Stains on clothes: here’s how to remove them! A to G

 

It is difficult to avoid favorite garments getting stained and worn, but repairing and caring for them is always better for the environment than buying new ones. Low washing temperatures save energy, but that does not help if garments have to be thrown away because they do not get clean.

 

Four factors affect the washing result: mechanical cleaning (the washing machine’s movements and pretreatment of stains), temperature, time, and chemicals (detergent). Cold water below body temperature often does not dissolve dirt effectively.

 

The manufacturer’s care instructions are important, but sometimes common sense is needed. If a garment is heavily soiled, a higher temperature may be necessary to save it. Also adjust the washing time and amount of detergent according to the level of soiling and the size of the load.

 

The first step toward clean clothes is to identify the stain and pretreat it correctly before washing. Here are tips for common stains and how to pretreat them easily.

 

Feces: Remove all loose material and rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be thoroughly wetted. Cover the stain with Soapa, and preferably treat it a little extra with a laundry brush if the garment can withstand it. Then soak in cold water for at least 1 hour. Wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

Banana: Scrape off excess banana. Use a spoon or knife to carefully scrape off as much of the stain as possible without pressing it into the fabric.
Rinse with cold/lukewarm (not hot) water. Hold the stained part of the fabric under cold running lukewarm water. This helps rinse away some of the banana sugar; the stain needs to be thoroughly soaked. The textile fibers need to be saturated with water. Apply detergent. Rub a small amount of liquid all-purpose detergent directly onto the stain. Leave it to work for approximately 5–10 minutes.

Wash as usual according to the care instructions (but preferably not too hot). Make sure the stain is completely gone before drying the garment, as the heat from the dryer can make the stain permanent. If the stain remains, repeat the steps before drying the garment.

Bananas mainly contain starch and sugar (fructose, glucose, and sucrose). Both need to be washed away, which can be done by following the steps above. 

Blood:  Rinse the stain in cold water. The textile fibers must be thoroughly wetted. Cover the stain with Soapa, and preferably treat it a little extra with a laundry brush if the garment can withstand it. Anything containing protein can be set by heat, which is why cold water is important. Place the garment in a basin, add salt—approximately 1/2 dl per cleaning bucket. Stir until the salt has dissolved, then soak the garment for at least one hour. Afterwards, wash it in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Chocolate: Chocolate contains a lot of fat, so the easiest way to dissolve this stain is with fatty Soapa and a laundry brush before washing it in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Grass: You need glycerin, especially if grass stains have appeared on light-colored garments. Pour glycerin onto the stain. Gently work in the glycerin. Leave it for 24 hours.
Then remove the glycerin with Soapa and water. Stain-removing Soapa and a cellulose sponge are useful tools here. Wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

 

Complete laundry package with stain removal – Citrus Scent

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1. Why do my favorite garments always get stained?
The answer is: because you use them more often, and you often find yourself in situations where clothes get stained—coffee breaks, meals, and outings.

 

 

2. Why should “everything” be washed at a low temperature?
Low washing temperatures save energy (because the machine does not need to heat the water very much). There is less risk of clothes being damaged or shrinking at low temperatures, which is why manufacturers often specify low temperatures in the care instructions. Think of it this way: my body is 37°C. You know how 37°C water feels—how likely is it that the garment you intend to wash will get clean in “cold” water? If that seems unreasonable, you may need to raise the washing temperature. The worst thing for the environment is buying new clothes, so pretreating stains and increasing the washing temperature is a better and more economical choice.

 

 

3. Can I remove all stains with Soapa?
No, but most of them. Grass stains can, for example, be tricky, and you may need glycerin (available at pharmacies) to save, for example, a pair of light-colored jeans with grass stains.

 

 

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