Whether you have scraped your knee or accidentally cut yourself, blood stains are notorious for being difficult to remove. Follow these two methods, and find out how easy it can be to remove blood stains.
Fresh blood
Dried blood
Fresh blood
As with most stains, it’s easier to remove blood stains when they are fresh.
To remove a fresh blood stain you will need:
Cold water
Washing up liquid
Begin removing your stain by flushing it with cold water. Make sure that you’re using cold rather than hot water as hot water will only set your stain further into your clothing.
Once you are satisfied that you have removed as much of the blood as possible via flushing, pour a small amount of washing-up liquid on the stain and gently work it in with your fingers. Be wary of being too rough with your fabric as this can damage the fibers of your clothing and cause the stain to set further into your item.
After working your washing up liquid into your stain, rinse it off with cold water. If you can still see your stain, add more washing up liquid and repeat the process.
When you are satisfied that your stain has been lifted, wash your garment as you usually would. Before drying your item, check that your stain has been completely removed. If it hasn’t, repeat the whole process.
Unfortunately, dried blood stains are a lot harder to remove than fresh blood because they have already set into the fibres of your garment. That does not, however, make them completely impossible to remove.
To remove a dried blood stain you will need:
A blunt knife
Hydrogen peroxide
Paper towel
A clean cloth
Cold water
To begin removing your dried blood stain use a blunt knife to scrape off as much of the blood as possible. Be careful that you don’t push too hard whilst scraping as this can cause rips in your garment.
Once you are satisfied that you have removed as much of the dried blood as possible, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly on top of the stain. Before putting the peroxide on your stain, test it first on an unseen area of your garment, such as an inside seam. Hydrogen peroxide can cause discoloration on certain clothing items, so it’s best to check its effect on your stained item before placing it directly on your stain.
Leave your hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes, before using a paper towel to blot at it. You should notice your stain lifting from your garment and transferring on onto your paper towel. Be careful when blotting that you don’t push too hard as this could push the hydrogen peroxide and blood further into the fibers of your clothing.
When you have lifted the majority of your hydrogen peroxide, and, subsequently, your stain, use a clean and damp cloth to gently rub the remaining stain until it has completely lifted.
Finally, rinse the remaining hydrogen peroxide off of your garment using cold water. After this, wash your stained item as you usually would. If, after washing, your stain remains, repeat the process.
The best way to guarantee the removal of any stain is by letting us lift it for you. Book your Laundryheap order by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.
Wax can be incredibly difficult to remove from clothing if not dealt with appropriately. Before you try any of these methods, scrape as much wax as possible from your garment using a dull knife or spoon.
Iron
Hairdryer
Boiling water
Freeze
Iron
One of the most effective ways to remove a wax stain is to heat it with an iron.
Place a paper towel over the stain and on the underside. For extra protection, you can place a thin cloth in between your iron and the paper towel. Use a low heat setting on your iron, and press it onto the stain. This will melt your wax and allow it to drip onto your paper towel.
If your stain is on a fleece or wool garment, it is best to use blotting paper rather than paper towels as the paper may stick to your item.
If you are wary about using an iron to remove your wax, you can use a hairdryer.
In the same way as you would use the iron, place a paper towel over and under your stain. Using a hairdryer, blast hot air onto the stain, over the paper towel, for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, blot your stain with the paper towel to aid in it’s removal from your garment. Repeat this process until your wax has been removed.
Before using this technique, be careful when handling boiling water. You do not want to splash yourself with the water and burn yourself.
Begin by boiling a large kettle. Once your kettle has been boiled, carefully pour your water into a large basin or sink. Add 5-6 tablespoons of baking soda to your water and carefully stir it in. Dip your stained item into the boiling water, and leave it for 1 minute- you don’t want to leave your item for any longer as this could damage the fibres of your clothing. You may need to dip your clothing in and out of the water a few times to completely soften and remove the wax.
If you don’t want to add heat to your clothing, do the opposite and freeze the wax off.
Put your clothing in the freezer for an hour to completely freeze the wax. After an hour, remove your clothing from the freezer and snap off your wax. If there is any wax remaining on your garment, secure the stained area over a large bowl with rubber bands, and pour boiling water over the stain. This should melt the remainder of the wax and remove it from your clothing.
If your wax is not lifting from your clothing, send your garment to Laundryheap. Let us know what item of clothing your stain is on, where the stain is, and we will do the rest.
To book your Laundryheap order, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Pancake Day, is the perfect time to show off your flipping skills. If you flip well enough, you will be rewarded with a fluffy pancake, on top of which you can add an array of delicious toppings. Be careful though, because you don’t want any of your toppings flipping onto your clothing and causing a stain. Should this happen, follow these simple steps.
Maple syrup
Bacon
Jam
Ice Cream
Fresh berries
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is sweet, sticky, and perfect for drizzling all over pancakes. If you accidentally drizzle some on your clothing, you must act fast to avoid being left with a sticky stain.
To remove a maple syrup stain you will need…
A dull knife
Clean cloth or paper towel
Laundry detergent
Begin removing your maple syrup stain by using a dull knife to lift as much of the syrup off of your garment as possible.
Next, dip a clean cloth, or paper towel, into lukewarm water, and carefully blot the stain. Make sure that you are blotting and not rubbing, as rubbing will only force the maple syrup further into the fibres of your clothing. Continue blotting your garment until you notice the stain lifting and becoming less sticky.
Once you are sure that you can’t lift any more of the stain, wash your item on a high temperature, using laundry detergent. Before washing your garment, check the care label to see what the highest recommended temperature to wash your item at is.
If you are drizzling maple syrup on your pancakes, it’s best to throw some bacon on top. Be careful though, because bacon can often spit as you cook it, leaving a greasy stain on your clothing.
To remove a bacon stain you will need…
A blunt knife
Clean cloth or paper towel
Cornstarch or talcum powder
Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent
A soft bristle brush (optional)
Begin by removing any solid pieces of bacon from your clothing using a blunt knife. Be sure not to press the bacon into your clothing, as this can cause extra grease to seep from the bacon.
Next, use a clean cloth, or paper towel, to gently blot the stain. This will help lift any excess oil from your garment.
Once you have removed as much oil as possible via blotting your stain, sprinkle some corn starch or talcum powder over it. The powder is fine enough to reach deep into the fibres of your clothing and help soak up some of the oil. Leave the corn starch or talcum powder on your garment for 10-15 minutes.
After 10-15 minutes, shake off the talcum powder or cornstarch, and apply a heavy duty laundry detergent directly on to your stain. Using a soft bristle brush, or your fingers, gently rub the detergent into your stain, making sure to really work it into all your garments fibres. Leave the detergent on your stain for at least 10 minutes.
Finally, check the care label of your garment for the highest temperature advised to wash your clothing at. With the laundry detergent still on the stain, put your item into the washing machine and wash.
Jam
Jam, similarly to maple syrup, is incredibly sweet and sticky- perfect for sandwiching your pancakes together. If you do get it on your clothing, follow these steps to remove it.
To remove a jam stain you will need…
White wine vinegar
Liquid laundry detergent
Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
Chlorine bleach
To begin removing your jam stain, place your stain directly under cool running water. This will flush out you stain and remove any jam residue.
Next, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with half a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent and a quarter of a cup of warm water. Place your stained item in your mixture and leave it to soak for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove your stained item from the solution and rinse it with lukewarm water. If you can still see your stain, use a clean sponge to gently dab rubbing alcohol over it. Once you see the stain begin to lift, or lighten in colour, rinse your garment thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Finally, check your care label to firstly check what the highest temperature it can be washed at is, and secondly to check if your item can be washed using chlorine bleach. If your garment can be washed using chlorine bleach, use that to wash your item on the highest temperature possible. If you can’t use chlorine bleach, use normal laundry detergent.
Ice cream
Ice cream is a great way to add a touch of frost to your warm pancakes. Just make sure that you don’t dribble any down yourself.
To remove an ice cream stain you will need…
Laundry detergent
Stain remover
Begin removing your ice cream stain by soaking your clothing in cold water for 5-10 minutes. Avoid putting your stained item in hot water as this will only set the stain further into your clothing.
After 5-10 minutes of soaking, remove your item from the cold water, and rub liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Make sure that the laundry detergent is completely covering your stain, and has been well worked in, before re-soaking your item in room temperature water for 30 minutes. Every few minutes, gently rub the detergent into your stain.
After 30 minutes, rinse the laundry detergent from your clothing, and add a stain remover. Allow your stain remover to sit for 7-10 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water.
If your ice cream stain persists, repeat the whole process until your stain has completely lifted.
Fresh berries
Fresh berries are a gorgeously refreshing pancake toper. If you drop one on your clothing, however, you will have to act fast to remove the stain.
To remove a fresh berry stain you will need…
A soft bristled brush
Blunt knife
Heavy-duty laundry detergent
Stain remover
Chlorine bleach (optional)
Oxygen-based bleach (optional)
To begin lifting you berry stain, use a blunt knife to remove any solid berry from your item. Try not to squeeze the berry whilst lifting it as this can cause more juice to be squeezed onto your clothing.
After you have removed the berry, flush out your stain with cold water. The best way to do this is to hold your stain directly under a running tap. You should notice your stain becoming lighter in colour the longer you leave the stain under the tap for.
Next, cover your stain with a stain remover and work it into the fabric using a soft bristled brush, like a toothbrush. After working the stain remover in, leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes. If you don’t own a stain remover, use a heavy-duty laundry detergent.
Once you have waited 15 minutes, check your items care label to see what the hottest temperature is that you can wash your garment at. Use a heavy-duty laundry detergent to wash your item on the hottest temperature allowed.
If your stain remains after washing, mix a quarter of a cup of chlorine bleach, or oxygen-based bleach for synthetic fibres, with 1 gallon of water. Soak your stained item in this mixture for 15-30 minutes, before thoroughly washing.
Chocolate is undoubtedly delicious, but, if on your clothes, can be difficult to remove. This is how you can remove a chocolate stain.
New chocolate stains
Old chocolate stains
Dry clean only clothing
New chocolate stains
Regardless of the type of stain, it is always best to treat it as soon as possible. Chocolate stains are no different.
To treat a new chocolate stain you will need…
A butter knife or spoon
Heavy-duty laundry detergent or dish soap
Stain remover gel or spray
Cold water
Begin removing your chocolate stain by using a butter knife or a spoon to remove any excess chocolate. Be careful whilst you are doing this. If you push too hard you can damage the fibres of your clothing and cause rips in the cloth. Be wary of spreading the chocolate to clean parts of your garment, you don’t want to accidentally make your stain bigger than it is.
After you have removed as much of the excess chocolate as you can, rinse your stain with cold water. Make sure that you are running the cold water through the back of the stain so that the chocolate is pushed out through the fabric and not embedded deeper into it. Do not use warm or hot water during this step as that will only set the stain deeper into your fabric.
Once you have flushed out your stain with cold water, gently rub a heavy-duty laundry detergent, or dish soap if you do not have laundry detergent, into the stain. Allow your stained garment to sit for 5 minutes and absorb the detergent or soap, before soaking it in cold water for 15 minutes. Whilst your stained clothing is soaking, gently rub the stained area between your fingers every 3-5 minutes to loosen the stain.
Finally, using cold water, rinse out the stain, and wash your clothing as you usually would. If your stain is still present after you have washed your garment, try using a stain remover gel or spray on the stain, and repeat the previous steps.
Old chocolate stains
Chocolate stains will set with heat and time. If you notice a dark brown stain on an item of clothing, this could be an old chocolate stain. Despite the fact that these are harder to remove than fresh chocolate stains, it is not completely impossible.
To treat an old chocolate stain you will need…
Heavy-duty laundry detergent or dish soap
Cold water
Colour-safe non-chlorine bleach
Mild bleaching agent (if your stained clothing is white)
To begin removing your stain, rub some heavy-duty laundry detergent, or dish soap, directly onto the stain, and soak your garment in cold water for 30 minutes. Repeat this process until your stain becomes lighter in colour.
Once you have completed soaking your stain, wash your garment with colour-safe non-chlorine bleach. If your stained item is white, you can use a mild bleaching agent, such as lemon juice.
After your garment has been washed with your bleach, completely rinse your item, and wash it as you usually would. If your stain has not lifted, repeat the process.
If you’re getting married, firstly, congratulations, I sincerely hope that you have a long and happy marriage. Secondly, have you thought about how you’re going to keep your wedding dress clean on your big day? If not, here are some tips for you.
Air your dress
Use stain protector on the hem of your dress
Put your dress on at the last minute
Step into your dress
Take a water spray bottle with you
Keep white chalk on hand
Recruit your bridal party to help
Have an emergency kit on hand
Never rub a stain
Have a post-wedding plan
Air your dress
On the morning of your wedding day, hang your dress somewhere out of the way from yourself and your bridal party. It is essential that you air out your wedding dress so that you can let any wrinkles fall. That being said, you don’t want it to be hung somewhere that risks it being stained. If possible, leave it in an empty bedroom, so it won’t be disturbed until the moment you put it on.
Photo by Daniel Moises Magulado from Pexels
Use stain protector on the hem of your dress
If you are wearing a floor-length wedding dress, it’s essential that you protect the hem of your gown. Even if you aren’t planning on wandering outside, your hem will be dragging across the floor all day and will become dirty if not protected. Buy a stain protector for the hem of your dress, but, be very careful when applying it. If you apply too much stain protector you may leave a stain, so apply only a small amount.
When you are putting on your dress, it’s best to step into it so that it does not come into contact with your hair or makeup- this is to protect both the dress and your perfectly finessed hair and makeup. Finally, have your bridesmaids help you put your shoes on to avoid bending down and wrinkling your dress.
You don’t want your dress to look wrinkled in your wedding photos. To avoid this, have a spray water bottle with you at all times. If you spot a small wrinkle on your dress, simply spray a small amount of the water on to it, and said wrinkle will disappear. Be warned, water will not work on larger wrinkles.
As your wedding day progresses, there is an increased chance of your dress becoming stained. Chalk is a great way to get rid of oil-based stains, and, if your wedding dress is white, white chalk will help cover the stain. If you have an oil-based stain, simply rub a small amount of the chalk over the stain, and wait 15 minutes for the chalk to absorb the oil. After 15 minutes, brush the chalk off of your wedding dress, and continue with what will be one of the best days of your life.
Your bridal party is there to help, so use them to help you keep your wedding dress clean. Have two of them help you hold up your dress when you are walking over a particularly dirty section of flooring. Tell them to watch out for any stains that may drip onto your dress, and make sure that they know how to remove stains as fast as possible. Remember, it’s your day, and if you want your bridal party to help you keep your dress clean, then so be it.
You can buy an emergency kit or make one yourself, either way, they are essential to have on your wedding day. Your emergency kit will have everything you will need for any wedding dress disaster. From a needle and thread to deal with rips in your dress to emergency crystals, your emergency kit will help with any wedding dress mishap.
If you do get a stain on your wedding dress, and the chalk has not helped, do not rub it. Rubbing a stain will only set it further into your dress and may hinder it from being removed after your wedding day. Instead, try and cover the stain with alternative embellishments, such as flowers or crystals, or just own the fact that your dress is stained. It will come out eventually. There is no need to let a little stain ruin your big day.
It’s important to have a plan for how you are going to clean your wedding dress after your wedding. Do you want it cleaned professionally by a dry cleaner? Or would you prefer to try and wash it yourself? Whatever you want to do, it’s important that you think about it before your big day, so that you can treat any stains on your dress as soon as possible.
Enjoy your wedding day without having to worry too much about keeping your wedding dress clean. If you do get a few stains on it, don’t worry. Simply book your Laundryheap service and we can have it picked-up, pre-treated, dry-cleaned, and returned to you, within 24 hours.
To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app.
Red wines natural deep red colouring is lovely to look at in a glass, but not so nice to look at on your clothing. If you have spilt red wine on yourself, this is how you can remove it.
Table salt
Club soda
Soap and hydrogen peroxide
Kitty litter
Milk
Hot water
Shaving cream
Vodka
Laundryheap
Table salt
Salt is the best stain remover for wine, but it must be used within two minutes of the wine being spilled.
Sprinkle a thick layer of salt over your stain, making sure that it is completely covered. Leave the salt for an hour so that the salt crystals can absorb the red wine. After an hour, brush the salt off of your clothing and wash the remaining salt away with water. Your stain should be completely, or at least mostly, absorbed by the salt.
Club soda
Club soda is a popular method for removing red wine stains. The carbonation in club soda is believed to have stain lifting agents, including a low PH level which makes it a weak acid.
To use the club soda method, simply pour the liquid continuously over the stain until you see the colour fade away. Once the colour has faded, leave your item to completely dry so that you can be sure that your stain has been completely removed.
Soap and hydrogen peroxide
To begin this method of stain removal, mix equal parts of soap as hydrogen peroxide in a container. Depending on which you prefer, pour, sponge, or spray the mixture onto the stain, and blot with a clean paper towel or cloth. Never rub your stain as this can lead to it spreading. After a few blots, you should notice your stain begin to transfer onto your clean cloth or paper towel. Keep blotting until the stain has been completely lifted or has at least faded in colour.
Kitty litter
Kitty litter may seem like an odd way to lift a stain, however, it is incredibly absorbent.
Simply sprinkle half an inch of kitty litter onto your stain, making sure that it is completely covered. Next, press down softly with your hands so that the kitty litter can begin absorbing the wine. Leave it for an hour so that it can work on absorbing the full stain. After an hour, hoover the kitty litter off of your clothing to see the end result. Your stain should be completely removed, or at least lighter in colour.
Milk
There are two ways that you can lift a red wine stain using milk.
The first method is to pour the milk directly over the stain, allowing it to fully soak into the fabric, before blotting it with a clean cloth or paper towel. Your stain should be completely lifted after less than an hour. Wash your clothing as normal to remove the excess liquid.
The second method is best if your red wine stain covers a larger surface area. Pour your milk into a large bowl and completely submerge your item into it. Leave it to soak for around an hour, before removing it from the milk and washing it as you usually would.
Hot water
Normally, hot water sets stains into fabric rather than lifts them, however, because of red wines fruit base, hot water will help remove the stain.
Begin by boiling water either in a pan or using a kettle. Whilst your water is boiling, in your sink stretch your stained item over a pan. Once your water has boiled, pour it over the stain from 3-4 feet above, making sure to be careful of any boiling water that may splash back at you. As you pour, you should see the colour being removed from your stain and your stain being completely lifted. Once your stain has been removed, dry the area with a clean cloth or paper towels.
Shaving cream
Shaving cream will saturate and lift your red wine stain, even after it has dried.
Spray your shaving cream over your stain, making sure that the whole area is covered. Next, use a spoon to flatten the cream into the fabric. Once your shaving cream has been flattened, wash your clothing as you usually would. Your stain should be completely lifted when you take your item out of the washing machine.
Vodka
If you don’t have vodka, any clear alcohol, such as gin, that has a higher proof than red wine should remove your stain.
Pour your vodka over the stain, making sure that the whole stain has been soaked in alcohol. Once your stain has been soaked, blot it with a clean cloth, before continuing to pour the vodka over the stain. Continue this process until your stain begins to fade and eventually disappears. Wash your item as usual.
Laundryheap
If you have a red wine stain that refuses to be removed, send it to Laundryheap. Write us a note when you make your order letting us know what item the stain is on and where it is, and we will take the utmost care to remove the stain for you.
To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
It’s easy to accidentally drip toothpaste onto your new suit or comfiest PJ’s. This is how you get that pesky stain out.
White toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste
Gel toothpaste
White toothpaste
White toothpaste contains titanium dioxide, which is the chemical that makes it look white. If you use white toothpaste, water will not be enough to lift the stain it leaves behind.
What you’ll need
A blunt object, such as a spoon
A clean cloth
Liquid laundry detergent
Begin by using your blunt object to remove excess toothpaste from your clothing. Try and use an upwards motion when doing this to avoid spreading the loose particles to other parts of your clothing.
Once you have sufficiently removed the top layer of the stain, slightly dampen a clean cloth and blot the area. This will help loosen the stain and aid in it being lifted from your clothing.
Next, work a small amount of liquid laundry detergent onto your toothpaste stain. Make sure that the detergent is spread over the entirety of the stain so that the whole area can be lifted.
After you have adequately rubbed in your detergent, wash your stained item of clothing in your washing machine as usual.
If your toothpaste stain has not been completely removed after washing, repeat the full process again.
Whitening toothpaste usually contains a mild bleaching agent that works to whiten your teeth. This bleaching agent can cause discoloration on coloured and dark clothing if it is left for an extended period of time. To remove a whitening toothpaste stain you need to follow the exact process of removing a white toothpaste stain, however, you need to act as soon as you notice the stain to avoid excessive discolouration to your clothing.
Gel toothpaste contains dye to make it a blue/green colour. This dye can discolour your white clothing if left for too long. As soon as you notice a gel toothpaste stain you need to follow the same procedure as removing a regular toothpaste stain. Once you have washed your stained item of clothing, dry your garment in direct sunlight. Sunlight has natural bleaching qualities and can help even out any discolouration.
If you have a toothpaste stain, or any stain, that you can not get rid of, let us help you. If you tell us what items of clothing are stained we will take extra precautions to help lift the stain and deliver your clothes back to you stain-free. To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
When the colours of your clothing bleed together, this is known as a colour run. Colour runs are very common, and this is everything you need to know about them.
Why do colour run stains occur?
The colourfastness test
How to prevent colour runs
How to get rid of colour run stains
Why do colour run stains occur?
The brightly coloured clothing that we buy has been dyed using colour pigments. In order for our clothes to remain a vibrant colour, the colour pigments of the dye must be securely attached to the fabric. Colour run occurs when the coloured pigments have not been adequately attached to the fabric. When these inadequately attached pigments come into contact with water, the dye begins to run and can transfer onto other items of clothing. Colour run stains are most apparent when washing isn’t separated. If a darker item of clothing begins to run, it can be damaging to lighter colours of clothing.
The most effective way to test if your clothing will run in the wash is by using the colourfastness test. This test should be carried out before you wash your item with any other clothing.
Begin the test by selecting a hidden section of your item, such as the hem or seam. Dampen that section and lay something absorbent on the spot, such as a white paper towel or handkerchief. Next, iron on top of the absorbent material. If the colour from your item bleeds onto the absorbent material than your item is not colourfast and therefore could stain any other clothing it is washed with.
The best way to minimise the damage of colour run stains is by washing the same, or similar, coloured clothing together. This will mean that, should your colours run in the wash, there will not be a dramatic impact made to your other items in the wash in turns of colour difference.
It is important to remember that hot water opens the fibres in clothing, therefore encouraging any non-colourfast clothing to run. The best way to combat this issue is to wash your clothing in cold water.
Finally, to prevent colour runs, don’t leave your washing in a wet pile or in your washing machine, whilst wet, for a long period of time. This encourages any non-colourfast clothing to run and potentially stain multiple items of your clothing.
How to get rid of colour run stains
If your colours have run and the stain is noticeable the best thing to do is treat the stain as soon as possible. Put your stained item back into the washing machine, on its own, and wash it again using laundry detergent. As long as you act fast, ideally when the item is still wet, the stain should remove itself. If washing your stained item using normal laundry detergent does not treat the stain, you can find specific stain remover laundry detergents.
If your colour run was particularly bad, don’t forget to put your washing machine on an empty spin to clean out your machine and avoid any damage to the clothes you put in later.
The best way to avoid colour run stains is by letting us launder your clothes for you. Book your Laundryheap service by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app. We are now servicing Boston, including Boston City, Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline.
Ink stains are a potential outfit ruiner. Whether you’ve accidentally ran a ball-point pen over the sleeve of your best white shirt, or your children have decided to give your favourite skirt a new design, ink stains can be incredibly difficult to remove. Try these methods for removing them.
Cover in Salt
Apply liquid laundry detergent
Blot with rubbing alcohol
Spray with hairspray
Soak in milk
Spread over with vinegar and corn starch
Cover in salt
If you catch your ink stain before it has dried you are incredibly lucky because they are easier to remove than dried stains. To remove fresh ink stains, cover the stain in salt and dab gently with a wet paper towel. Brush off the salt and check to see if the stain has been removed. If the stain hasn’t been removed, repeat the process, or try an additional method explained in this post.
Apply liquid laundry detergent
For a dried, water-based, ink stain a liquid laundry detergent is best to use. Begin by laying your stained item of clothing on a clean towel. Apply water to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. As you blot you should begin to see the ink transferring from your stained clothing onto the cloth. Once no more ink is being transferred onto the cloth, apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent on what’s left of the ink stain. Leave it to soak in for three to five minutes. After three to five minutes, wash your clothing on the hottest setting advised on the care label. Before drying, check that the stain has been completely removed and, if not, complete the process again.
Blot with rubbing alcohol
Before beginning with this method you need to check that your clothing won’t be stained further by the rubbing alcohol. To do this, dab some rubbing alcohol onto the seam of your garment and wait to observe if a reaction occurs. If nothing happens, you are safe to begin.
Firstly, lay your stained item of clothing on top of a clean towel. Using a clean cloth blot your ink stain with rubbing alcohol, this will begin diluting the stain. Be aware that the towel underneath your garment may become wet with rubbing alcohol and stained with transferred ink. If this happens, replace the wet and stained towel with a fresh one to ensure that no ink is re-transferred on to your clothing. Continue dabbing your stain with rubbing alcohol until no ink is transferred onto the cloth. Once you’ve reached this point, wash off any rubbing alcohol residue.
If you are treating a ball-point pen stain, rub a small amount of liquid laundry detergent on to the stain and leave it for three to five minutes. Wash off the detergent and observe whether the stain has been removed.
Before moving forwards, observe whether the blotting and liquid detergent has been successful in removing the ink stain. If so, wash your garment on the hottest wash suggested on your clothing items care label. If the stain has not been successfully removed, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and cool water. Completely submerge your clothing in the solution and leave it to soak for 8 hours. If your stain has still not been removed, make a new solution, and leave your clothing for another 8 hours. This should remove the stain, and leave your clothing ink free.
Spray with hairspray
Most hairsprays contain alcohol which is incredibly useful when dissolving ink and removing ink stains. The higher the alcohol content in the hairspray, the more effective it will be in removing the stain- often the cheaper hairsprays have the highest alcohol content.
Lay your stained garment on a clean towel, and thoroughly spray the stain. Blot the stain with a clean cloth until the stain has been removed. Once removed, wash your clothing according to the advice on your garments care label. If the stain has not been removed, repeat the process.
If you have time for a more time-consuming ink stain removal method this could be the solution for you. Fill a bowl with enough milk to completely submerge your ink stain. Place your stained clothing in the milk and leave it overnight to soak. Remove your clothing in the morning and observe whether the stain has been removed. If your stain has been removed, wash your garment as normal. If your stain has not been removed, repeat the process, or perhaps try one of the other methods suggested in this post.
Spread over with vinegar and cornstarch
Begin this process by laying your damaged item on a clean towel and soaking your stain with vinegar. Whilst the vinegar begins breaking down the ink, mix two parts vinegar with three parts cornstarch until a paste has formed. Once you have reached paste consistency, spread it over the ink stain and leave it to completely dry. Once your paste has dried, wash your item as you normally would.
If these methods aren’t successful in removing your ink stain, leave it to us to remove. Book your slot by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading the Laundryheap app.
Ironing stains are easily done and yet increasingly difficult to get rid of. Some ironing stains are unsalvagable and can only be aesthetically lighter rather than removed. These six methods will either help to lighten, or completely remove, ironing stains.
Method 1- Bleach the stain
Method 2- Soak in hydrogen peroxide
Method 3- Squeeze lemon juice over the stain
Method 4- Soak in ice water
Method 5- Rub with white vinegar
Method 6- Use an emery pad
Method 1- Bleach the stain
Before starting this method make sure that you check the stained items care label. Some clothing will come with a warning to not use bleach, in which case this method should not be used.
Once you have checked the care label, soak your item in diluted bleach. After 15 minutes, remove the item and wash it as you usually would. To get the most effective result, dry in direct sunlight. The sun’s natural lightening abilities will help lighten the stain so at the very least the mark will be less visible.
Method 2- Soak in hydrogen peroxide
Begin by laying the garment on a flat surface. Soak an old cloth or piece of fabric in hydrogen peroxide and place it on the iron stain. Next, put a clean, dry, cloth or piece of fabric on top of the hydrogen peroxide soaked material whilst you let your iron heat to a high temperature. Once your iron is hot, gently rub it over the top piece of fabric. The heat will gently permeate through to the hydrogen peroxide and help work it into the stain. As you iron make sure that you check the progress of the stain. If you notice that your bottom cloth is getting dry, apply more hydrogen peroxide to it. Likewise, if your top cloth is becoming damp with hydrogen peroxide switch it for a new, dry, cloth as this will prevent rust stains transferring from the iron. This process can take a while, so patience is key.
Method 3- squeeze lemon juice over the stain
Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the stain until it’s completely soaked. Place your item of clothing in a container of hot water and let it sit for 15-30 minutes depending on how severe the stain is. Remove the clothing item and dry as normal.
Method 4- Soak in ice water
If your stain is mild soaking it in ice water for an hour could remove it. For this method, you need to ensure that your water is ice cold. To guarantee this either add ice cubes to cold water or leave your item in some water in the freezer. If you do leave your clothes in the freezer, make sure you only leave them in there for a maximum of 1 hour. Completely freezing your clothes won’t cause any additional damage, but can slow down the stain removing process.
If you decide on this method it’s important that you use white vinegar only- using any other type of vinegar could stain your clothing further. Soak a rag or sponge in white vinegar and rub it over the stain. Once the stain is completely soaked, leave the item to sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with cool water. Leave your clothing to dry as normal.
A heavy scorch mark can not be removed, however the damage can be made less visible. Using an emery pad, or any rough material, gently rub the burn mark, removing any dark singed material. Be gentle with your rubbing movements, being too aggressive can cause further holes and damage to the material.
If your clothing has been stained beyond repair and you are considering throwing out the item, try and reuse it for an alternative purpose. Consider making a tote bag or pillow case- anything to limit the clothing pollution that comes with throwing away clothing.
The best way to treat any stain is by getting it treated at a dry cleaners. Book your slot on the Laundryheap website or by downloading the Laundryheap app.
