Stain removal.
That’s almost as much fun as washing dishes, isn’t it?
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9 when it comes to the category of Fun Household Chores.
Alright, maybe not. But I’m sure that you’ll agree with me when I say that it IS a valuable emergency procedure for your teens to know when it comes to clothing sanitation.
Learning this 911 procedure for fabrics doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Through research, I’ve discovered that many natural, household items such as vinegar and borax work well for getting out stains, plus they are eco-friendly. I will be sharing some of my discoveries below. Feel free to share them with your teen if you like.
Stain Removal
Did you ever spill juice on yourself? Have you ever been splattered by spaghetti sauce when your meatball casually rolled off your fork and landed on your plate (when somebody sneezed). Have you ever noticed that noodles are magnetically attracted to your clothes along with just about every other kind of food that you eat?
You are not alone when it comes to dealing with clothing calamities such as these, but don’t worry. There are solutions (literally) for handling these stains.
Accidents like these call for immediate emergency response. When spillage happens upon your attire, you can’t wait around for anyone to rescue you. You have to take immediate steps to eradicate the stain and save your clothing.
In simple terms, that means that when you stain your clothes, you need to take care of it ASAP.
Below you’ll find some stain removal methods categorized by food or other staining agent. These are eco-friendly because I’m a green kind of person. (No, I’m not an alien. I just like to use natural products.) They should help you eliminate that unwanted decor on your clothing.
Mud: Allow the mud to dry, then brush off as much as you can with a soft brush. Next, rub the stain with a solution of 1 Tbsp. borax and 1 cup water. Let this sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water and launder as usual.
Grass: Dab the stain with vinegar until it is saturated, then let it sit for 30 minutes. Wash in cold water and detergent.
Coffee, tea, and juice: Saturate the stain with vinegar, then rinse in cold water and repeat as needed.
Chewing gum: Put the clothing item in the freezer, maybe next to the frozen vegetables. Once the gum is frozen, it should come right off.
Tomato products: This includes items like ketchup, tomato juice, and spaghetti sauce that’s been sprayed by rogue meatballs. Run cold water through the BACK of the stain first, then rub it with a cut lemon or dab it with lemon juice. You can also use vinegar in place of lemon juice. Let the lemon juice/vinegar soak in before washing.
Grease: This includes things like cooking oil, butter and greasy foods. First, absorb some of the excess grease by sprinkling baking soda or corn starch on the stain. Brush this off gently. Soak the stain in vinegar for about 20 minutes, then scrub with liquid dish soap. Wash as usual.
Blood: Soak in cold water or cold salt water (throw in a tablespoon or two of salt), then wash. Do NOT use hot water because this sets the stain.
Ink: Soak the stain in vinegar for 30 minutes, then scrub with liquid dish detergent and rinse. Launder in cold water.
Remember, you have the best chance of rescuing your clothes if you use these stain removal tips as soon as possible.