9 laundry stain removal tips

It's Murphy's Law: If something can spill, drip, ooze, or run, it will do so all over your lucky shirt or favorite jeans.

First, be patient. Zapping a drip, drop or splat without zapping the fabric itself requires a gentle touch and the patience to repeat a treatment until the blight is lifted.

For most fabrics, this means blotting up the excess or rinsing the stain with cold water. Don't rub - that just spreads the stain and grinds it deeper into the fabric.

Unfortunately, we're not always near a washing machine when disaster strikes. Not to worry: Some remedies can work on even set-in spots and stains.

Try these 9 laundry stain removal tips and then wash the garment as usual.

 1. Laundry stain removal for Chewing GUm

Rub the gummy spot with ice to harden it. Scrape away as much of the gum as possible with a dull knife. Saturate what remains with a pre-wash stain remover or your favorite laundry detergent (undiluted). Rinse, and wash as usual. 

  2.  Blood Stain Removal Tips

Rinse or pre-soak the garment in cold water, then wash in cold water with your usual detergent. Warm or hot water will set the stain. Don't use chlorine bleach - it can make the stain even worse, cold water or not.

  3.  How to Remove Chocolate Stains

Treat the spot with an enzyme laundry detergent mix (add one teaspoon of laundry detergent that contains enzymes to one cup of water.) Allow to sit for 30 minutes,

If a ring or slight stain remains feather the edges or spotty areas with hydrogen peroxide. Rinse thoroughly with clean, cool water.

  4.  How to Remove Coffee Stains

Sponge a coffee stain with, or soak in, cold water. Apply a pre-treating product on the stain. Wash as usual and air dry; repeat if stain remains.

  5.  How to Remove Cosmetics Stains

Pre-treat cosmetics stains with a pre-wash stain remover or a liquid detergent. Wash the garment in the water temperature recommended for the fabric.

  6.  How to Remove Crayon Stains

Place the garment on paper towels, crayoned side up. Spray the crayon-smudged or melted-on area with WD-40. Let stand 10 minutes. Turn the garment over and spray the underside as well. Allow to sit another 10 minutes. Using paper towels, blot on some hand dishwashing liquid mix (Add one teaspoon of commercial dishwashing liquid to one cup of water);replacing the paper towels as they absorb the waxy colors. If crayons melted in your dryer drum, too, spray a soft cloth with WD-40. Wipe clean.

  7.  Grass Stain Removal Tips

Soak or pre-wash the grass-stained garment in your washer, or in a sink or bucket, along with a detergent containing enzymes. Launder as usual with chlorine bleach if it's safe for the fabric. If not, use oxygen bleach instead. Apply an ammonia solution (Mix one part of ammonia to eight parts water) to remove any lingering greenery.

  8.  Removing Mildew Stains

Douse a mildewed clothing item with chlorine bleach diluted with water. Let soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then launder as recommended. For mildewed leather, brush on an antiseptic mouthwash.

  9.  How to Remove Sweat Stains

Use a pre-wash stain remover; if the stains are old, apply white vinegar undiluted. Rinse, then launder using oxygen bleach in the hottest water that's safe for the fabric.

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