During laundry, it is particularly irksome to remove tough stains from clothes. From oil stains, to wine and accumulated mold in the wardrobe, many stains can prove tough to get rid of. Have you really tried everything to make those stains disappear?
Below are our 3 fail-proof ways to remove tough stains from clothes.
1. Use Vinegar
We know vinegar for its cleansing properties, and it maintains a perfect balance of acidity when equally mixed with water. For tougher stains, a paste of vinegar and baking Soda works wonders.
To remove mold stains from your clothes using vinegar:
• Make an equal solution of vinegar and water in a washing bowl if washing by hand. Or, mix your usual water quantity in the washer with a quarter vinegar.
• Dip the stain spot in the water-vinegar solution for up to 30 minutes.
• Rinse out and wash with laundry detergent.
• Repeat if stain persists, and ensure all stains are cleared before spreading out to dry.
To remove locked-in stains from your clothes using vinegar:
• Mix some vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl till it forms a paste.
• Apply directly on the spot of tough stains on your clothes.
• Leave to set for up to 30 minutes.
• Rinse out and wash with laundry detergent.
2. Use Bleach
On white clothes, every stain requires time to remove, especially when not washed immediately. From sweat stains, to grease and oil, to caked dirt, any stain can lock into white cotton fabrics fast, if they are not instantly dipped in water.
How do you remove tough stains on white cotton fabrics? You bleach.
See this post on how to remove red wine stains from white fabrics with bleach.
To remove food stains, grease stains, ink, and the likes, the first remedy is to,
• Immediately soak the stain spot in water. Leave out other parts of the fabric if you can, to avoid spreading the stains, and swish the spot in water to remove most of the stains.
• Proceed to wash in a lather solution of detergent and a bottle cap of bleach.
• Rinse off and ensure all stains are cleared before spreading out to dry.
To remove locked-in stains:
• Mix detergent and a generous amount of bleach in a bowl of cold to warm water (depending on the toughness of the stain).
• Soak the stained garment in the solution for up to 30 minutes.
• Wash out or transfer into your washing machine to wash.
• Check if completely clean before rinsing out to dry. If stains persist, repeat the process till you get your desired result.
3. Use Baking Soda
We know you’re not interested in baking your clothes, but baking soda can seep into the fibers of your cotton clothes to blot out those stains that have given you a hard time.
Here’s how to remove stains from your clothes using baking soda:
• Make a paste of baking soda and water or vinegar (vinegar for tougher stains) and set aside for a few minutes.
• Apply the paste directly on stain spots and leave to set for up to 30 minutes.
• Dab out with a damp towel.
• Proceed to wash with laundry detergent.
• Check if completely clean before rinsing out to dry. Repeat this process until all stains varnish.
Don’t forget to send us feedback after trying out our 3 fail-proof ways to remove tough stains from your clothes!
See other helpful laundry tips here.