Blog

Summer is Gone, Stains are Still Here

Summer clothes are super comfortable and lightweight, but they also tend to be light in color so stains are even more noticeable. Before you put those summer clothes away for the season, make sure you’ve done the best you can to get those summer stains out!

Of course, always be careful with delicate fabrics, don’t put stained garments in the dryer (read why), and come in and ask the experts at your local cleaners when you’re in doubt. But in the meantime, check out our remedies for the toughest of summer stains:

Berries

Boiling water is the trick to getting this stain out. Once you have gathered a kettle of boiling water and a helping hand, you are all set. One person should hold the garment taut over the sink while the other has the kettle about one foot above it to pour the boiling water over the affected area.

Mustard and Ketchup

Warm glycerin should do it here (just place the glycerin bottle in a bowl of hot water). Rub a bit into the stain, let it sit for a few minutes and then wash normally. Glycerin may seem tricky to find, but it’s available at your local pharmacy. Repeat as necessary, and dry only in the sunlight once the stain is out.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is good for your skin, but not for your clothes. A couple drops of dry white vinegar applied and rubbed with a warm sponge should easily remove sunscreen streaks from your garment. Baking soda will also do the trick.

Pen

Believe it or not, spraying hairspray on a pen afflicted garment will usually do the trick. Be generous, and after spraying, simply run it through the normal wash cycle.

And for those with kids…

After applying band-aids, ice and kisses for boo-boos, your next worry will be their favorite summer outfit. Make sure your kids don’t lose their clothes to tough stains. We have help for you too!

Grass

Just lay out the garment and cover the stains with liquid detergent, let soak for one hour and then wash as usual.

Blood

This stain will come out best with three-percent hydrogen peroxide.  Simply pour it on and let it sit until bubbles form.  It can then be rinsed and inspected for improvement.  Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone, then wash normally.

Clay/Mud

Always let mud or clay stains dry so you can brush off as much excess as possible before washing. Rinse in cold water once you are ready to treat the stain.  Next, mix a solution of one part non-chlorine bleach (for example, Clorox 2) to four parts warm water, plus a splash of liquid detergent.  Let the garment soak in the mixture for 30 minutes, then wash as usual.

You might not be wearing them anymore, but don’t put your summer clothes in storage until you’ve cleaned them properly. And don’t forget that Crest is here to help with any tough stains you just can’t fix!

Image Source