How to remove stains

How to

Removing stains

Kids often come home with stains. Here are tips for removing a few common ones from Whirlpool’s Institute of Fabric Science:

Ink: Test the treatment on a corner or other inconspicuous spot of the fabric to ensure it won’t affect the color of the garment. Stretch the fabric with the stained area over the mouth of a glass. Drip rubbing alcohol through the stain so the ink drops into the container. If necessary, follow up with a wash in color-safe bleach.

Crayon: Scrape off excess wax with a spoon or the back of a knife. Place the stained area face-down on a white paper towel, and cover the item with another paper towel. Run a warm iron over the top towel. The heat will melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the paper. Keep changing the paper towels until no more stain transfers. Pretreat the stain and wash in the warmest water that’s safe for the garment.

Fruit juice: Rinse in cold water to dilute the stain and prevent it from setting. Soak the garment in a mixture of detergent and water for up to 30 minutes before washing in the warmest water that’s safe for the garment.

With all the stains, air-dry and check for remaining stains before putting the garment into the dryer.

Source: McClatchy Newspapers