Removing 8 Common Summer Laundry Stains 

In summer, Murphy's Law invariably comes into play: If something can spill, drip, ooze, or run, it will do so all over your favorite shirt or sundress.

Fortunately, once you know how to treat these troublesome summer laundry stains - grass, chewing gum, iced coffee, chocolate, and sweat or deodorant - you can keep your beloved summer dud from ending up in the rag pile. Here's how to these summer laundry stains.

Pretreat Summer Laundry Stains 

Smudges, drips, drops, and smears - no matter their source, the key to keeping them from ruining your favorite summer clothes is to take quick action before the stain can dry.

For most fabrics, this means blotting up the excess or rinsing the stain with cold water (don't rub; this spreads the stain and grinds it deeper) and then pretreating the spot.

Thanks to today's detergents, keeping your favorite garments free of summer laundry stains is easier.

When mixed with water, powdered detergents are especially effective at loosening ground-in dirt before washing so it can be carried away during the machine wash.  

Liquid detergent can help make oil, grease, and food stains disappear. In the wash cycle, either chlorine or oxygen bleach ("color-safe") can help your detergent remove tough summer stains, including rust spots and dye stains. But only chlorine bleach kills bacteria and viruses. 

1.  Chewing Gum Stains

1. To remove chewing gum stains:Rub the gummy spot with ice to harden it.
2. Scrape away as much of the gum as possible with a dull knife.
   
3. Saturate what remains with a prewash spot remover, such as undiluted laundry detergent, then rinse and launder.
   

2.   Sweat and Deodorant Stains

To remove these common summer laundry stains, use a prewash stain remover. However, if the sweat or deodorant stains are old, apply white vinegar. Rinse, then launder using oxygen bleach in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

3.   Coffee Stain Removal

Sponge with or soak iced coffee stains in cold water. Apply a pretreating product to the stain. Wash as usual and air dry; repeat if coffee stain remains.

4.   Cosmetics Stain Removal

Pretreat cosmetics stains with prewash stain remover or liquid laundry detergent. Wash the garment in the water temperature recommended for the fabric.

5.   Crayon Stain Removal

To remove crayon stains on clothes, start by scraping off the surface crayon wax with a dull knife.

Soak the fabric in a product containing enzymes or oxygen bleach in the hottest water safe for the material. Launder using the hottest water it can withstand.

6.   Chocolate Stain Removal

Pretreat or prewash chocolate stains on clothes in warm water with a laundry detergent (undiluted) that contains enzymes. Launder as usual.

7.   Removing Juice Stains

To remove a juice stain, soak in cold water, then apply a pretreating product or undiluted laundry detergent to the juice stain. Launder as label instructions recommend. Air-dry; do not place in dryer until the stain is completely gone.

8.   Removing Grass Stains

Final Stain Removal Tips

When washing, be sure to follow the golden rules of safe washing: Zip zippers, snap snaps, fasten hooks and tie laces to prevent unnecessary fabric damage. 

• Cold water will protect most dark or bright-colored clothing from running and minimizes shrinkage. Use cold water for lightly soiled fabrics with blood, wine, or coffee stains.

• Warm water minimizes color fading and wrinkling. It is best for synthetic fibers, natural and synthetic blends, and moderately soiled fabrics. 

• Hot water should be used only on sturdy fabrics with tough stains. Light and dark fabrics should be separated as hot water may cause clothes to bleed.