Who hasn’t previously tried (but failed) to remove a stubborn stain from a garment by rubbing it? Many of you will probably raise your hand! If you want to extend the life of your clothes or merely dispose of them and donate them to Entraide diabétique du Québec, here are 5 tips to help you deal with the stains:
Salt
Often found on light-coloured or white clothing, perspiration stains are very annoying and somewhat unsightly. So, to extend the life of your favourite sweater or shirt that was once immaculately white, rub the stain with a solution of hot water and salt (4 tbsp. of salt in 1L of water), until the stain is completely gone. Then wash the garment and hang it in the sun, which is an excellent way to launder fabrics.
If you have a dried blood stain on one of your clothes, soak it in cold salty water to remove the stain. If it is too stubborn, blot it with a little hydrogen peroxide. Rinse and then wash the garment to remove the stain completely.
Baking soda
Use baking soda to remove foundation make-up stains by sprinkling it on top. Then rub with a cloth soaked in lemon juice. For anti-perspirant stains, rub them with a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and water. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before washing the garment.
Baking soda can also remove oil stains. To do this, simply soak the garment in a mixture of baking soda and hot water for about 30 minutes. Then rub the stain and wash the garment.
White vinegar
For a dried wine stain, blot it with a cloth soaked in white vinegar. Rinse the garment and then clean it as usual.
For grass stains, rub the stain with a solution containing two parts water to one part vinegar. Then simply rinse and wash. For mud stains, soak the piece in cold water, with dish soap and vinegar added. Let it soak in before rinsing and then wash it.
White vinegar also removes tea, coffee and fruit juice stains. Simply blot the stain with a solution of water and vinegar (in small amounts), then wash the garment as usual. If the stain is dry, it may be advisable to apply the vinegar directly on the stain to make it pass through the garment completely, and then wash it.
Ammonia
Ammonia can be an excellent product for removing stubborn stains, such as perspiration, blood or urine stains. To do this, simply blot the stain with 50% ammonia before washing the garment.
For pencil stains, pour a few drops of pure ammonia on them before rinsing and washing the garment.
For paint stains, use a solution composed of an equal amount of pure ammonia and turpentine oil. Make sure the stain is well saturated and then wash the garment.
Rubbing alcohol
Use rubbing alcohol to remove ink stains. To do this, soak a cloth with 70% rubbing alcohol to dab onto the stain. Rinse the garment before washing it. Alcohol can also help remove grease stains or food stains.
If you notice a stain on a garment, it is best to treat it immediately before washing. In addition, avoid putting the garment in the dryer, as the heat may “bake” the stain, making it difficult or, in some cases, impossible to remove. Your home is full of products that could work wonders for your clothes! The important thing is to know in which case to use what. Once your clothes are clean, simply locate one of our donation bins, or contact Entraide diabétique du Québec to schedule a home pickup.
