Home Management

Archive for the ‘Stain removal’ Category

Rub with metal polish in the direction of the grain. For cigarette burns, try rubbing with fine steel wool followed by linseed oil. Alcohol is also effective. Wine and spirit marks can be removed at once. How? Light marks may be removed with cigarette ash and linseed oil, and then polished. Sticky marks can be removed using a well wrung cloth, rub with a solution of vinegar and warm water. If scratches and dents are small then they can be disguised with iodine, shoe polish or commercial scratch cover polish. Be sure to polish regularly. Dents may come out if you carefully use a warm iron over a damp cloth on them. Regular treatment with scratch cover polish will remove the fades due to sunlight.

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In order to avoid a ring, first treat an area around the stain, and then work in towards the center. When a stained part of a fabric has to be dipped or soaked in a solution, hold the cloth by this area and then twist the unstained parts to prevent the solution spreading when the stained area is immersed. If the stain is to be treated with solvent first and washed afterwards, the best results will be obtained by washing immediately. Many solvents are highly inflammable. Never use near a naked flame. Always work in a well ventilated room, and do not smoke. Do not use methylated spirits on acetates or triacetates. While spirit may be used.

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Treat all stains as soon as possible. The longer they are left on the fabric, the more difficult they will be to remove. If treated quickly, washing powder and water is often all that is necessary. If this does not remove the stain and alternative treatments are available, try the mildest one first. Apart from those stains which should be soaked in cold water first, it is best to use warm suds immediately. Tests must be made to see whether a chemical or solvent is suitable for all colors. Try to do this on an inconspicuous part of the garment or article. Always place the area to be treated over an absorbent cloth or wad of kitchen paper. An old piece of toweling is ideal for this purpose.

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For stains which require special treatment a number of products are available. Laundry borax is safe on most fabrics. Use it in solution 15ml to 500ml of warm water for sponging or soaking washables. For white cottons, sprinkle borax on the dampened stain, stretch the item over a basin and pour hot water through. Glycerin lubricates and softens stains. Use diluted, 1 part of 2 parts water. Methylated spirit can be used as a solvent. It is inflammable and poisonous, so care is needed when using it. White vinegar is useful on certain stains. Keep acetic acid away from acetates, and avoid contact with skin. Household ammonia is useful for neutralizing acid stains. Use diluted 1 part to 36 parts water, and use on wool and silk. Household bleach is used on white cotton or linen only, dilute 14ml to 1 liter of cold water. Grease solvents come in several forms. Liquids should be used only in a well ventilated room. Aerosols contain powder to absorb the stain as it is lifted out by the solvent. Paste solvents can also be used on wall paper and stone. Turpentine substitutes, such as white spirit and lighter fuel, are useful as solvents. Petrol can be used as a solvent but it is dangerously inflammable.

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A stain is a discoloration of a fabric caused by the presence of foreign matter. Always test the removal method on a hidden part first, to make sure that it doesn’t harm the fabric. In all stain removal, prompt attention is most important. Rinse non-greasy stains away with water. Sprinkle talc on grease marks to absorb them. Dab salt on wine or beetroot stains. Soak in cold water as soon as possible. White wine will remove red wine stains. Many stains can be removed by soaking and then washing, as long as the fabric is washable. Professional cleaning is better when expensive garments or furnishings are stained, particularly if the mark cannot be identified or if there is a special finish to the fabric. In this case, avoid home treatment, mark the stain and, if possible, tell the cleaners exactly what was spilt.

The four categories of stains are
. Those removed by normal washing action.
. Those removed by oxygen beach.
. Those for which soaking before washing helps.
. Those requiring special treatments.

The methods recommended are those most likely to be effective and can be carried out under ordinary domestic conditions. However, there can be no hard-and fast rules for stain removal. The age and concentration of the stain and the weave and finish of the fabric affect the chances of success. If chemical treatment is carried out on a fabric weakened by age or exposure of any kind it may be further weakened. Extra care must be taken when using chemicals marked poisonous or highly inflammable.

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