Home remedies for stubborn stains
In the blog about stubborn stains (LINK), you will find tips on how to get your clothes clean again. They are a good guide to follow. Gall soap is a proven home remedy in many cases, but depending on the type of stain and fabric, certain natural remedies work better than others.
Basically, the most powerful home remedies are vinegar, citric acid, and baking soda—used correctly, they can remove most stains.
Grass stains
It happens quickly, and your child's shirt is covered in grass stains. An unusual home remedy helps with fresh grass stains on white fabrics. Soak the clothes in milk overnight, then rinse them in the morning and wash them as normal in the washing machine.
Lemon juice is an excellent choice for sturdy fabrics such as jeans. To do this, simply squeeze a fresh lemon and leave the juice to soak in for about 30 minutes – do not moisten the stain with water beforehand. Immediately after soaking, wash the fabric in the washing machine at a high temperature. The care label will tell you the maximum temperature the garment can withstand.
Don't have any fresh lemons at home? Vinegar is also suitable for light-colored and non-delicate fabrics. Apply a little vinegar to the stain and massage it in gently. After 15 minutes, put the garment in the washing machine.
If these home remedies are not enough to remove the stain completely, the sun will help. Thanks to the bleaching effect of UV rays, the last traces of the stain will disappear if you hang the garment outside while it is still damp. This tip also works for pumpkin seed oil, which otherwise remains in the fabric.
Red wine stains
Red wine stains are among the most difficult to remove. Often, when dining out at a restaurant, you don't have the opportunity to take immediate action. This allows the stain to penetrate deep into the fibers. Lemon juice or vinegar will help you win the battle against dried-on stains. This is because the acid dissolves the color particles: dab the home remedy onto the stain with a cloth and leave it to work for 15 minutes. Then dab again with a paper towel, spray with cold water, and dab one last time.
For fresh red wine stains, carbonated mineral water is a proven remedy for washing out. For more delicate garments, salt is suitable for absorbing the stain as it is less aggressive. This does not apply to fibers such as silk or wool.
Blood stains
Wash blood stains out immediately with cold water to remove them quickly. Dried blood, on the other hand, requires more effort: soak the fabric in cold water and sprinkle baking powder or baking soda on the stain. After leaving it to soak for a few hours, wash the fabric as normal.
This method is also suitable for blood stains on mattresses. After leaving it to work, wipe off the baking soda and water mixture with a paper towel and simply remove the residue with cold water.
Stains from protein-containing liquids
Protein coagulates at temperatures above 40 °C, so stains containing protein should never be washed out with warm water. These include stains from milk coffee, ice cream, blood, or whipped cream.
Grease stains
Grease is not water-soluble, which makes the use of emulsifiers necessary. These surfactants are found in gall soap and vegan curd soap, for example. For fresh grease stains, baking soda helps to absorb the liquid.
Yellow deodorant stains and sweat stains
Yellow deodorant stains are particularly stubborn. Citric acid is a magic remedy for white fabrics: dissolve ten grams of the powder in one liter of water and soak the affected garment for 24 hours. Then rinse and wash at the highest possible temperature.
When handling citric acid, you should wear gloves to protect your skin. Due to the bleaching effect of citric acid, extra care is needed with colored fabrics. Therefore, first test on an inconspicuous area to see if the color will fade.
A solution of baking soda (two packets) and water combats sweat stains and yellowing—simply soak the item in it and wash it out.
Stains on delicate fabrics
Not all fibers can tolerate citric acid, vinegar, etc. You should proceed with caution when dealing with delicate natural fibers such as silk or wool so as not to damage the fabric. Pure alcohol from the pharmacy is the right choice. Moisten a cloth with it and dab the stain until it disappears.
A lesser-known remedy is sea foam powder, which consists of magnesium silicate. You can find it in drugstores or pharmacies. Sea foam powder also combats grease stains on silk or wool. Sprinkle a generous amount onto the stain, pat gently, and leave to work for five to ten minutes. Then dab and wash. Repeat this method until the stain is no longer visible.
Be careful with delicate fabrics and always test on an inconspicuous area first. If in doubt,
it is better to take particularly expensive items to a specialist.
