As spring transitions into summer, your clothing can transition from clean to dirty rather quickly. Between mud, rain, cut grass, and spring and summer activities, clothing can take a beating—suffering stains and damage. Thankfully, there are ways to treat and clean various stains, and if you can’t get them out at home, or are unsure about treating certain types of fabrics, Embassy Cleaners can do the cleaning for you.
Note: the following stain removal tips apply ONLY to garments that are safe to wash; not dry-clean-only garments.
Grass stains
Grass stains on clothing are common and can happen from playing outside, spring and summer sports, and landscaping maintenance. To remove grass stains, spray the area with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar then gently rub out the stain. The vinegar and water help break down the proteins. You can also try to pre-treat the item with a detergent that breaks down enzymes before washing.
Mud stains
During spring and summer rains, it’s easy to get mud on clothing and carpets. To treat clothing, remove all excess dirt and mud and pre-treat immediately. Soak the clothing in cold water for a half hour, and if the stain remains, soak longer and then wash with regular laundry detergent.
Bicycle grease stains
Riding around outside on a bike is great physical exercise and a fun way to travel, but there’s always a chance of walking away with a grease stain on your clothing. To remove the grease, work dish soap into the stain, as it’s designed to remove proteins and oil. The dish soap should remove most of the stain, allowing you to rinse the garment then and wash as you normally would.
Condiment stains
When the weather warms up, it’s picnic and outdoor party time, which means mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and other condiment stains. To clean most condiment stains, use cold water to prevent the stain from saturating the threads and permanently staining the fabric.
Blood stains
Sports injuries, minor scrapes, and scratches from gardening can all lead to blood stains on clothing. To clean the stain, use detergent or other cleaners designed to break down proteins such as hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, or cold water. Some people believe applying a salt paste can remove blood, but this can create a new stain and is tough on fabrics.
Gum stains
In the hotter temperatures, gum becomes especially sticky and can end up on much more than the bottom of shoes. To remove gum, freeze it with an ice cube and then scrape it off. If the garment is made of delicate fabric, try putting it in the freezer for a while and then brush the gum off with a toothbrush.
No matter what type of stain you have or how you treat it, always treat the garment in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t cause a new stain, damage, or discoloration. Cold water is usually the best idea when washing particularly nasty spring and summer stains. Treating and removing stains on your clothing helps your wardrobe last longer and look nicer.
When you’re not sure how to properly treat stains, bring your clothing to Embassy Cleaners so our experts can give it the cleaning and care it requires.
