Surely no one can say they’ve never ever split anything before. Maybe you tripped while holding coffee, or someone accidentally tipped your hand. Most of the time, it’s not a big deal as the stain can be washed off.
The thing is, you almost always end up spilling red wine on the day you’re wearing something light-coloured, or splattering curry gravy on your white top! Then, it’s a little more cumbersome as wine stains are harder to remove, and curry stains can be really stubborn.
It also depends on what kind of fabric is involved. Generally, removing stains from synthetic fabrics like acrylic, nylon, polyester and spandex is fairly easy. Natural-woven materials such as cotton, wool and linen might be a bit trickier. Here are a few pointers to help you out:
Red wine must be removed as soon as possible before it sets. — Filepic
1. Red wine stains
If you’ve accidentally tipped a glass of red wine on your shirt or dress, especially if it’s white, it doesn’t necessarily have to be sent to professional cleaners. Soak the clothing item with white vinegar as soon as possible, specifically where the stain is located. Give it a while to sink in before gently rubbing with some laundry detergent. Leave this on for 30 minutes, then wash normally with cool water. Don’t use hot water or the dryer, which will set the stain.
If you’re in a restaurant, ask for club soda and get to work. Soak up the excess wine with tissue or dry clean cloth first, then pour the cold club soda directly onto the stain. Add salt to stop the stain from setting. Continue your dinner conversation while letting it dry out for about 20 minutes, then brush off the salt. Later, wash the garment.
Stubborn stains need to be scrubbed. — Filepic
2. Blood stains
If you have lacerations due to a cut, you’ll know that blood stains on clothes can become an ugly rusty brown if left untreated. If it’s on a clothing item, it’s fairly easy to remove – just soak in cool water and wash as usual. Do not use the hot cycle. If the stain is stubborn, scrub with detergent and water first before washing. If it doesn’t come off on the first try, repeat the above steps. If it still doesn’t work, then try using an enzyme cleaner.
If you have no access to laundry items as you’re out of the house, use cool water together with salt. It works wonders on dried blood stains, especially period stains. Saline solution, the kind lens wearers use, essentially works the same way.
Coffee, nice to drink but not nice on your clothes! — Filepic
3. Coffee stains
Every passionate coffee drinker knows this only too well. Coffee’s too hot and it slips from your fingers, oops, there goes your shirt. Or your iced Americano drips onto your clothes without you even realising it. Don’t fret, just soak up the extra liquid with tissue or dry clean cloth as much as possible. Don’t rub or you’ll be pushing the stain deeper into the fibres. Use a dishwashing solution (not laundry detergent) plus a tablespoon of white vinegar in 1L of warm water, and pre-soak the garment in this. Rinse the area with clean water, and dip a sponge with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to mop up the remaining discolouration. Wash the garment as per usual after that. Sometimes, you have to repeat these steps if the stain is stubborn, depending on the fabric.
Fresh lemon juice is a natural stain remover. — Filepic
4. Curry stains
It’s as though the heavens are taunting you and know that you’ll be eating curry the day you’re wearing white! Most of it will come off if you act fast and wash the affected area with soap and water. But the residue yellow from the turmeric tends to stay on longer. The first step is to brush off the excess gravy or sauce from your clothing quickly. Then, use wet wipes or a clean cloth and remove the rest of the stain by gently dabbing on it.
You can either soak in laundry detergent for 30 minutes or more, perhaps even overnight if the stain is not budging, then wash the clothing the next morning. Or, you could squeeze some fresh lemon juice directly over the stain, rub it in and let it sit for an hour or so, then wash with normal laundry detergent.
It’s a nightmare removing bubble gum from clothes...or hair. — Filepic
5. Bubble gum
Technically, this isn’t a stain, but it’s still a hassle removing gum from your clothes or hair. Remove as much as you can, then dab on rubbing alcohol all over the gum and let it sit for a while. You should be able to scrape the rest off easily with a butter knife. Or, cut a small piece of duct tape and stick this over the gum (after spreading the alcohol) and pull it off. If it’s not working, you need to dab on more alcohol and soak longer.
Not everyone has a bottle of rubbing alcohol at home, but most would have cooking oil or toothpaste. Apply this over the affected area, let it sit a bit, and then remove the gum. If you have gum stuck in your long hair, it seems dipping it into a glass of Coca-Cola and letting it soak for 20 minutes works too, that is, if you’re patient enough to sit and wait.
