Blog

The Mystery of the Invisible Stain

Have you ever taken clothes out of the laundry or picked them up from the dry cleaner and, lo and behold, a new stain has magically appeared?

Before you start to holler about your dry cleaner, spouse, child, or pet monkey for ruining your favorite shirt, stop and read this blog post: you may be the victim of an invisible stain.

What is an invisible stain?

The scenario:  you spill a drop of soda on your cashmere sweater. At first, it looks like it’s the end of the sweater. However, a few minutes later, the stain has dried up and disappeared. Whew, you think, that was lucky!

Think again. The stain is still there, it has just become invisible. Which is not a problem…until the garment is exposed to heat in the dryer or under the iron. The heat makes oil stains oxidize and sugar stains caramelize, turning your invisible stain into a dark eyesore.

How can I get rid of invisible stains?

Once these stains are set under heat, it’s very difficult to remove them. So the best way to get rid of invisible stains is to prevent them.

If you spill something, tackle the stain immediately, even if it appears to have disappeared when it’s dry. Don’t just throw your garment in the laundry pile because it looks ok right now. You’ll be sorely disappointed when you take your clothes out of the dryer or pick them up from the cleaner and, voila, there’s a mystery stain.

If you’re taking your clothes to a cleaner, go as soon as you can, and tell the cleaner that there may be a stain. That way, the cleaner can remove the stain before any solvent or heat brings it back to life.

If you’re washing your clothes at home, pay special attention to the possibly stained garment. It’s essential that you remove the cause of the stain before the garment comes in contact with heat. 

If you miss an invisible stain, and it’s now visible, you’re probably going to need expert help removing it. An expert at Crest Cleaners is a good bet, but there’s no guarantee.

Have you ever come in contact with an invisible stain? Share your horror and success stories in our comments.