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Clothing Care Tips:
Stains and Spot Removal
Protecting clothes while having fun in the sun
It’s important to protect your clothing from stains as well as perspiration and suntan lotion harm this summer.
- Perspiration shows up particularly in underarms, collar, back and waistbands of garments. It may not be noticeable at first, but oxidizes over time, becomes darker and stains clothing. Garments should be washed or drycleaned regularly so the perspiration residue is removed when fresh, preventing permanent damage.
- Suncreen and sun tanning lotions contain ingredients that can cause stains. It is best to apply the lotion and let it dry before dressing and to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your clothes. When cleaning your clothes, follow the care instructions carefully. When washing, pretreat the stain with a prewash product, then launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric or have it drycleaned. Remember to point out and identify the stain to your drycleaner.
- Spills seem inevitable in the summertime – outdoor parties, barbecues and light color clothing can spell disaster. If the stain is water-based, such as soda, coffee, juices, wine and most fruits and the item is washable, blot the stain and then use an instant stain remover, such as Tide-to-Go. As soon as possible, wash the item according to care instructions. Remember that sugar-based stains such as those from fruits, should be washed within 24 hours to prevent yellowing.
- For oily stains, such as salad dressing, cooking oil, meat juice,
butter, and lipstick, the best approach is to blot the stain with a dry, clean
white cloth. Do not use water and do not rub the stain as this can set it and
break the surface fibers. Oily stains are most safely removed by drycleaning
when the stains are fresh; so do not delay in having the garment cleaned. Be
sure to identify the stain to the drycleaner. If you do not know the nature
of the stain, it is safest to assume that the stain is oil-based.
Q. "I eat outside a lot in the summertime and I always manage
to spill something on my light colored clothing. How should I treat the
stains?”
A. The first thing to do is determine if it is a water-based stain or
an oily stain. Water-based stains include soda, coffee, juices, wine and
most fruits. If the item is washable and it is an emergency spill, blot
the stain and you can use an instant stain remover, such as Tide-to-Go.
As soon as possible, wash the item according to care instructions. Remember
that sugar-based stains such as those from fruits should be washed within
24 hours to prevent yellowing.
For oily stains, such as salad dressing, cooking oil, meat juice, butter,
and lipstick, the best approach is to blot the stain with a dry, clean
white cloth. Do not use water and do not rub the stain as this can set
the stain and break the surface fibers. Oily stains are most safely removed
by drycleaning when the stains are fresh; so do not delay in having the
garment cleaned. Be sure to identify the stain to the CSR.
Some stains are a combination of water and oil and it is best to begin
treatment as an oil-based stain. If you do not know the nature of the
stain, it is safest to assume that the stain is oil-based.
Q. “I got a chocolate fountain and I’m planning a
party for Valentine’s Day. I’d love to use my favorite tablecloth,
but I’m afraid all the chocolate will make a mess. Will it come
out when cleaned?”
A. Chocolate fountains and fondues are great fun on Valentine’s
Day. While chocolate stains can be difficult because they contain both
greasy and non-greasy substances, in most cases they can be removed. Begin
by gently scraping the chocolate with the back of the butter knife and
remove as much as possible. Then review the clothing care instructions.
Bring to the drycleaner, if the instructions say to dry clean, and point
out the stain.
If the tablecloth is washable, blot with a mild detergent and rinse with
water. You may have to repeat this process. When soaking gently rub the
stain to get the chocolate out. Sometimes after you have removed the chocolate,
an oily stain remains. Apply a stain removal spray (after checking for
colorfastness) and wash according to the care instructions. Remember to
check the stain before putting the tablecloth in the dryer so you do not
set the stain.
Q. “Some of my dress shirts have been fraying on the cuffs
and around the collar. These are good shirts. I have them professionally
laundered. Is taking them to the cleaner the problem?
A. Although industry experience shows that on average shirts have a two-year
life expectancy, the number of launderings is a better indicator of the
life of a shirt. The average shirt should have a wear life of 35 to 50
washings. Of course, this will vary depending upon the fiber content,
the type of fabric and the severity of stains and perspirations and overall
strain put on the shirt when wearing. If left untreated, spills can quickly
weaken cotton fabrics and shorten the life of a shirt.
Q. “How do I keep sunscreen from staining my clothes?
A. While sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from the sun’s
harmful ultraviolet rays, there are ingredients in sunscreen and sun tanning
lotions that can cause stains. Most of these products contain oil to make
them moisture resistant and therefore it’s important to be careful
how they interact with your clothing. Initially the stains may be invisible
but the heat of cleaning can cause them to show up.
It is best to apply the lotion and let it dry before dressing and to wash
your hands thoroughly before touching your clothes. When cleaning your
clothes, follow the care instructions carefully. When washing, pre-treat
the stain with a pre-wash product, then launder in the hottest water that’s
safe for the fabric or have the drycleaned. Remember to point out and
identify the stain to the drycleaner.
Q. “As all little girls do, my daughter got into my nail
polish and spilled the bottle on her dress. What should I do?”
A. While it’s possible to try removing the nail polish at home it
can be problematic depending on the type of fabric. While nail polish
remover does a good job getting rid of polish on fingernails, it may create
another stain. Don’t despair. Pack your little girl and her dress
in the car and take it to your dry cleaner as soon as possible. Because
little girls often get into nail polish, our cleaners are experienced
at doing a good job getting out dried nail polish! And there’s always
a bright side to such catastrophes. We know one mother who cut out the
portion of the dress with the spilled nail polish and had it framed as
a memento of the occasion.
Q. “Should I use hairspray to remove a ballpoint ink stain?”
A. This is a common remedy, but you need to be cautious. While hairspray
and water can remove ballpoint ink, there is alcohol and oils in hairspray
that can cause color damage. This can result in irreversible damage on
silks and other fabrics as well.
Q. “How do I remove ice cream stains?”
A. If the garment can be washed, soaking and agitating in cold water before
washing can remove fresh protein stains. If protein stains are dried or
old, scrape or brush off crusted matter (if any), then soak in cold water
using a detergent or an enzyme presoak product. After treating the stain,
launder in warm (not hot) water, rinse, and inspect. If stain remains,
soak an additional half-hour, and then rewash. In some cases, due to the
natural or artificial coloring in ice cream, the use of mild bleaching
agents may be necessary to remove the last traces of stain.
Q. “I’ve been getting some white and pink streaks
on the back of some of my blouses after they were laundered. I can’t
imagine what’s causing this. They’re ruined. Can you help
me?”
A. The most frequent cause of this type of streaking is hair care products.
This may be the problem with your blouses since they appear only on the
backs. It’s only a guess but I’ll bet you have long hair.
The streaks can also be yellowish in color. Check your shirts and blouses
carefully, you may find streaks on the shoulders and neckline as well.
This occurs because hair care products often contain oxidizing agents.
If you take these garments to a cleaner, let it be known what hair care
products you use so that the area can be treated as a stain. However,
there’s nothing that can be done to eliminate the discoloration
once it has occurred.
Q. “Can a cleaner dye my garment a darker color to cover
some stains that would not completely come out?”
A. There are still a few cleaners who will try to re-dye a garment. However,
there are many issues that can affect how successful this will be, such
as the garment itself, the particular stains, and finish. Before trying
to dye a garment, you should know that a darker color will usually not
cover up color loss. Dyes cannot recognize that more color is needed in
one area than another, and the result could be a garment with uneven color.
Now, here’s a big issue: different fabrics require the use of different
types of dyes. Using the wrong dye will produce uneven color. The original
color plays a role, too. In many cases, dyeing can be less than satisfactory.
Q. “I have a blouse with colored buttons. After being cleaned,
there were dark stains underneath the buttons. Why did this happen and
what can be done about it?”
A. Dyes on buttons can bleed during cleaning or pressing, leaving discoloration
on the fabric. Some button dyes are soluble in dry cleaning solvents.
In other cases, the problem can arise in steam pressing. This can occur
because the manufacturer has labeled the garment fabric drycleanable,
but did not take into account the buttons. If you find buttons have left
stains, we suggest that the buttons be removed so we can attempt to remove
the stains. Then replace the original buttons with more serviceable ones.
Q. “I just discovered several quarter and dime size areas on my
favorite blouse where the color has disappeared. What happened?”
A. It’s difficult to know the cause of the problem without seeing
the garment. Surprisingly, there are certain every day household substances
that can cause spots of color loss. These include everything from perfumes,
colognes, skin fresheners, aftershave, hair spray, lotions, medicines,
and alcoholic beverages to home bleaches, perspiration, cleaning products,
toothpaste, detergents, fruit juices, and salt water. Sometimes the loss
of color does not appear until after the garment has been cleaned.
Now, what should you do? Never put a garment away if it has a spot! Never
iron a stain; the heat sets it––permanently. Bring us the
garment as soon as possible and give us as much information as possible
about the cause of the stain.
Q. “I took a very nice sweater to be cleaned. It didn’t
have any stains on it when I brought it in. But when it came back there
was a huge stain. I was irate. What did the cleaner do to my sweater to
make this happen?”
A. Is it possible that juice or some other beverage was spilled on the
sweater? When the stain occurs, a paper towel is often used to absorb
as much of the juice as possible. And the stain disappears to the eye.
If the garment is not taken to a professional drycleaner immediately,
the unseen stain “sets” and appears at the end of the cleaning
process. Good advice: even if you can’t see the stain, take the
garment for drycleaning as quickly as possible. Be sure to tell the cleaner
about the stain.
Q. “I don’t understand why some stains remain invisible
until after a garment has been cleaned. How does this happen?”
A. More often than not, this problem is caused by a liquid being spilled
on the garment. It could be juice, a soft drink, beer, wine or other liquid.
When there’s a spill, most people take a napkin or paper towel and
blot the spill. In many cases, the spill seems to disappear and we forget
about it. Unfortunately, the residue remains and eventually oxidizes and
turns yellow or brownish. Since the residue is mostly water soluble, it
isn’t removed during dry cleaning and can become more pronounced
in the drying process. There’s good news, however: this does not
need to happen. Make a mental note of the location of the stain so you
can point it out to your cleaner, and if the fabric allows, mark the spot
with a safety pin. By making this extra effort, you’ll be pleased
with the results.
Q. “To my surprise, when I picked up my white blouse at
the cleaner, it had turned yellow. How could this happen?”
A. There are several possible explanations. First, there may have been
what we call “hidden” stains on the blouse before you took
it to the cleaner. Perhaps sugars, liquids, oils or perspiration had contacted
your blouse. Such stains only become visible in high heat, such as that
used in the dry cleaning process.
Second, the stain may have been caused by a breakdown in the fluorescent
whitening agents that are often applied when the garment is manufactured.
Sometimes these agents break down during dry cleaning, leaving yellowish
traces on a garment. If this is the situation, it is the responsibility
of the garment’s manufacturer to replace it.
If at all possible, flush the garment with water and get it cleaned as
soon as possible after an “invisible” stain occurs.
Q. How do you remove scorch marks?
A. Such natural fibers as cotton, linen, and silk can be damaged by high
iron temperatures, resulting in fabric yellowing or browning. In addition,
there is possible strength loss to the fabric, depending on the ironing
temperature and the length of time the iron was in contact with the fiber.
Polyester, acrylic, nylon, and acetate synthetic fibers can melt when
the ironing temperature goes above 250º F. Unfortunately, fused synthetic
fibers cannot be restored.
To remove scorch marks from natural fibers, hand wash the item with a
mild detergent. More severe scorching may be corrected by soaking the
garment in a bath of six to eight ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide (available
at your local drugstore) and mixed with a gallon of water.
As an oxidizing bleach, hydrogen peroxide can cause color loss. So, apply
to a seam or unexposed area, and let dry. If the color isn’t affected,
soaking the garment in a bath should be safe.
For severe scorching, the garment may need to be soaked for several hours.
Hydrogen peroxide loses its strength after an hour, so the bath will need
to be replenished.
Take garments that can be dry-cleaned to your cleaner. The garment may
be able to be restored, depending on the extent of the damage.
Q. “I took a dress to a cleaner and it came back with what
appears to be drycleaning fluid spots. Why does this happen?”
A. It happened because no one checked your dress after removing a spot.
At Anton’s, garment s are checked by the spotter, drycleaner and
presser. A final quality control check takes place as each garment is
bagged. The problem should have been seen and corrected.
Q. “How do you remove deodorant and antiperspirant residue
from garments?”
A. Many people aren’t aware that prolonged contact with deodorants
and antiperspirants may cause permanent damage to clothing. More often
than not, it’s the overuse of these products or infrequent cleaning
that produces the worst damage. They build up and create a stiff and caked
residue. As we get into spring and summer, this can become something of
a problem. Frankly, it’s best to wash or dryclean garments (depending
on the manufacturer’s care label instructions) after each wearing
to keep them fresh and avoid possible damage from deodorants and antiperspirants.
Q. “Why are some cleaners better at removing stains than
others?
A. Since there are so many types of stains and fabrics, stain removal
is often a complex procedure, particularly when the type of stain is unknown.
It takes years of experience and continuous training to become a skilled
“spotter.” At Anton’s our cleaners are constantly learning
new techniques and procedures for effective stain removal.
Q. “How do you remove chewing gum from clothing?”
A. Although chewing gum can be removed from many garments simply by drycleaning,
it is always best to point out the spot for proper pretreatment. If the
item is machine washable, drycleaning may not be the best option. In these
cases, chewing gum can often be removed by blotting it with an ice cube.
This hardens the gum and makes it stiff and brittle for easy removal.
If any gum remains, sponge it with a solvent-based spot remover. Test
the fabric first to make sure the color is not affected.
Q. “How can I remove paint stains from my child’s clothing?”
A. Once school starts, there is always a flurry of “paint problem”
questions. Fortunately, most paints children play with are water-soluble
and come out with regular washing. But there are other paints, acrylics,
for example, that are better left to professional cleaners who are experienced
in flushing out the stain removal chemicals once the spot has been removed.
Q. “ In my haste, I recently did a load of laundry without
checking the pockets. There was a crayon in my son’s pocket and
it left a myriad of colored stains on one of my favorite blouses. What
can I do?”
A. Crayon stains are caused when the heat from drying melts the crayon
material and can usually be removed by a drycleaner through dry cleaning
and stain removal procedures. Be sure to point out the stain and explain
what happened to your drycleaner.
Q. “Before attending an outside event, I applied sunscreen.
I noticed stains on my suit and did not spill anything – could these
be from the sunscreen?”
A. There are ingredients in sunscreen and sun tanning lotions that can
cause stains. Most of these products contain oil to make them moisture
resistant. It is best to apply the lotion and let it dry before dressing
and to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your clothes. Read the
care instructions carefully. When washing, pretreat the stain with a prewash
product, then launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric
or have the suit drycleaned. Remember to point out the stain to the drycleaner.
Q. “My mother is always telling me to use club soda for
stain removal if I spill something, but my friends say no. Who is correct?”
A. For years, club soda was considered the “cure” for all
spills. In reality, while it may appear to be helping, it breaks down
the fibers and causes color loss. It usually just spreads out the stain,
making removal more difficult and sometimes impossible. The safest approach
is to blot the stain with a clean, white cloth and have it drycleaned
as quickly as possible. Be sure to point out the stain and let the drycleaner
know what caused it.
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