Stain Removal Suggestions
Trying to remove a difficult stain can be an
exasperating task. We highly recommend using Tipton Linen to avoid
these problems. We remind you to always read and follow the care instructions
and any warnings on your garment label. These tips are offered only as
suggestions and results are not guaranteed.
Click on
the stain below to read the removal tip.
Alcoholic Drinks &
Wine
Launder with detergent in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Do not use
soap (bar, flake, or detergents containing natural soap), because soap could
make the stain permanent. Soak tough stains for 30 minutes in one quart of warm
water and one teaspoon of enzyme presoak product. To remove an old or set stain
may require washing with bleach that is safe for the fabric, but always check
for colorfastness first. If all the sugars are not removed, a brown stain will
appear when the fabric is heated in the dryer, as the sugar is caramelized.
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Blood
Bloodstains should be treated immediately. First, flush cold water through
the stain and scrape off any crusted material. Soak the material for 15 minutes
in a mixture of one quart of cool or lukewarm water, 1/2-teaspoon liquid hand
dishwashing detergent and one-tablespoon ammonia. Rub gently from the back to
loosen the stain and soak another 15 minutes in the above mixture. Rinse
thoroughly and soak in an enzyme product for at least 30 minutes. Soak aged
stains for several hours. Launder as usual.
If the stain is not completely removed, wet the stain with hydrogen peroxide
and a few drops of ammonia. Do NOT leave this mixture on your material longer
than 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
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Candle Wax
Remove hardened wax by rubbing it with ice and carefully scraping it with
the dull edge of a butter knife. Or, you can try this suggestion: place the wax
stain between folded paper towels and press with a warm (not hot) iron. Replace
the paper towels as needed to prevent spreading the stain.
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Chocolate
Treat a chocolate stain with a pre-wash spray or pre-treat it with an enzyme
product. Rub with a heavy-duty liquid detergent and then launder as usual. If
the stain is stubborn and remains, re-launder with bleach that is safe for the
fabric you are treating.
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Coffee or Tea
Use a pretreatment stain remover to saturate the stain. Rub with a heavy-duty
liquid detergent and launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric (check
your garment label). Do not use soap including bar, flake or detergents
containing natural soap. (Soap can make a stain permanent.) If the stain is
stubborn and remains, launder with bleach safe for the fabric.
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Crayons
Scrape any excess crayon with the dull edge of a butter knife. Spray both sides
with WD-40 and lay the fabric on top of several paper towels. Work liquid
dishwashing detergent into the stain. Wash in hot water with laundry detergent
and bleach for about 10 minutes. Rinse in warm water. Note: You should
check the colorfastness of your fabric when using bleach products.
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Dye Stains & Transfers
These are the difficult stains to remove. We suggest you read and follow the
care instructions on your garment label carefully. Also, test the colorfastness
of your fabric before using these suggestions.
Prepare a diluted solution of all-fabric powdered bleach and soak the entire
garment.
Note: Colors could be lightened during this process. If the stain is
stubborn and remains, and the material is colorfast, soak the entire garment in
a diluted solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water.
Note: If the stain has not been removed after 15 minutes, the stain
cannot be removed by bleaching. Any additional exposure to bleach will weaken
and possibly damage the fabric.
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Fruits & Juices
First, for cherry or blueberry stains, try our tips under Dye Stains. For other
fruit and juice stains, launder with detergent in hot water but do not use soap
(bar, flake, or natural soap) as soap can make a stain permanent or more
difficult to remove. Stubborn stains can be soaked for 30 minutes in one quart
of warm water and one teaspoon of an enzyme presoak product. Old or set stains
should be washed in bleach safe for the material.
Note: If any sugars remain, a brown stain will appear after the fabric
has been heated in the dryer or ironed. Sugar will caramelize as a result of
the heat.
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Glue (white glue)
Remove as much as you can by scraping it off. Soak the fabric in cold water
using a detergent or enzyme presoak product for about 30 minutes. Old stains
should be soaked for several hours. When soaking is complete, launder in warm,
not hot, water and rinse. If the stain is stubborn, soak another 30 minutes and
rewash. Warning: Do not dry a
stained fabric. The heat from the dryer can set the stain.
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Grass
Grass is a difficult stain to remove. We suggest you read and follow the care
instructions on your garment label carefully. Also, test the colorfastness of
your fabric before using these suggestions.
Prepare a diluted solution of all-fabric-powdered bleach and soak the entire
garment. Note: colors could be lightened during this process.
If the stain is stubborn and remains, and the material is colorfast, soak the
entire garment in a diluted solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water.
Note: If the stain has not been removed after 15 minutes, the stain
cannot be removed by bleaching. Any additional exposure to bleach will weaken
and possibly damage the fabric.
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Grease
Saturate a light stain with a spray pretreatment stain remover and allow it to
set for several minutes. Rub in a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent and
launder as usual. If the stain is stubborn and remains, launder with chlorine
bleach or an all-purpose bleach (check your garments label first to see if this
is safe for your fabric).
For heavy stains, place the stained area face down on a stack of folded paper
towels. Apply dry cleaning fluid to the back of the stain, replacing paper
towels frequently. Allow to air dry and rinse. Launder in hot water.
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Gum
Place ice on the gum to harden it. Using the dull side of a knife, scrape off
what you can. Spray with a pretreatment product and allow to stand for five
minutes. Rub with a heavy-duty liquid detergent, and launder as usual. Repeat
if necessary. Note: If the gum has been in the dryer, it is extremely
difficult to remove.
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Ink (Solvent Soluble)
In order to remove ink, you must act quickly! Sponge the area around the stain
with denatured alcohol and then sponge the stain directly. Place the stain face
down on white paper towels and apply the alcohol to the back of the stain,
replacing the paper towels often. When the ink has been removed, rinse
thoroughly. Rub with a heavy-duty liquid detergent and launder in hot water,
with bleach if allowed by the product label. Check your fabric's colorfastness
before using any bleach products.
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Ink (Permanent)
Permanent ink is a difficult stain and is almost impossible to remove. If you
have hopes of removing an ink stain you must treat it immediately. Before the
stain dries, remove excess ink by forcing water through the stain. Allow to
dry. Use a dry cleaning solvent (using the directions carefully) and sponge the
stain. Allow it to dry; then rub the stain with a liquid detergent and rinse
thoroughly. Add one to four tablespoons of household ammonia to some warm water
and soak the stain. Rinse thoroughly and repeat if necessary. Launder as usual.
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Lipstick
Place the stain face down onto folded paper towels. Sponge the stain with a
dry-cleaning solvent, replacing the paper towels as needed. Allow to dry and
rinse. Rub with a heavy-duty liquid detergent and launder as usual. Repeat
process is necessary.
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Make-up
(Oil-based)
Saturate a light stain with a spray pretreatment stain remover and allow it to
set for several minutes. Rub in a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent and
launder as usual. If the stain is stubborn and remains, launder with chlorine
bleach or an all-purpose bleach (check your garments label first to see if this
is safe for your fabric).
For heavy stains, place the stained area face down on a stack of folded paper
towels. Apply dry cleaning fluid to the back of the stain, replacing paper
towels frequently. Allow to air dry and rinse. Launder in hot water.
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Make-up
(Water-based)
Launder with detergent in the hottest water safe for the fabric (as directed by
the garment label). Do not use soap (bar, flake or natural soap) as soap can
make a stain permanent. For stubborn stains, add one teaspoon of an enzyme
presoak product to one quart of warm water and soak for 30 minutes. Old or set
stains may require washing with bleach after you have checked the fabric for
colorfastness.
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Mustard
Mustard can be difficult to remove. We suggest you read and follow the care
instructions on your garment label carefully. Also, test the colorfastness of
your fabric before using these suggestions.
Prepare a diluted solution of all-fabric-powdered bleach and soak the entire
garment. Note: colors could be lightened during this process.
If the stain is stubborn and remains, and the material is colorfast, soak the
entire garment in a diluted solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water.
Note: If the stain has not been removed after 15 minutes, the stain
cannot be removed by bleaching. Any additional exposure to bleach will weaken
and possibly damage the fabric.
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Odors
Most odors will be removed using normal laundering procedures. However, for
stubborn odors place calcium carbonate crystals, activated charcoal or baking
soda inside your clothes closets.
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Perspiration
Perspiration can stain and weaken fabric, and stains can be difficult to
remove. Once you have read the care instructions and warnings on your garment
label, these tips may help remove stains. Rub the stain with a liquid detergent
and then launder. Heavy stains should be treated with a pre-wash stain remover
and allowed to stand 5 to 10 minutes. Launder using all-fabric bleach. For
discolored fabrics, treat with white vinegar.
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Rust
Be forewarned that you cannot remove rust stains in normal laundering. Chlorine
bleach will make rust stains permanent. Read your garment label before any
treatment. To remove small rust stains use an application of lemon juice and
salt. Repeat as necessary. Commercial rust removers can also be used. Rinse
thoroughly and wash using liquid laundry detergent and oxygen bleach. Severe
rust stains will require a commercial rust remover but use them cautiously and
as directed on the package.
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Smoke & Soot
Shake the garment off outdoors to remove excess soot. Launder in the washing
machine using a heavy-duty liquid detergent, one cup of water conditioner and
1/2 cup all-fabric bleach. Air dry. Repeat as necessary. Always follow the
guidelines for laundry care on your garment label before using any wash
product.
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Tomato-based
Products
Using a pretreatment stain remover, saturate the stained area. Allow five
minutes for the remover to penetrate the stain and launder immediately. If the
stain is stubborn, rub the area with a heavy-duty liquid detergent and then
launder.
If the stain remains, soak the entire garment in a diluted solution of
all-fabric powdered bleach. Note: all the colors may lighten when using
this process.
If the stain is persistent and the fabric is white (or colorfast), soak the
entire garment in a diluted solution of liquid chlorine bleach and water. Note:
Bleach can cause irreversible damage to some dyes. If this process has not
removed the stain within 15 minutes, further bleaching will only weaken or
damage the fabric.
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Urine
Most fresh urine stains can be removed by soaking and agitating in cold water.
(Hot water will make the stain more difficult to remove.) Soak 30 minutes in
cold water using detergent or enzyme presoak Launder in warm water and rinse.
If the stain remains, soak again or launder using chlorine bleach, if allowed
by your garments label instructions.
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Yellowing
Some fabrics turn yellow or dingy because of overuse (or underuse) of
detergent, improper rinsing or wash water temperature that is too low. Other
fabrics had whitening agents applied during manufacturing that have decomposed
because of exposure to light or other conditions. Specialty products are
available to help whiten white fabrics but these products will also affect
other colors in the garment and should be used with caution.
Try washing your fabric on the permanent press cycle in hot water, using a
cool-down rinse on permanent press and one cup of water conditioner instead of
detergent. This process may be repeated, or you can wash with all-fabric bleach
or chlorine bleach if the fabric is colorfast.
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