Stains, how to remove them.
Oil
There are many types of oils, and of course, dirty motor oil on white fabric is harder to remove than a splash of cooking oil on dark fabric, but here are some tips, and the principle is the same. Dissolve grease with grease and remove the last traces of grease with dish soap. If it’s a large amount of cooking oil, first try to soak up as much fat as possible with corn flour or potato flour. Scrape off / shake off as long as the stain feels wet with grease. Then dampen the stain with lukewarm water and treat it with soap. When you feel done, use laundry detergent or dish soap for a final treatment of the oil stain before rinsing and washing according to the washing instructions in the machine.
Paprika
Especially red pepper can be difficult to remove. But follow these steps and it should come off: start by scraping off any remaining pepper, but be careful not to spread the stain further. Rinse with lukewarm water, here it’s important to fill the textile fibers with water, they need to be saturated with water to release the color from the pepper. Hold the stain under running water from the back of the fabric. Gently rub in some liquid laundry detergent and rinse again with lukewarm water. If the stain is still visible, rub in some more liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing again, then wash in the machine according to the washing instructions.
Rapeseed Oil
If it’s a large amount of cooking oil, you need to first try to soak up as much fat as possible with corn flour or potato flour. Scrape off / shake off as long as the stain feels wet with grease. Then dampen the stain with lukewarm water and treat it with soap. Rinse and repeat before washing according to the washing instructions in the machine.
Stearin
-Oh, oh stearin! This may take a while to remove, but it’s possible. The first step is to freeze the fabric with all the stearin still on. Do not try to remove it while it’s soft, but put everything together in the freezer and let it freeze thoroughly. Then take it out of the freezer and with a blunt knife, "scrape" off the stearin lumps. This usually removes most of the stearin.
If the stain is still visible, take out the iron and a tissue / coffee filter, place it over the stain and iron on top of the paper until you see the stearin being absorbed by the paper. Move the paper/filter and iron again.
Then use liquid laundry detergent, preferably all-purpose detergent, and wash in the machine according to the washing instructions.
Sweat
Sweat often leaves ugly stains, especially under the arms of garments. To remove this, use a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and half a deciliter of vinegar. Mix together and spread on the stain, then let it sit before washing in the machine according to the washing instructions. If the garment is white, you can complement the mixture with a little lemon, which has a bleaching effect.
Makeup
Removing makeup stains from clothes can be tricky, but with the right technique, you can succeed. Here are some steps to follow to effectively remove makeup from clothes. If there’s a thick layer of makeup on the fabric, use a spoon, knife, or similar to gently scrape off as much as possible without spreading the stain. Use a clean cellulose sponge, lukewarm water, and all-purpose detergent to treat the stain. Use plenty of water, preferably do this in a sink or basin. It’s often the sleeves and collars that get stained, so treat the entire collar with the sponge. Rinse and repeat. Makeup often contains fats, so warmer water can help dissolve the stain. If it’s a really greasy stain, like from cream, you might need to use soap first and then laundry detergent on the sponge. Then wash according to the garment’s washing instructions in the machine.
Urine
Urine can leave stains but especially an unpleasant odor. If it’s a carpet that has gotten a stain, start by soaking up as much as possible of the urine with a dry towel. Moisten with lukewarm water and press with the towel on the stain repeatedly until you’ve removed as much as possible. If it’s possible to get water through the carpet and the stain, that’s preferred. Place a container under the carpet, under the stain, and gently pour lukewarm water through the stain so that the water is caught by the container below. If it’s a garment, you can skip this and directly apply some glycerin. Rub it into the stain and let it sit for at least half an hour before dampening the stain again and applying liquid laundry detergent to remove the glycerin residue. Then wash the garment in the machine according to the washing instructions. For a carpet, use the same method as above, press with a towel and use liquid laundry detergent in the water.
Wine
Red wine has a strong color, so it’s best to address the stain right away. Like other stains, make sure to saturate the textile fibers with water. Rinse the stain under lukewarm water as much as possible. The fibers need to be saturated with water to release the color from the wine.
If it’s a carpet, follow the same principle. Try to saturate the fibers with water. Check the tip above with a container under the carpet. Once you’ve done this and absorbed as much water as possible, apply plenty of salt. The salt will absorb the water and wine mixture. When the salt has dried, you can vacuum it up and if the stain is still visible, treat with soap and lukewarm water. Use a dry towel to absorb the liquid.
Garments with red wine stains are treated the same way, i.e., lots of running water. Then, boil milk, let it cool a little, and dip the stain in the milk. Let it sit before rinsing with lukewarm water and treating with some liquid laundry detergent before washing in the machine.
Do not use milk on carpets, rugs, and other items that cannot be machine-washed. Any milk residue may leave a sour odor.
Egg
Eggs contain proteins, so avoid all acids and heat. The easiest way to remove egg stains is with cold water and soap. Treat the stain with soap and rinse with plenty of water, then wash according to the garment’s washing instructions.
Beer
Beer can cause stains but rarely has a particularly strong color. Treat these stains with lukewarm water and all-purpose detergent. Carpets, furniture, and other solid items that cannot be machine-washed can be cleaned with a detergent mixture, lukewarm water, and a dry towel.
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