40
STAIN
TREATMENT
Adhesive tape,
rubber cement,
gum
Apply ice. Scrape off excess. Place stain face down on paper
towels. Saturate with prewash stain remover or nonflammable
dry cleaning fluid.
Baby formula, dairy
products, egg
Use product containing enzymes to pretreat or soak stains.
Soak for 30 minutes or more. Wash.
Beverages (coffee,
alcoholic beverages,
tea, soda, juice)
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 nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. Hand wash to
remove solvent. 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,
cosmetics
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,
cooking oils, car
grease, motor oils)
Scrape residue from fabric. Pretreat. Wash using hottest water
safe for fabric. For heavy stains and tar, apply nonflammable dry
cleaning fluid 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
nonflammable dry cleaning fluid.
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 polish 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 non-chlorine 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 nonflammable dry cleaning fluid. 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 hot water using bleach
safe for fabric.
Stain Removal Suggestions
STAIN REMOVAL GUIDE
