21
Stain Removal Guide
Stain Removal Suggestions
STAIN
TREATMENT
Adhesive tape, chewing
gum, rubber cement
Apply ice. Scrape off excess. Place stain face down on paper towels. Saturate with
prewash stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid.
Baby formula, dairy
products, egg
Use product containing enzymes to pretreat or soak stains. Soak for 30 minutes or
more. Wash.
Beverages (coffee, tea,
soda, juice, alcoholic
beverages)
Pretreat stain. Wash using cold water and bleach safe for fabric.
Blood
Rinse with cold water. Rub with bar soap. Or, pretreat or soak with product containing
enzymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Candle wax, crayon
Scrape off surface wax. Place stain face down between paper towels. Press with warm
iron until wax is absorbed. Replace paper towels frequently. Treat remaining stain with
prewash stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid. Hand wash to remove sol-
vent. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Chocolate
Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach
safe for fabric.
Collar or cuff soil, cos-
metics
Pretreat with prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap.
Dye transfer on white
fabric
Use packaged color remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Grass
Pretreat or soak in warm water using product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach
safe for fabric.
Grease, oil, tar (butter,
fats, salad dressing,
cooking oils, car grease,
motor oils)
Scrape residue from fabric. Pretreat. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric. For heavy
stains and tar, apply nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid to back of stain. Replace towels
under stain frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Wash using hottest water safe for fabric.
Ink
Some inks may be impossible to remove. Washing may set some inks. Use prewash
stain remover, denatured alcohol or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid.
Mildew, scorch
Wash with chlorine bleach if safe for fabric. Or, soak in oxygen bleach and hot water
before washing. Badly mildewed fabrics may be permanently damaged.
Mud
Brush off dry mud. Pretreat or soak with product containing enzymes.
Mustard, tomato
Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Nail polish
May be impossible to remove. Place stain face down on paper towels. Apply nail pol-
ish remover to back of stain. Repeat, replacing paper towels frequently. Do not use on
acetate fabrics.
Paint, varnish
WATER BASED: Rinse fabric in cool water while stain is wet. Wash. Once paint is dry,
it cannot be removed. OIL BASED AND VARNISH: Use solvent recommended on can
label. Rinse thoroughly before washing.
Perspiration
Use prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap. Rinse. Wash using nonchlorine bleach
in hottest water safe for fabric.
Rust, brown or yellow
discoloration
Use rust remover safe for fabric. Do not use chlorine bleach because it may intensify
discoloration.
Shoe polish
LIQUID: Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water. PASTE: Scrape residue
from fabric. Pretreat with prewash stain remover or nonfl ammable dry cleaning fl uid.
Rinse. Rub detergent into dampened area. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Tomato
Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Urine, vomit, mucus,
feces
Pretreat or soak in product containing enzymes. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.
Wine
Pretreat or soak in cold water. Wash in hottest water and bleach safe for fabric
