17

REMOVING STAINS

STAIN
Deodorants
and anti-
perspirants
TO REMOVE
Light stain: Treat with liquid detergent or your regular laundry detergent.
Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
Heavy stain: Place face down on towel and treat with a paste of ammo-
nia and color safe bleach. Let stand for 30 minutes. Wash in hottest water
safe for fabric.
wWARNING
Fire Hazard
Do not wash or dry items soiled with vegetable or cooking
oils because they may contain some oil after laundering.
Doing so can result in death or fire.
Fat, grease,
or oil
Fruit stains
Grass or
green
vegetables
Ink or
ballpoint
pen ink
Iron or rust
Items soiled with vegetable or cooking oil should not be washed or dried.
For other types of greasy stains, use one of the methods below:
Use pretreatment stain remover. Follow label directions. Wash in hottest
water safe for fabric.
Use talcum powder to absorb as much grease as possible. Sponge with
a nonflammable fabric cleaner. Rinse. Wash.
Treat with liquid detergent or rub a detergent paste on the stain. Wash
using hottest water safe for fabric.
Fresh stains: Soak immediately in cool water. Wash. If stain remains,
cover area with a paste made of color safe bleach, a few drops of hot
water, and a few drops of ammonia. Wait 15-30 minutes. Wash.
Old stains: Sponge with white vinegar. Rinse. Repeat procedure for
fresh stains.
Soak in warm or cold water with an enzyme presoak for at least 30 minutes,
or sponge with denatured alcohol. Wash in water temperature and bleach
safe for the fabric. For colored fabrics, check colorfastness before applying
alcohol. For acetate, sponge with a nonflammable fabric cleaner. If stain
remains, bleach with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Rinse. Rewash.
Spray stain with an aerosol hair spray or rubbing alcohol. Sponge stain
continuously until all bleeding stops. Let dry. Repeat if necessary. Wash.
If stain remains, bleach if safe for fabric. (India and other indelible inks
are almost impossible to remove completely.)
Colored or noncolorfast items: Apply lemon juice and salt. Place in the
sun to dry. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
White or colorfast items: Try a rust remover. Test first on inside seam or
hem. Some rust removers are not washer safe. Follow package directions.
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