Stain Removal Guide

Candy

Removed colored candy stains by rinsing in warm water to dilute stain.  Wash in warm to hot water, dry as usual.

Candle Wax

Scrape off excess wax with a dull knife.  Place stain between paper towels.  Press with a warm iron from back of fabric.  Then place stain face down on clean paper towels and sponge with a dry-cleaning solvent. Air dry and launder as usual.  If traces of color remain, launder again using color-safe bleach.  Follow fabric instructions.

Chocolate

Pre-treat with laundry detergent or soak fabric in warm water using a detergent containing enzymes.  Some difficult stains may require using a bleach safe for the garment.

Coffee, Tea or Soda

Sponge or rinse stain promptly in cold water.  Pre-treat with liquid laundry detergent, launder using bleach  (chlorine or color-safe according to garment instructions) and hottest water safe for fabric.

Eggs, Milk or other Dairy

Rinse in cold water to dilute stain.  Soak up to 30 minutes with detergent, keep garment submerged in detergent soak. Wash in warm to hot water and air-dry.

Fruit

Rinse in cold water to dilute stain.  Soak up to 30 minutes with detergent, keep garment submerged in detergent soak. Wash in warm to hot water and air-dry.

Gravy

Scrape off excess with a dull knife if dried.  Pre-treat a) soak with laundry product containing enzymes or b) rub with liquid laundry detergent or paste of powder laundry detergent and water.  Launder as usual.

Grease, Cooking oil

Use dry cleaning solvent or pre-treat with laundry product by rubbing into stain until saturated.  Wash in warm to hot water.  Air-dry and repeat if necessary. Lipstick - scrape fabric with dull knife.  Use dry-cleaning solvent or pre-treat with a detergent or stain treatment.  Wash in warm water, air dry.

Perspiration

Dampen stain with warm water and rub with a bar of soap.  Launder in hot water with chlorine bleach, if safe for fabric.  Note: if perspiration has changed the color of the fabric, apply ammonia to fresh stains, or vinegar to old stains and rinse.  Launder in hottest water safe for fabric and color.

Tree Sap

Use dry-cleaning solvent and then wash in detergent in warm to hot water.  Dry and repeat if necessary. Wine - rinse in cold water to dilute stain.  Soak up to 30 minutes in detergent, keeping garment submerged in detergent soak.  Launder in hottest water safe for fabric and color.  Air dry and repeat if necessary.

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