34Stain Removal Guide
Stain Removal Suggestions
STAIN | TREATMENT |
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Adhesive tape, chewing | Apply ice. Scrape off excess. Place stain face down on paper towels. Saturate with prewash |
gum, rubber cement | stain remover or nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. |
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Baby formula, dairy prod- | Use product containing enzymes to pretreat or soak stains. Soak for 30 minutes or more. |
ucts, egg | Wash. |
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Beverages (coffee, tea, | Pretreat stain. Wash using cold water and bleach safe for fabric. |
soda, juice, alcoholic |
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beverages) |
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Blood | Rinse with cold water. Rub with bar soap. Or, pretreat or soak with product containing en- |
| zymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
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Candle wax, crayon | Scrape off surface wax. Place stain face down between paper towels. Press with warm iron |
| until wax is absorbed. Replace paper towels frequently. Treat remaining stain with prewash |
| stain remover or nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. Hand wash to remove solvent. Wash us- |
| ing bleach safe for fabric. |
Chocolate | Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe |
| for fabric. |
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Collar or cuff soil, cosmet- | Pretreat with prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap. |
ics |
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Dye transfer on white | Use packaged color remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
fabric |
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Grass | Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe |
| for fabric. |
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Grease, oil, tar (butter, | Scrape residue from fabric. Pretreat. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric. For heavy |
fats, salad dressing, cook- | stains and tar, apply nonflammable dry cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace towels under |
ing oils, car grease, motor | stain frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric. |
oils) |
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Ink | Some inks may be impossible to remove. Washing may set some inks. Use prewash stain |
| remover, denatured alcohol or nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. |
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Mildew, scorch | Wash with chlorine bleach if safe for fabric. Or, soak in oxygen bleach and hot water before |
| washing. Badly mildewed fabrics may be permanently damaged. |
Mud | Brush off dry mud. Pretreat or soak with product containing enzymes. |
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Mustard, tomato | Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
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Nail polish | May be impossible to remove. Place stain face down on paper towels. Apply nail polish |
| remover to back of stain. Repeat, replacing paper towels frequently. Do not use on acetate |
| fabrics. |
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Paint, varnish | WATER BASED: Rinse fabric in cool water while stain is wet. Wash. Once paint is dry, it can- |
| not be removed. OIL BASED AND VARNISH: Use solvent recommended on can label. Rinse |
| thoroughly before washing. |
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Perspiration | Use prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap. Rinse. Wash using nonchlorine bleach in |
| hottest water safe for fabric. |
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Rust, brown or yellow | Use rust remover safe for fabric. Do not use chlorine bleach because it may intensify discol- |
discoloration | oration. |
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Shoe polish | LIQUID: Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water. PASTE: Scrape residue from |
| fabric. Pretreat with prewash stain remover or nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. Rinse. Rub |
| detergent into dampened area. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
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Tomato | Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
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Urine, vomit, mucus, feces | Pretreat or soak in product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. |
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Wine | Pretreat or soak in cold water. Wash in hottest water and bleach safe for fabric |
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