A new school year means new hard-to-remove stains. And if your kids are anything like mine then they come home with stains that leave you wondering “How??” “Why??” Let’s face it, the laundry struggle is real! I’m always on the look out for ways to make it a little easier and keep my kids clothes from ending up in the garbage. So I thought I’d share my favorite stain removal tricks.
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New Year, New Stains
Whether it’s a special hand-me-down or a favorite shirt, I absolutely hate it when clothing gets ruined from a stubborn stain. I have searched the internet for the best stain removal tricks out there. Some work and some don’t, in this post you’ll find all the stain removal tricks I’ve had success with.
Do’s and Don’ts of stain removal
First, let’s start with a few tips to make removal easier right from the get go.
Do act quickly
Treat stains as soon as possible, the longer they sit the harder they are to get out.
Do blot deliberately
Never rub a stain. Vigorous movements will most likely spread the stain and can harm the fabric.
Do keep club soda on hand
You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it anyway. Keep club soda on hand for stains, it really does work! The carbonation bubbles up the stain and the salts will keep it staining.
Don’t transfer stains
To avoid transferring the stain to other fabrics, work on stain removal in an area safe from other clothing and upholstery.
Don’t use heat
Stay away from clothes dryers and irons. Heat can set stains, making them nearly impossible to remove.
School Year Stain Removal
Since we’re rapidly approaching September let’s cover some of the most common stains that you see during the school year.
Crayon
Start by removing any solid, waxy crayon material. You can easily scrape it off with a dull knife. Next, work liquid dish soap into the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing the area with water.
Ink
Ink is deigned to be permanent so this one is a little harder to remove, you may need a solvent to lift it. Soak part of a cloth or paper towel in rubbing alcohol and dab the stain. The ink will slowly transfer to the towel.
Pencil
For removing pencil, start with the eraser. Erase the pencil mark right off the cloth then coat the area in liquid detergent and wash.
Grass
Oh, grass stains, doesn’t matter what time of year, grass stains are always showing up in my laundry basket! Apply a pre-wash stain removal treatment (like the one below) and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing. For a DIY treatment create a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Same as the store bought treament, apply the vinegar solution to the stain and let sit for 15 minutes before washing.
Mud
A good trick I learned with mud stains, let it dry and brush off as much of the dirt as you can with a soft brush. Apply liquid dish soap or a pre-wash stain removal treatment and let sit overnight before washing.
No matter what stain you’re working to remove, repeat the process as needed, air-drying in between (remember no dryer!). It may take a few treatments for the stain to be completely removed. Of course, there will be some lost causes but with these tricks in your back pocket you’ll be able to save most of those stained up clothes your kids continually bring home!
If you have any stain removal tricks of your own that I haven’t listed here, please leave them in the comments below!!
