Out, damned spot! We all wish we had a magic wand to instantly banish stubborn stains. While, witchcraft and wizardly have not yet proven to be a very effective methods of stain removal, we can offer up a few ‘magical’ stain removal alternatives that will help you remove even the most stubborn stains. Here are our top 5 genius stain removal tips.
Bid farewell to sweat stains
Fresh perspiration stains should wash out easily but, if the stain persists, sponge the stain with a strong ammonia solution and rinse immediately. When working with an ammonia solution always patch test for colourfast durability and wear gloves.
Stamp out red wine stains
Alcohol can stains can be difficult to get out, especially red wine. Wash fresh alcohol stains with plenty of warm water. If the stain persists, rub with glycerine, leave to stand for 30 minutes and then rinse. Older stains can be removed by spotting with surgical spirits or commercial pre-wash stain remover, followed by a good wash. Bleach should be used as a last resort.
Beat blood stains
Nothing serves as a nasty reminder of an accidental cut quite like a blood stain. Spot treat the stain with a cool salt solution (2 teaspoons of salt per litre of water) and rinse with plenty of fresh water. For older stains, make up a solution of one part 20 vol. hydrogen peroxide with nine parts of water. Rinse the affected area in the solution, then rinse well with fresh water. If the stain persists, make a solution of one teaspoon oxalic acid in 50ml water at 50°C and sponge the area. Make sure to handle oxalic acid powder and solution with suitable rubber gloves.
Erase the reminder of last night’s curry dinner
Curry might make for a delicious dinner but it can also stain your clothes quite badly. To remove curry stains from clothing, rinse in warm water until the stain fades, then apply glycerine and rub lightly. Let it stand for thirty minutes, then wash normally.
Down with rust stains
Finding a rust stain on your favourite T-shirt is the worse. To get rid of a stubborn rust stain, rinse the spot in a warm solution containing 1 teaspoon of oxalic acid per litre of water. Don’t forget to use suitable rubber gloves when handling the solution.
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