Stains on clothes—here’s how to remove them! A to G

 

It is difficult to avoid favorite garments getting stained and worn, but repairing and caring for them is always better for the environment than buying new ones. A low washing temperature saves energy, but that does not help if the garments have to be thrown away because they do not get clean.

 

Four factors affect the result when washing: mechanical cleaning (the washing machine’s movements and pretreatment of stains), temperature, time, and chemicals (detergent). Cold water below body temperature often does not dissolve dirt effectively.

 

The manufacturer’s care instructions are important, but sometimes common sense is needed. If the garment is heavily soiled, a higher temperature may be necessary to save it. Also adjust the washing time and amount of detergent according to the level of soiling and the size of the load.

 

The first step toward clean clothes is to identify the stain and pretreat it correctly before washing. Here are tips for common stains and how to pretreat them easily.

 

Feces: Remove all loose matter and rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be thoroughly wet. Cover the stain with soap, and treat it a little extra with a washing brush if the garment can withstand it. Then soak in cold water for at least 1 hour. Wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

Banana: Scrape off excess banana. Use a spoon or a knife to carefully scrape away 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 rinse away some of the banana sugar; the stain needs to be thoroughly soaked. The textile fibers need to be saturated with water. Apply detergent. Rub a small amount of liquid all-purpose detergent directly onto the stain. Leave it to work for approximately 5–10 minutes.

Wash as usual, according to the care instructions (but preferably not too hot). Make sure 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.

Bananas mainly contain starch and sugar (fructose, glucose, and sucrose). Both need to be washed away, which is done by following the steps above. 

Blood:  Rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be thoroughly wet. Cover the stain with soap, and treat it a little extra with a washing brush if the garment can withstand it. Anything containing protein can be set by heat, which is why cold water is important. Place the garment in a basin and add salt, approximately 1/2 dl per bucket. Stir until the salt has dissolved, then soak the garment for at least one hour. Afterward, wash it in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Chocolate: Chocolate contains a lot of fat, so the easiest way to dissolve this stain is with fatty soap and a washing brush before washing it in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Grass: You need glycerin, especially if grass stains have appeared on light-colored garments. Pour glycerin onto the stain. Gently work in the glycerin. Leave it for 24 hours.
Then remove the glycerin with soap and water. Stain-removing soap and a cellulose sponge are good tools here. Wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Complete laundry package with stain removal – Citrus scent

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

1. Why do my favorite garments always get stained?
The answer is: because you use them more often and frequently find yourself in situations where clothes get stained—coffee breaks, meals, and outings.

 

 

2. Why should “everything” be washed at a low temperature?
A low washing temperature saves energy (because the machine does not need to heat the water very much). There is less risk of clothes being damaged or shrinking at a low temperature, which is why manufacturers often specify low temperatures in the care instructions. Think of it this way: 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 that seems unreasonable, you may need to raise the washing temperature. The worst thing for the environment is buying new, so pretreating stains and raising the washing temperature is a better and more economical choice.

 

 

3. Can I remove all stains with soap?
No, but most of them. Grass stains can, for example, be tricky, and you may need glycerin (available at pharmacies) to save, for example, a pair of light-colored jeans with grass stains.

 

 

Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa