below.
WAX: Scrape the wax using a rounded point in order not to damage the fabric. Then, with the fabric placed between two pieces of ab- sorbent paper, run a hot iron over the stain.
BALL POINT PENS AND
a soft cloth soaked in ethyl alcohol.Take care not to spread the stain.
DAMP AND MOULD: if the fabric supports the use of bleach, carry out a wash cycle adding bleach. Otherwise, soak the soiled part in hydrogen peroxide (10 volumes) and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.
LIGHT SCORCH MARKS LEFT BY IRONING: follow the
instructions for mould and damp.
RUST: use products specially designed for rust stains, following the manufacturer’s instruc- tions written on the packet.
CHEWING GUM: rub ice over the fabric, scrape away as much chewing gum as possible and then rub with a piece of cotton soaked in acetone.
PAINT: do not allow the paint to dry. Rub the area with the solvent recommended by the paint manufacturer (e.g. water, turps, trichlo- roethylene), soap and then rinse.
LIPSTICK: stains on cotton or wool can be elimi- nated using a cloth soaked in ether. Stains on silk require the use of trichloroethylene.
NAIL VARNISH: place a sheet of absorbent paper on the stained material, then dampen the back of the fabric with acetone, frequently changing the absorbent paper placed over the stain. Continue in this manner until the stain has disappeared.
TAR OR DIRT: spread a little fresh butter over the stain, allow to stand and then wash with oil of turpentine.
GRASS: delicately soap the stain, use diluted bleach. Good results can be obtained on woollen fabrics using 90% alcohol.
BLOOD: put into soak in cold water with added salt, then wash with washing soap.
INTERNATIONAL CLOTHING CARE SYMBOLS
Before placing the clothes in the washing machine and selecting the wash programme, examine the symbols on the manufacturer’s label. The table reported below will provide a useful guide to reading the symbols.
GB