Stain Removal Mistakes You Might be Making
By avoiding these typical stain-removal blunders with a washing specialist, you can preserve your beloved clothing.
Stains are an inevitable part of life, but they can feel especially annoying when you spill makeup on a delicate blouse (always when you're late, of course) or spill red wine on your new cream-colored carpet. And while there's a proper stain removal method for almost every surface, the panic will set in faster than the stain if you're not sure how best to treat it right away.
To help you prepare for the inevitable, we've reached out to the experts. Wendy Saladiga, stain expert and senior manager of technical performance at Henkels Persil, shares the stain-removal mistakes she often sees in her line of work—and how to avoid them. Save this guide as a reference the next time you're faced with a difficult or time-sensitive stain so you can tackle it with confidence.
1. Letting Stains Sit
One of the most important mistakes you can make is waiting for scar treatment. "Letting stains sit too long can make them more difficult to remove, as the stain soaks into the fabric and dries," says Saladiga. Wipe off excess liquid immediately and then, she suggests, apply a small amount of clean hand or dish soap if you can't wash or clean the stain right away. This is especially important if you spill something on yourself while you're out and don't have access to a washing machine right away.
Read More: How to Get Foundation Out of Clothes
Once you're able to run the garment through a load (or after using the cleaner on furniture or rugs), Saldiga says to check that the stain is gone before drying the item.If the problem persists, "repeat the stain removal and washing steps before drying, as the dryer's heat will further set any stain left behind, making it harder to remove," according to her. In general, stain removal is a time-sensitive task, so don't put it off. If you have a history of spills and messes, you might want to think about keeping some wipes or a stain remover pen in your purse so you're always prepared.
Editor's Tip: Never rub a stain—always stain! A fresh stain that is scrubbed on will only become worse and possibly break the fibers. Rather than treating and washing or cleaning the item, blot the surplus liquid.
2. Skipping the Pretreatment
If you're at home when you spill something on yourself or your upholstery, you may be tempted to throw the item in the laundry or take it to the cleaners. However, you are missing a potentially important step in the stain removal process. Pretreating stains, especially tough stains like yellow, tomato or chocolate, will help break them down better and make washing or cleaning easier.
And while you've probably mopped up a stain sitting in your laundry room, Saldiga says it's not really necessary to use it. "Numerous individuals think you have to purchase a pretreatment arrangement partitioned from the cleanser, but you can utilize a heavy-duty cleanser," she clarifies. "Pour a little sum of cleanser onto the recolor, rub it in, and let it sit for 5 minutes or more some time recently washing with the same cleanser." Utilize this strategy if you do not have much time, pretreatment, or if the recolor isn't as well troublesome to expel.
3. Using Too Much Detergent
Yet another common mistake that Saladiga often sees is overuse of laundry detergent. Generally speaking, your washing machine may require additional maintenance if you consistently use more than the suggested amount every load. Long-lasting soap residue creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which means you'll need to clean the washer more often to remove mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors. It turns out that fabric stains can also be negatively impacted by using a lot of detergent.
"When struggling with tough stains, the first instinct may be to pile on the detergent," Saladiga explains. Nevertheless, it's not a good idea to use too much laundry detergent because it can actually make garments appear muddy, produce a lot of lint or residue in the machine or on the fabric, and waste money over time." Instead, use pre-measured discs, laundry pods, or stick to measuring caps to ensure the correct amount is used. If you want to save money and the environment, there are several ways to do it when it comes to laundry. However, experts advise against making your own detergent due to the risk of health problems and equipment damage.
Editor's Tip: Always wash with detergent after treating a stain. Even if the stain appears to have disappeared, neglecting to wash thoroughly with stain remover or detergent can cause fading over time.
4. Ignoring Care Instructions
"It's important to check the care tag instructions on stained clothing to determine the best stain removal method because different materials can tolerate different techniques," says Saladiga. This is an area that can confuse even the most focused among us. Laundry symbols are easy to get confused because, although they are universal (and international), there are too many to remember and they can vary so slightly in appearance from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The majority of clothes and linen items have tags that identify the materials and how to care for them. But, if you put them away and forget about them, you may be out of luck. In this case, try to keep the tags attached, no matter how tempted you are to tear them off—especially if you're not sure about the fiber or it's an investment piece like an area rug.
When in doubt, Saladiga recommends following these guidelines for popular materials and how well they hold up (or not) during the stain removal process:
- Cotton: incredibly robust and resilient.
- Washable silk: finer, so less abrasive and not exposed to any heat.
- Wool: Very fine. Check care label instructions.
- Leather and suede: Usually requires professional dry-cleaning attention.
5. Reaching for the Bleach
Most people are aware that bleach should never be used on colored textiles. On the other hand, you should use caution while cleaning stains off of dark white objects. Because depending on their ingredients or care instructions, some are not safe to bleach. Instead, stick to oxygen-based bleach or optical brightening solutions.
6. Using Heat or Hot Water
As Saldiga points out, running something through the dryer (or using an iron on it) before removing the stain completely allows it to set. Similarly, removing protein-based stains (such blood and perspiration) with hot water has the same result; so, wherever possible, work with stains with cold water.
7. Trying Overcomplicated Hacks
Cleaning advice abounds on the internet (#CleanTok, for example, has had 3.7 million views to date), but not all TikTok tricks are beneficial. "While home remedies can be tempting, they can do more harm than good—not to mention take longer, which allows the scar to set further," says Saladiga.
Read More: How to Get Tomato Sauce Out of Clothes
Certain household solutions, including bleach or rubbing alcohol, can harm a range of textiles. Others, like using an excessive amount of vinegar, can eventually harm your washing machine's rubber and plastic components, according to her. This is another evidence why you should always use the recommended amount of detergent and stick to a dependable brand.
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