Laundry Tips

How to Remove a Water Based Paint Stain

  1. Rinse fabric in cool water to flush out paint while stains are still wet.
  2. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  3. Dried paint is very hard to remove. However, there are commercial products that may remove such stains.
  4. Follow package directions.

How to Remove a Vomit Stain

  1. Scrape to remove solids.
  2. Soak in warm water.
  3. Pretreat stain and launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  4. Use appropriate bleach.

How to Remove a Urine Stain

  1. Scrape to remove solids.
  2. Soak in warm water.
  3. Pretreat stain and launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  4. Use appropriate bleach.

How to Remove an Unknown Stain

Have a stain and don’t know where it came from? Well that mystery stain should be approached carefully. Here’s how:

  1. Avoid using hot water right away.
  2. Pretreat the stain and soak in cold water.
  3. Launder in cold water with detergent.
  4. If stain is not removed, relaunder in warm water.
  5. If stain is still not removed, then launder in hot water.

How to Remove a Tar Stain

  1. Act quickly before stain is dry.
  2. Scrape excess from fabric with a dull knife.
  3. Place stain face down on paper towels.
  4. Sponge back of stain with a tar remover.
  5. Rinse thoroughly.
  6. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric.

How to Remove a Stool Stain

Okay so we know that the word stool is the politically correct version of the lovely thing you’re looking to get out of your clothes. So regardless of it it’s stool, poop, poo, droppings, feces, crap or manure here’s how you can get rid of it from your clothes.

  1. Scrape to remove solids.
  2. Soak in warm water.
  3. Pretreat stain and launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  4. Use appropriate bleach.

How to Remove a Smoke Stain

  1. Shake to remove loose particles.
  2. Sort by amount of soil to avoid transfer onto lighter soiled items.
  3. Use 1 cup water conditioner (Calgon, Axion, etc*), 1/2 cup non–chlorine bleach and recommended amount of detergent as directed on the package.
  4. Wash in warm or hot water.
  5. Relaunder until removed.

Cotton items may require 4–5 washes.

Do not dry in a dryer between washes.

The above procedure can also be applied to soot stains.

How to Remove a Shoe Polish Stain

  1. Scrape off excess with a dull knife.
  2. Pretreat stain and launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  3. Use appropriate bleach.
  4. If stain persists, sponge with one part alcohol and two parts water.
  5. Rinse thoroughly and relaunder.

How to Remove a Salad Dressing Stain

  1. Pretreat stain and launder in hottest water safe for fabric.
  2. Use chlorine bleach if safe for fabric.
  3. If a grease stain remains, soak in warm water with a pretreat product.
  4. Rinse thoroughly and relaunder.

How to Remove a Rust Stain

  1. Launder with a rust remover.
  2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
  3. Do not use chlorine bleach as this will intensify the stain.