In the world of restaurants, perfectionism is crucial to the customer experience. In the midst of preparing a meal and delivering a great customer service, there is a common challenge all restaurant managers and staff face; stubborn stains. Typically, working in a restaurant means you’ll see a variety of different stains and some are more stubborn than others. Seeing these stains is frustrating and they can threaten to ruin the visual appeal of your table linen and aprons. But worry not because in this blog, we will list the most common restaurant stains and the solution.
Fruit and berry stains are a common occurrence. Whether you’re dealing with a spilled berry smoothie or a splash of fruit juice, these stains can leave unsightly marks on clothes, linens, and tablecloths. However, with the right techniques and a little know-how, you can easily tackle these stains and keep your clothes looking fresh and stain-free. In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to remove fruit and berry stains.
Whether it’s fresh tomato in a salad, tomato sauce in a burger, or tomato paste in a pasta dish, tomato is a delicious and diverse fruit. If you spill it on yourself, these simple steps will help lift the stain in no time.
Fresh tomato
Dried tomato
Tomato sauce
Fresh tomato
Fresh tomatoes are pesky so don’t be surprised when you cut into one and its juices fly onto your clothes. Don’t panic though, because fresh tomato stains are incredibly easy to remove.
To remove a fresh tomato stain you will need…
Cold water
A clean cloth
Dish soap
To begin removing your fresh tomato stain rinse the stained area with cold water. This will help push out as much of the stain as possible and begin loosening the remaining stain from your clothes’ fibers. Make sure that you are using cold water to rinse the stained area as anything warmer will set the stain into your clothing.
Once you have rinsed as much of the stain away as possible, dampen a clean cloth with cold water and apply a small amount of dish soap to it. Dab your stain with the soapy cloth, making sure that you are dabbing and not rubbing. Continue dabbing until a strong amount of dish soap has been transferred to your stain.
Next, use your fingers to work the dish soap into your stain. Be firm but not rough whilst doing this as the aim is to penetrate the stain with the soap not cause damage to your garments’ fibers.
Once you are satisfied that the dish soap has been adequately worked into your stain, rinse it off with cool water. As soon as you have rinsed off all of the soap, launder your clothing as you usually would. When your clothing has been washed, check to see if the stain has been lifted. If it has, then you can dry your garment, but if it hasn’t then you must repeat the stain removal process.
Dried tomato stains are slightly trickier to remove because they have already set into the fibers of your garment. They aren’t impossible to remove though.
To remove a dried tomato stain you will need…
Cold water
Laundry detergent
Ice cube
Clean cloth
Vinegar
To begin removing a dried tomato stain rinse the stained area with cold water. Before you begin rinsing your stain, turn your garment inside out so that you are rinsing it from the back. This will help the water to penetrate the back of the stain directly, loosening and removing it from your garment.
Once you have rinsed your stained area, apply a small amount of laundry detergent directly to the stain and leave it to sit for 15 minutes. During this time, the laundry detergent will penetrate the dried tomato stain and begin to loosen it from the fibers of your clothing.
After 15 minutes have passed, take an ice cube and rub it over the stain for roughly 1 minute. The ice cube will help to work the detergent further into your stain. By the time the ice has melted it should look like your stain has completely, or at least partially, disappeared.
Once your ice cube has melted, use a clean cloth to gently dab at the area, allowing you to better see if there is any remaining stain. If there is a stain remaining, spray the area with vinegar and blot at it with a cloth. Continue doing this until the stain has completely lifted.
Tomato sauce makes pasta delicious but won’t make your clothing taste any better. When you notice a tomato sauce stain, act quickly for the best results.
To remove a tomato sauce stain you will need…
A spoon
Baking soda
Cold water
Toothbrush (optional)
Dish soap
To begin removing your tomato sauce stain use a spoon to scrape as much of the sauce from your garment as possible. Be careful when doing this as you don’t want to push the stain further into the fibers of your clothing, or spread the sauce to other areas of your garment.
After you have removed as much of the sauce as possible, make a paste from 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1-2 teaspoons of cold water. Once you have made your paste, lay it directly over your stain and use a toothbrush, or your fingers, to rub it in. Make sure that you are rubbing hard enough for the paste to penetrate your stain, but not too hard to damage the fibers of your garment. After rubbing the paste into the tomato sauce stain, leave it to sit for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, rinse the paste from the stain using cold water. Make sure that you are rinsing from the back as this will aid in loosening and removing the stain from your clothing. Continue rinsing until all of the paste has been removed.
Next, work in a drop of dish soap with your fingers. Dish soap is particularly good at tackling greasy stains, so it will help to lift the remaining stain not reached by the laundry detergent.
Once you have adequately worked the dish soap into your stain, launder your item as you usually would. When your clothing is cleaned, check that your stain has been removed. If it has, you can continue to dry your garment, but if it has not then you will have to repeat the stain removal process.
The best way to lift a stain is by letting Laundryheap lift it for you. To book your Laundryheap order today head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
When we stain our clothes we go into panic mode. We want to get the stain out as fast as possible and in the easiest way. This, however, can lead to us making the situation much worse. These are some of the most common stain removal faux pas to avoid.
Leaving it
Rubbing not blotting
Using hot water
Not spot testing
Using too much solution
Throwing bleach at the situation
Drying before checking
Leaving it
Although tempting, the worst thing to do when you notice a stain is to leave it. The longer you put off pre-treating a stain the more it will set into the fibres of your garment, making it much more difficult to remove when you do get round to lifting it. Instead, as soon as you notice a stain, treat it. This will save you a lot of time and effort.
One of the worst things to do when treating a stain is to rub rather than blot it. Regardless of what the stain is, rubbing will only set it further into the fibres of your clothing, making it more difficult to remove. Blotting, on the other hand, gently lifts as much of the loose stain as possible without forcing it into your garment.
As a rule of thumb, never use hot, or even warm, water on a stain. Hot and warm water will only cook your stain into your clothing, making it much harder to remove. If your stain is protein-based, such as milk, hot water will curdle the protein and make it near impossible to lift. Instead, use cold water to flush out and soak stains, unless it is specifically mentioned that hot water should be used.
Not spot testing
If you don’t spot test before using any stain removal product then you risk permanently staining your garment. A spot test is when you apply a small amount of the stain remover to a hidden area on your garment, such as an inside seam, to test if it will cause any permanent damage, such as bleaching, to your item. It is a fool-proof way to avoid causing damage in the stain removal process.
It may seem logical to use as much stain remover as possible to lift your stain, but the opposite is in fact true. Using a lot of stain remover on one small stain can cause irreversible damage to your clothing, and may not even lift the stain. Instead, use the suggested amount of remover and complete the full stain removal process. If this doesn’t work continue repeating the process until your stain is lifted.
Bleach is a very powerful cleaning agent and can be very effective at removing stains. That being said, it can also cause lasting damage to your garment. Before attempting to lift your stain using bleach first look for alternative methods that use less harmful products. If you can’t find any alternative treatments, make sure that bleach is the safest option for your clothing- this is especially important if your stain is on coloured clothing. Finally, if bleach is safe to use on your stained garment, only use a small amount. Bleach is incredibly powerful and only a small amount is necessary to lift stains.
Once you have completed a stain removal treatment and washed your garment, check that the stain has been completely removed before drying your item. If your stain has not been removed you need to repeat the stain removal process. Drying your garment will only cause the remainder of your stain to set further into the fibres of your clothing, making it harder to lift.
The easiest way to remove stains, and avoid making any stain removal faux pas, is by letting Laundryheap take care of your stained items for you. Book your Laundryheap order today by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.
The best way to remove stains is to pre-treat them. If you don’t have any pre-treatment products, pre-treat your stains with these alternatives.
Baking soda
Lemon/lime
Hydrogen peroxide
Corn starch
Salt
Dish soap
Laundry detergent
Baking soda
Baking soda is particularly useful at pre-treating odorous wet stains, such as coffee. The powdery consistency sucks up the wetness of the stain, whilst absorbing the odour, leaving your clothing with an odourless and smaller stain. Make sure to always brush off the baking soda before washing your garment. Alternatively, you can make a baking soda paste by mixing two parts baking soda with one part water. Spreading the paste over your stain will help to loosen it from the fibres of your clothing.
The natural acidity in lemon and lime acts as a natural bleaching agent. Squeezing lemon or lime juice directly over the stain will begin bleaching it, making the stain lighter and easier to remove in the wash. Be warned that using lemon or lime juice on coloured clothing may cause discolouration, so use with caution or only on white clothing. It is particularly effective on yellow underarm and rust stains.
Similarly to lemon and lime, hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. Simply pour or spray a small amount of the solution on to your stain, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. The hydrogen peroxide will begin to break down and lift your stain, making it easier for it to be completely lifted in the wash. After 10 minutes, wash your garment as you usually would, and observe as your clothing becomes completely stain-free.
If you have an oily or greasy stain, immediately sprinkle corn starch over it. Make sure that your stain is completely covered by the corn starch, and leave it to sit for at least 10 minutes. The small particles that make up the corn starch will begin absorbing the stain, lifting it from your garment. If you catch your stain quick enough, the corn starch alone may be enough to lift your stain completely. If not, wash your item as you usually would.
Salt works in a similar way to corn starch, particularly on red wine stains. The particles that make up the salt absorb the stain, leaving a smaller and more manageable stain behind. Sprinkle your red wine stain with a liberal amount of salt, the cheaper the better, and leave it to sit for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, brush the salt from your garment and observe whether your stain has reduced in size and become lighter. If not, you may want to apply more salt and leave it for longer.
Dish soap is manufactured to tackle greasy and oily substances. To remove stains using dish soap, squirt a small amount directly onto the stain, and use your fingers, or a soft-bristled brush, to rub it in. Leave it to sit for 10 minutes, before rinsing it from your stain, and washing as you usually would.
Laundry detergent is specially formulated to lift dirt from clothing, which makes it a great pre-treatment. You can use laundry detergent in the same way as you would use dish soap. Rub a small amount directly onto your stain, leave it to sit for 10 minutes, and then rinse it from your garment. It’s best, and easiest, to use liquid laundry detergent. Alternatively, you can make a paste from powdered laundry detergent and water which you can spread directly onto your stain.
The best way to treat any stain is to let us do it for you. Book your Laundryheap order by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.
Beetroot is both delicious and it’s vibrant purple colour brightens up any dish. That being said, it is a natural, and permanent, dye, which makes beetroot stains on clothing lethal. Catch your stain early, and follow these steps, to ensure that your stain is lifted and your clothing isn’t dyed forever.
Machine washable clothing
Dry clean only clothing
Laundryheap
Machine washable clothing
To remove beetroot stains from machine washable clothing you will need…
Kitchen towel
Cold water
Laundry detergent
Washing machine
Chlorine bleach or colour-safe bleach (optional)
To begin removing your beetroot stain, soak a kitchen towel in cold water and gently blot at the stain. Make sure that you are blotting and not rubbing the stain as rubbing will only set the beetroot further into your garment. As you blot, you should notice the stain transferring to your kitchen cloth. Continue blotting until you are satisfied that no more of the stain will be lifted.
Once you are finished blotting, place your stain under a cold running tap. The water should turn a light purple colour as a result of it pushing more of the beetroot from your clothing. Continue holding your garment under the water until it runs clear.
After dabbing and holding it under cold water your stain may be lifted. If it has not, gently work a small amount of laundry detergent into the area, and leave it to sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rinse the laundry detergent from your garment, gently rubbing your stain with your fingers to encourage it to lift with the detergent. Continue rinsing until all of the detergent has been removed.
Once you have removed the detergent from your garment, check to see if your stain has lightened in colour or been lifted. If it has, wash your garment in your washing machine as you usually would. If your stain is still vibrant and visible, repeat the previous steps.
An alternative solution to lift your stain is to soak your item in chlorine or a colour safe bleach. Submerge your garment in a mixture of bleach and cold water for a minimum of 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove your item from the bleach solution and wash as you usually would.
To remove beetroot stains from dry clean only clothing you will need…
Dry cloth
Damp sponge
Bread (optional)
Begin lifting your beetroot stain by blotting it with a clean dry cloth. Similarly to with machine washable clothing, you must make sure that you are blotting not rubbing the stain. This will help to soak up any excess beetroot liquid and begin lifting the stain. Continue to dab until no more colour is transferred to the cloth.
Next, dampen a clean sponge with cold water, and place it directly over the stain, making sure that it covers the full area. Do not rub or move the sponge as this can cause the beetroot to set further into the fibres of your garment. The sponge will begin absorbing the beetroot from your clothing, lifting it from your item and on to the sponge. After 5 minutes, check how much of your stain has been absorbed, and, if necessary, re-dampen the sponge and place it back on your stain for a further 5 minutes. Repeat this process until your stain has been lifted.
If you do not have a clean sponge on hand, an alternative option is to use bread. In the same way as you would use the sponge, dampen the bread using cold water and place it over the stain. The bread will absorb the beetroot from your garment, lifting the stain.
Once you have used either a sponge or bread to lift your beetroot stain, take a clean, dry, cloth and dab at any remnants of the stain. This should leave you with stain-free clothing.
If you are struggling to lift your beetroot stain, or any other stain for that matter, let us take care of it for you. All you have to do is left us know what the stain is and where it is located, and we will do the rest. To book your Laundryheap order head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Whether you have scraped your knee or accidentally cut yourself, blood stains are notorious for being difficult to remove. Follow these two methods, and find out how easy it can be to remove blood stains.
Fresh blood
Dried blood
Fresh blood
As with most stains, it’s easier to remove blood stains when they are fresh.
To remove a fresh blood stain you will need:
Cold water
Washing up liquid
Begin removing your stain by flushing it with cold water. Make sure that you’re using cold rather than hot water as hot water will only set your stain further into your clothing.
Once you are satisfied that you have removed as much of the blood as possible via flushing, pour a small amount of washing-up liquid on the stain and gently work it in with your fingers. Be wary of being too rough with your fabric as this can damage the fibers of your clothing and cause the stain to set further into your item.
After working your washing up liquid into your stain, rinse it off with cold water. If you can still see your stain, add more washing up liquid and repeat the process.
When you are satisfied that your stain has been lifted, wash your garment as you usually would. Before drying your item, check that your stain has been completely removed. If it hasn’t, repeat the whole process.
Unfortunately, dried blood stains are a lot harder to remove than fresh blood because they have already set into the fibres of your garment. That does not, however, make them completely impossible to remove.
To remove a dried blood stain you will need:
A blunt knife
Hydrogen peroxide
Paper towel
A clean cloth
Cold water
To begin removing your dried blood stain use a blunt knife to scrape off as much of the blood as possible. Be careful that you don’t push too hard whilst scraping as this can cause rips in your garment.
Once you are satisfied that you have removed as much of the dried blood as possible, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly on top of the stain. Before putting the peroxide on your stain, test it first on an unseen area of your garment, such as an inside seam. Hydrogen peroxide can cause discoloration on certain clothing items, so it’s best to check its effect on your stained item before placing it directly on your stain.
Leave your hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes, before using a paper towel to blot at it. You should notice your stain lifting from your garment and transferring on onto your paper towel. Be careful when blotting that you don’t push too hard as this could push the hydrogen peroxide and blood further into the fibers of your clothing.
When you have lifted the majority of your hydrogen peroxide, and, subsequently, your stain, use a clean and damp cloth to gently rub the remaining stain until it has completely lifted.
Finally, rinse the remaining hydrogen peroxide off of your garment using cold water. After this, wash your stained item as you usually would. If, after washing, your stain remains, repeat the process.
The best way to guarantee the removal of any stain is by letting us lift it for you. Book your Laundryheap order by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.
Mouthwash is very effective at freshening breath, reducing tooth decay, and whitening teeth. If you happen to dribble some on your clothing, follow these simple steps as quickly as possible to remove the stain.
Remove excess
Pre-treat
Wash
Check
Dry
Laundryheap
Remove excess
Begin removing your stain by lifting any excess mouthwash from your garment. To do this, turn your item inside out and place the stained area under a cold running tap. This will help to flush out any lingering mouthwash and should make the stain easier to lift. Make sure that your tap is cold before placing your stain under it, as hot water will only set the stain further into your garment.
Next, pre-treat your stain using liquid laundry detergent. Simply pour a small dose of detergent directly on top of your stain, and leave it to soak for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently rub the liquid laundry detergent with a soft-bristled brush to loosen it, and leave it to soak for a further 15 minutes.
Wash
After pre-treating your stain, check your garments care label and use the hottest wash setting applicable. Don’t rinse the pre-treatment liquid laundry detergent from your garment before washing it, as it will help with the final removal of your stain.
Once your cycle has finished, take your garment out and fully check whether your stain has been lifted. If your stain remains on your item, repeat the previous steps. If your stain has been removed, you can proceed to the drying process.
You can dry your garment using a tumble dryer or by air drying. If your item has remnants of a mouthwash stain and is white, placing your garment to dry in direct sunlight can help lift the remaining stain.
Once your item has dried, and you are satisfied that your mouthwash stain has been removed, put your garment away, ready to re-wear.
If you have stained an item of clothing and you are not confident with how to remove it, simply book a Laundryheap service and we will remove it for you. When you make your booking, let us know what item is stained, where, and what the stain is, and we will do everything to lift the stain and re-deliver fresh, stain-free, clothing to you.
To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Gardening, by nature, is a messy task to undertake. That, however, does not mean that your clothing has to be permanently stained by it.
Grass
Mud
Pollen
Rust
Suncream
Grass
Kneeling in the grass for a long period of time will leave you with a stubborn green stain.
To remove grass stains you will need…
Cold water
Laundry detergent
Rubbing alcohol (optional)
Hairspray (optional)
Begin the grass stain removal process by soaking your garment in cold water for 15 minutes. The cold water will soften the stain, and make it easier to lift. Make sure that your water is cold, as hot water will only set the stain further into your clothing.
After 15 minutes, use your hands to rub laundry detergent directly onto your stain. You can use liquid detergent for this, however, powder detergent is particularly effective at removing stubborn outdoor stains.
Once you are satisfied that you have adequately rubbed your detergent into the stain, wash your item as you usually would.
If your stain has not been completely lifted after washing, you may want to consider repeating the process or using rubbing alcohol or hairspray on your stain. The alcohol found in these products breaks down the green pigments in grass stains.
If you are using rubbing alcohol, dab a small amount onto a clean cloth, and gently sponge it over your stain. When you see the colour lifting, rinse your garment in cold water and continue with the usual removal process.
To use hairspray, spray a liberal amount over your stain and wait for it to completely dry. Once it has dried, used a soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, to scrub at your stain. When you notice the colour begin to fade, flush out the hairspray with cold water, and continue with the usual stain removal process.
Mud
When it comes to gardening, mud is unavoidable. Luckily, mud stains can be easily removed.
To remove mud stains you will need…
Butter knife or spoon
Soft-bristled brush
Liquid soap
Before beginning the removal process, first, check that the mud is completely dry. Do not attempt to remove wet or damp mud as your stain will only spread.
When your mud has dried, use a butter knife or spoon to gently lift as much of the mud from your clothing as possible. Be careful when doing this as you don’t want to cause rips in your clothing, or set the mud deeper into the fibers of your garment.
Once you are satisfied with the amount of mud that you have lifted, use a soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, to gently rub your stain. This will help to loosen the mud that has set into your clothing.
After carefully brushing your stain, pour a small amount of liquid dish soap over the stain, and rub it in using your fingers. Make sure that the soap completely covers your stain, and is well worked in.
Add a small amount of water to your soap, just enough to make it damp, and use your soft-bristled brush to rub over it. Use a circular motion, and brush both sides of your item to ensure that you are adequately working the soap in. Be careful to not rub too hard, as this can cause damage to your garment. Repeat these steps as many times as is necessary for the stain to lighten in colour.
Once you are satisfied that your stain has lightened in colour, wash your garment as you usually would. If, after washing, you notice that your stain has not been completely removed, repeat the process.
Flowers are a beautiful addition to any garden, but their pollen can easily stain clothing.
To remove pollen stains you will need…
Masking tape
Laundry stain remover
Laundry detergent
Cold water
To begin removing your pollen stain, first shake off any lingering pollen. Make sure to do this outdoors and holding the stained area face-down. You don’t want to risk the pollen staining any other clothing.
After removing any lingering pollen, take a long strip of masking tape and wrap it around your fingers, sticky side out. Gently press your tape-covered fingers on top of the pollen stain, and pull them back. As you lift your fingers, the pollen will stick to the tape and be removed from your clothing. You may need to repeat this step a few times to notice a significant difference.
Once you are satisfied with the amount of pollen removed with the masking tape, hold your stained item under a cold running tap to flush-out the stain. Make sure that your tap is cold, as hot water will only set your stain further into your garment. When you’ve removed as much of the stain as possible, soak your stain in cold water for a further 30 minutes. Each time you flush and soak your clothing, more of the pollen is encouraged to detach so it is advised to repeat this step as many times as necessary.
Next, cover your stain in a stain remover of your choice. This is the final step before washing and the stain remover will loosen any stubborn pollen particles. Leave your stain remover to penetrate your clothes fibres for 10 minutes, before washing your garment as you usually would.
If your pollen stain persists after washing, repeat the process.
Rust appears when iron is exposed to oxygen and moisture over a long period of time. It is not uncommon to find rust on garden furniture, plant pots, or gardening tools.
To remove rust stains you will need…
A clean cloth
Table salt
Lemon juice
Cream of tartar (optional)
Baking soda (optional)
Hydrogen peroxide (optional)
When a rust stain occurs, the first thing you need to do is pre-treat the stain. There are several ways you can pre-treat your stain, the first of which is to use table salt and lemon juice. Begin by sprinkling salt directly on to your rust stain. Make sure that the whole stain is covered by the salt. Next, squeeze a liberal amount of fresh lemon juice over the salt. Finally, lay your garment on a flat surface, in direct sunlight. The rays from the sun will help speed up the chemical reaction of the salt and lemon juice, thus speeding up the pre-treatment of your stain.
An alternative pre-treatment to salt and lemon juice is to create a paste from cream of tartar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. To make this paste, combine one teaspoon of cream of tartar, one teaspoon of baking soda, and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Stir your ingredients together until a paste is formed. Once your paste has formed, apply it directly to the stain, making sure that it covers the entirety of it. Leave your paste for 30 minutes, before thoroughly rinsing it from your garment.
Once you have pre-treated your rust stain using one of these two methods, wash your item as you usually would. If, after washing, you notice that your stain has not been removed, repeat the process, or try using the alternative pre-treatment method.
When you are out in the garden for long periods of time, it’s important to regularly apply sun cream to prevent yourself from getting burnt.
To remove suncream stains you will need…
Heavy-duty liquid detergent
Soft-bristled brush
To begin removing your sun cream stain, apply heavy-duty liquid detergent directly on to your stain. Make sure that you use enough to cover the whole of your stain.
Using a soft-bristled brush, or your fingers, work your liquid detergent into your stain. The detergent contains enzymes that will break down the oils in your sun cream, and make it easier to be removed from your fabric. After working in your detergent, allow your garment to sit and absorb the detergent for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, wash your clothing as you usually would. If you notice that your stain has not been lifted, repeat the process.
If you’re struggling to remove stains from your clothing, book a Laundryheap service and let us remove them for you. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Easter is a time for celebration, spending time with family, and eating lots of chocolate. Don’t let stains get in the way of your Easter fun, use these tips for removing stains from clothing and continue having a great weekend.
Chocolate
Butter
Acrylic paint
Glue
Grass
Chocolate
The sugar high that comes with eating copious amounts of chocolate, can easily lead to melted chocolate stained clothing.
To begin removing your stain, use a butter knife or spoon to gently scrape as much of your chocolate off of your clothing as possible. Be careful to not push too hard when doing this as you don’t want to cause rips, or spread the chocolate stain further.
After you have removed as much chocolate as possible, flush your stain with cold water. Make sure that you are using cold and not hot water because hot water will only set your chocolate stain further into your clothing.
Once you have flushed out the stain, gently rub heavy-duty laundry detergent over the top of it. Leave your garment for 5 minutes to allow the laundry detergent to soak into the stain. After 5 minutes, soak your item in cold water for 15 minutes, gently rubbing over your stain every 3-5 minutes to loosen it.
Finally, remove your garment from the cold water and flush your stain once more with cold water. You should notice your stain has either disappeared or is lighter in colour. If either of these options is the case, wash your item as you usually would. The wash should remove any remnants of the stain. If, after you have washed your garment your stain remains, repeat the process.
Hot cross buns are complimented perfectly when topped with a generous amount of butter. If you accidentally drop some butter on your clothing, don’t panic, simply follow these instructions.
To remove a butter stain you will need…
A clean white cloth or paper towel
A butter knife or spoon
Cornstarch, baking soda, or talcum powder
Heavy duty liquid detergent
If your butter stain has been caused by a blob of butter, begin the removal process by using a butter knife or spoon to gently lift as much solid butter from your clothing as possible. Be careful not to press too hard on your fabric as this can cause rips, and possibly spread the stain.
After you have removed any solid bits of butter, use a clean white cloth, or paper towel, to gently dab the stain. Make sure that you are dabbing and not rubbing, as rubbing will cause your stain to set further into your clothing.
Once you have removed as much excess oil from the stain as possible, sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch, baking soda, or talcum powder over your stain. Allow your powder to sit on your stain for at least 15 minutes to give it an ample amount of time to absorb as much oil as possible. After 15 minutes, gently brush the powder off of your item.
Next, add a generous helping of liquid laundry detergent to your stain, and use your fingers to gently rub it in. Leave your detergent for at least 15 minutes.
Finally, wash your item as you usually would. If your stain has not been removed, repeat the process.
A fun Easter activity is painting eggs bright colours using acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint is incredibly easy to drip on yourself.
To remove wet acrylic paint you will need…
Cold water
Heavy-duty laundry detergent
Wet acrylic paint acts very similarly to water-based paint, which makes it easier to remove. To begin removing your stain, place it under cold running water. The water will flush-out the acrylic paint, so leave your garment under the running water until it begins to run clear.
Once you are satisfied that your stain has been sufficiently flushed-out, place an ample amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent over your stain and leave it for 15 minutes. Your laundry detergent will lift any remaining acrylic paint.
Finally, wash your item as you usually would. When taking your stained garment out of the washing machine, make sure to check that the stain has been completely removed before drying. If your stain hasn’t been completely removed, repeat the process.
Rubbing alcohol, nail varnish remover, or alcohol-based hairspray
A dry, clean, white cloth or paper towel
If you leave your acrylic paint stain to dry, the paint is slightly harder to remove, but not impossible. The paint forms a plastic layer that acts similarly to an oil-based stain, meaning that flushing it out won’t be effective.
To begin removing dried acrylic paint, apply an ample amount of rubbing alcohol, nail varnish remover, or alcohol-based hairspray to a clean white cloth and rub your stain. Before rubbing your stain, you may want to check the liquid you’re using won’t further stain your item by rubbing a small amount on an inconspicuous area. Continuously rub at your stain until you visibly begin to see it lighten in colour.
Once you are satisfied with the lightened colour of your stain, you can proceed with the same method as removing wet acrylic paint.
Easter is a great time to get crafty. Not only can you decorate eggs, but you can make Easter baskets, Easter masks, and even an Easter pinata. Crafting is a great way to keep occupied over the Easter period but also means there is an increased risk of glue being spilled on clothes.
To remove water-based glue you will need…
A butter knife or spoon
Cold water
Liquid laundry detergent
Before you begin removing your glue stain, you need to wait for it to completely dry. You will know that it has dried when it goes clear.
Once dried, use a butter knife or spoon to scrape off as much of the glue as possible. Don’t try and remove the whole patch of dried glue as this could cause your garment to rip. Instead, focus on removing the top, hard, layer of the stain.
When you have removed your hard layer of glue, submerge your item in cold water for 24 hours. Make sure that your water is cold as hot water will only set the glue stain further into your clothing. The cold water will soften the remaining glue and make it easier to remove.
After 24 hours, remove your garment from the cold water, and immediately pour a small amount of liquid laundry detergent directly onto your stain, and gently work it in with your fingers.
Once you are satisfied that your liquid laundry detergent has been completely rubbed in, wash your garment as you usually would. If, after washing, your stain persists, repeat the process.
To remove superglue stains you will need…
A spoon or toothbrush
Acetone
Emery board or fine-grained sandpaper
A clean cloth or cotton wool pads
Laundry detergent
As with removing water-based glue, you need to wait for your superglue stain to completely dry before beginning the removal process. Once your stain has completely dried, you can try and remove some of it using a spoon or butter knife, however, do not expect to lift much.
Apply a small amount of acetone to a clean cloth or cotton wool pad, and gently dap your superglue stain on both sides of your garment. The acetone will break down the superglue, softening the stain and making it easier to lift from your clothing.
Once you notice the superglue becoming loose, use a dry, clean, cloth or toothbrush to gently brush away the loosened glue. You can repeat the acetone and brushing process as many times as necessary to remove the majority of your stain.
If you notice that your stain is being particularly stubborn, you can use an emery board or fine-grained sandpaper to gently wear it down. Be very careful when doing this, as you want to lift the glue without damaging your clothes fibers.
Finally, wash your garment as you usually would, checking that your stain has been completely lifted before drying it. If your stain has not been lifted, repeat the process.
Whether you’re enjoying an Easter egg hunt in the garden or playing some Easter-themed sports, grass stains are inevitable when it comes to Easter fun.
To remove grass stains you will need…
Cold water
Laundry detergent
Rubbing alcohol (optional)
Hairspray (optional)
Begin the grass stain removal process by soaking your garment in cold water for 15 minutes. The cold water will soften the stain, and make it easier to lift. Make sure that your water is cold, as hot water will only set the stain further into your clothing.
After 15 minutes, use your hands to rub laundry detergent directly onto your stain. You can use liquid detergent for this, however, powder detergent is particularly effective at removing stubborn outdoor stains.
Once you are satisfied that you have adequately rubbed your detergent into the stain, wash your item as you usually would.
If your stain has not been completely lifted after washing, you may want to consider repeating the process or using rubbing alcohol or hairspray on your stain. The alcohol found in these products breaks down the green pigments in grass stains.
If you are using rubbing alcohol, dab a small amount onto a clean cloth, and gently sponge it over your stain. When you see the colour lifting, rinse your garment in cold water and continue with the usual removal process.
To use hairspray, spray a liberal amount over your stain and wait for it to completely dry. Once it has dried, used a soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, to scrub at your stain. When you notice the colour begin to fade, flush out the hairspray with cold water, and continue with the usual stain removal process.
Easter is supposed to be spent with friends and family, not worrying about doing the laundry. Book your Laundryheap service and let us take a load off.
To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
