Clothing Care Tips:
Emergency Care for Spills

Q. “Can you remind me what I should do if I spill a drink at a party so I don’t ruin my clothes?”
A. It happens to all of us. Never rub a stain. Blot gently with a dry cloth to absorb the spill. Do not apply water or liquid. If the stain is oily this will set it and if it is water-based, you may spread it. The sooner you have your garment cleaned, the more likely the stain can be removed. Be sure to tell your drycleaner the source of the stain.

Q. “I recently spilled a glass of red wine on my silk blouse. My host gave me club soda, which I generously applied; however, the stain spread and created a “ring.” What should I have done?”

A. There are all sorts of home remedies that claim to remove red wine including white wine to remove red, club soda or even salt to remove the stain. Your host was well intended in giving you the club soda; however, it is generally not a good idea when the fabric is dryclean only or if the stain is oil based because it can spread the stain and bleed the dye on the garment.

When a red wine spill occurs, take quick action and gently blot (do not rub!) the stain by placing a clean white cloth on both sides of the garment and pressing until all liquid is absorbed. If the garment is “dry-clean” only, have the garment cleaned within 24-48 hours. Since time can “set” stains, the sooner it is treated the better.

For washable clothing gently blotting the stain, followed quickly by a proper treatment with a home stain removal product can help. Much depends on the type of fabric and the stability of the dye. Testing in a small invisible area is recommended.

It takes months to train a spotter to remove stains from fragile fabrics. If the garment is important to you and you want to be sure the stain is removed, it is best left for a skilled drycleaner.