The dry cleaning experts at olddominioncleaners offer
up some "first aid" tips to help you with those annoying stains that
seem to pop up at the least convenient times and in the least convenient
places. Ideally, if there is such a thing, your fabrics would become stained at
home where you have easy access to the washing machine and your arsenal of
cleaners and favorite home remedies but that's not the way it always happens.
Stains arrive when you are at a fine restaurant, a fast food joint
with the kids, at a friend's house party, playing with the kids in a park, or
any place where you have the potential to get scrapped or cut. At home or way
there are easy tips to get rid of the most common stains.
5 Tips for Easy Stain Cleanup
Let's talk about those common stains that visit the Greater
Richmond Area families.
1.
Tomato based stains. Who hasn't splashed a pasta sauce or dribbled
ketchup from a burger? Depending on the consistency, blot or scape the sauce
and then apply soda water using a damp cloth. If you are in dining
establishment they will almost always have soda water. When you get home mix up
lemon juice and cream of tartar, apply it to the stain and then wash.
2.
Blood stains. There are tons of home remedies for cleaning up
blood but here's a favorite of ours. Use an ice cube. Put a cloth under the
stained area to soak up melted water and then place an ice cube directly on top
of the blood. Let it sit for a minute o two then remove the cube. If there is a
reddish tint left, rub it with the edge of the cube and it will go away.
3.
Food grease. Is fried chicken a favorite around your house? Do the
kids tend to use their clothes rather than napkins to wipe their hands? Those
grease stains don't have to be a chore. Sprinkle cornstarch on them and let the
powder soak up the grease. Brush the powder off then wash as normal.
4.
Ink stains. This is tough. Ink is a difficult stain to remove
particularly with some common fabrics. Short of calling us and having the
stain professionally treated,
you can try soaking the area in rubbing alcohol and then blotting the stain
with a clean cloth.
5.
Grass stains. Go outside but don't get dirty…not going to happen.
Grass stains show up on brand new shorts, jeans, uniforms and other rough and
tumble apparel. The easy fix, toothpaste. Put a small amount of tooth paste
(not gel) on the stain and then work it with an old tooth brush. Toothpaste is
an abrasive. It's kind of like mild sandpaper. The stain will mostly disappear
and then wash as normal.
There are more tips of course but we hope these will help you with
the most common. If you have a really stubborn stain or a stain on fine fabrics
like silk or leather, call us today and we'll pick up your order and sic
our stain experts on the offending parts. Visit us at olddominioncleaners.com
for more answers to freaquently asked dry cleaning questions.
