Favorite garments that get stains, it's difficult to avoid that it is precisely the favorites that get stains and feel old, even ruined. Often it can be solved and it is good because the worst thing for the environment is to buy new. Use things for a long time, repair and maintain is always a better option. Often we read that low washing temperature is the solution to washing clothes environmentally friendly and sure, the energy saving that washing at low temperature implies is absolutely significant, but not if it means that you throw away garments and buy new instead of trying to get them clean at a higher temperature.
There are always four parts to take into account in all cleaning: Mechanical cleaning, Temperature, Time and Chemistry.
The mechanical cleaning here is partly the job the washing machine does, partly how you pre-treat the stains.
You set the temperature on the washing machine. Think like this: My body is 37°C, would I if I washed/did the dishes by hand reasonably get this clean with water that is colder than myself? Start from there.
(The manufacturer of the garment often sets a low washing temperature as a recommendation in the washing instructions, sometimes it is justified, sometimes it is to avoid complaints and claims. But we actually have to wash sometimes, a certain amount of wear and tear you have to count on and you need to add a little common sense. If it says 20°C on a garment that seems to withstand more, is heavily soiled and stained, it is always better to try to save the garment than to throw it away because you cannot get it clean.)
Time, how long a wash program do I need? Is a quick wash of 30 minutes enough?
Then we have chemistry - i.e. the detergent. Large amount of laundry, heavily soiled laundry and hard water are things that mean you need to increase the amount of detergent.
But then to the stains. Step one is always to try to find out what caused the stain, step two to find out how to pre-treat the stain.
Here are some common stains and tips on how to pre-treat them before putting them in the washing machine.
Feces: Remove all loose material and rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be completely wetted. Cover the stain with soap, preferably treat a little extra with a washing brush if the garment can tolerate it. Then soak in cold water for at least 1 hour. Wash in the machine according to washing instructions.
Banana: Scrape off excess banana. Use a spoon or knife to gently scrape off as much of the stain as possible without pressing it into the fabric.
Rinse with cold/lukewarm (not hot) water. Hold the stained part of the fabric under cold running lukewarm water. This helps to rinse away some of the banana sugar the stain needs to be soaked through. The textile fibers need to be full of water. Apply detergent. Rub a small amount of liquid all-purpose detergent directly onto the stain. Let it work for about 5-10 minutes.
Wash as usual, according to washing instructions, (but preferably not too hot).
Check that the stain is completely gone before drying the garment, as the heat from the tumble dryer can make the stain permanent. If the stain remains, repeat the steps before drying the garment.
Banana mainly contains Starch and Sugar - (fructose, glucose and sucrose). Both need to be washed away and that is done by following the steps above.
Blood: Rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be completely wetted. Cover the stain with soap, preferably treat a little extra with a washing brush if the garment can tolerate it. Everything that contains protein can be fixed by heat, hence cold water. Place the garment in a basin, add salt, about 1/2 dl to a bucket. Stir until the salt is dissolved and then soak the garment for at least an hour. Then machine wash according to washing instructions.
Chocolate: Chocolate contains a lot of fat so the stain is most easily dissolved with a fat soap and washing brush before washing in the machine according to washing instructions.
Grass: You need glycerin, especially if there are grass stains on light-colored garments. Pour glycerin on the stain. Work the glycerin in lightly. Leave for 24 hours.
Then remove the glycerin with soap and water. Stain removing soap and cellulose sponge are good tools here. Machine wash according to washing instructions.
Complete laundry package with stain removal - Scent of Citrus
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1. Why do my favorite garments always get stains?
The answer is: because you use them more often and often end up in situations where clothes get stained, coffee, food and outings.
2. Why should "everything" be washed at a low temperature?
Low washing temp saves energy (as the machine does not have to heat the water so much). There is less risk of clothes being damaged or shrinking at a low temperature and therefore manufacturers often set a low washing temperature in the washing instructions. Think like this: My body is 37°C, you know what 37°C water feels like, is it likely that you will get the garment you intend to wash clean in "cold" water? If it is unreasonable, you may have to raise the washing temperature. The worst thing for the environment is to buy new so pre-treating stains and raising the washing temperature is a better and more economical choice.
3. Can I remove all stains with soap?
No but most. Grass can for example be tricky and then you may need glycerin (available at the pharmacy) to save for example a pair of light jeans with grass stains.
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