'Happiness is a freshly cleaned home' - Amaya Victor

Introduction

The following Emergency Tips were compiled by members and staff of the National Institute of Disaster Restoration based on their wide experience with various types of damage. It is not likely that your situation will require all of these procedures. Apply those which common sense indicates are appropriate.

How to clean stains from any material - Part 1 (A - C)

Embarking on the journey of stain removal often feels like navigating a maze of mystery and frustration. Whether it's a stubborn coffee spill on a favorite shirt, a rogue ink mark on pristine upholstery, or the aftermath of a spaghetti sauce mishap on a beloved tablecloth, stains have a knack for appearing when least expected. Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we'll unravel the secrets of stain removal, equipping you with the knowledge and techniques to tackle an array of stains with confidence and finesse. From everyday mishaps to unexpected disasters, let's dive into the world of spotless solutions.

Acid

Act quickly so that acid cannot damage the cloth. Sprinkle the stain with baking soda, dampen with water and allow to stand till bubbling stops. Rinse well in warm water. Alternatively, hold the dampened stain over an open bottle of household ammonia so that the fumes can neutralize the acid. Rinse well.

Adhesive Tape

Sponge or soak the dry fabric stain with a suitable laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or in a grease solvent or kerosene. Kerosene will make the cloth oily, so if used, must be followed by washing in warm soapy water.

Alcohol

Always treat these as soon as possible. Often stains are almost colorless at first, but turn brown on standing, washing and ironing. Fresh stains can be removed by sponging several times with warm water. If there is any mark left, pour glycerin on the dampened stain, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water. More stubborn stains may be sponged on dry fabric with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia (test on colors first) or laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). Rinse well in warm water. If any stain is left on white material, a laundry bleach may be used. Choose and use your bleach according to instructions.

Alkali's

Alkali’s, such as washing soda and ammonia, or cuticle remover, may destroy color and rot material. Rinse at once in equal quantities of vinegar and water. Rinse well in warm water. If color has been affected this cannot be corrected.

Bleach

Treat immediately in copious amounts of cold water. For chlorine bleach, add 1 tbsp vinegar in each 20 oz water. If the color has been removed by the bleach, it cannot readily be restored, but try holding in fumes from an open bottle of ammonia.

Blood

If fresh, sponge with cool salted water (1 tsp : 600 ml water) and rinse with clear water. Should stain persist, soak in a diaper wash/sanitizer from the supermarket that contains sodium percarbonate – read the diaper wash/sanitizer label for the chemical make-up of the product (may state sodium carbonate peroxohydrate or oxygenated bleach). Sodium percarbonate is derived from a manufacturing process of concentrated solutions of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide (sodium carbonate peroxohydrate) therefore you could try using the hydrogen peroxide suggestion first. Or you can try any of the following suggestions, and they are in no particular order. Dilute hydrogen peroxide (1 part : 9 parts water). Purchase the strongest solution available from a pharmacy – usually “20 Volume”. Rinse well. Sponge with a solution of Oxalic Acid, warmed to about 115°F. Rinse well. Sponge with dilute ammonia (1 tsp : 600 ml). Rinse well. For thick or un-washable articles, e.g. mattresses, carpets, sprinkle with pepsin powder (from your pharmacy), or spread with a thick paste of raw starch and water, leave to dry, then brush off. Repeat if necessary.

Blue Ink

Rinse fresh marks in cold water. Soak any more difficult stains in a solution 1 tbsp vinegar in 40 oz of warm water. Wash as usual.

Boot Polish

Sponge with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or with dry cleaning fluid.

Butter, Cream & Fatty Stains

Wash in warm sudsy water if a washable fabric. If not, sponge dry fabric with a grease solvent, e.g. laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or dry cleaning fluid.

• On upholstery and carpets, use the absorbent powder treatment, followed by a shampoo with liquid detergent, such as a Carpet/Rug Shampoo, a good quality laundry liquid or Quilt/Wool Wash. Avoid wetting backing of carpet or fabric, or discoloration occurs. Do not use grease solvents, e.g. dry cleaning fluid, on carpets or fabrics with rubberized backing.

• On wallpaper, scrape off as much as possible, then use warm iron and absorbent paper. Treat remaining stain with paste of corn flour and a grease solvent. Allow to dry, brush off, and repeat if necessary.

Candle Wax

Candle wax and chewing gum can be effectively removed by placing the object that has been stained into a freezer until the staining agent is quite hard, and brittle, then the material can be literally shattered off the object that has been stained. Then treat any residue as follows: place the stain between clean, white blotters and press with a warm iron, changing the blotter as it becomes soiled. Then sponge with dry cleaning fluid or a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). In the case of colored wax there may still be a color stain. Sponge with a liquid made by adding methylated spirits (wood alcohol) to water.

Carbon Paper & Transfers

On washable fabrics heavy suds of soap and water are usually successful. Otherwise, sponge over a pad with methylated spirits (wood alcohol), following with a cold water sponge.

Chewing Gum

Scrape away as much as possible first. Rubbing the stain with ice will harden the gum and make this easier, especially on rugs and other heavy materials. Refer further under Candle Wax if the material is washable, soak in kerosene and wash in hot soapy water. For un-washable articles, use dry cleaning fluid. Several applications may be necessary.

Chocolate & Cocoa

First scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife. Hot soapy water will then remove fresh stains from washable articles. If a brown stain remains, soak in a solution of a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate followed by a good rinse in warm water. For un-washable materials, sponge with dry cleaning fluid. Allow to dry. Repeat as necessary with a clean portion of pad beneath. If any mark remains, sponge with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia (test on colors first). Follow with warm water. A spray-on dry cleaner may be used.

Cod Liver Oil

Fresh cod liver oil stains can be removed successfully, but old stains set by washing and ironing are almost impossible to remove, even with bleach. Wash very fresh stains in warm water and a good quality laundry liquid or any one of the concentrated Laundry Powders available, applying a little neat liquid detergent to the stain. Stubborn stains on all fabrics respond to soaking in a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate. Wash as usual.

Coffee & Tea

Remove fresh stains from cotton and linen materials by first rinsing in warm water then pouring boiling water from a height of 2 – 3 feet onto the stain. Follow by washing in soapy water. If a trace remains, bleach in the sun, or with a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate. Tea stains on cottons and linens can also be removed by soaking in borax and water (1 tbsp borax in 1 c of warm water). Stains on wool and silk or any fabric may be sponged with lukewarm water, then apply glycerine, rubbing lightly between the hands. Let stand for half an hour. Rinse with warm water. If a grease spot remains from cream, sponge with dry cleaning fluid.

Crayons

Treat as for Candle wax. If on wallpaper, after scraping cover with blotting or brown paper, iron with warm iron, shifting paper repeatedly. Final traces may be covered with a paste of corn flour and cleaning fluid. Allow to dry, brush off and repeat if necessary. Go to Crayola’s Stain Removal Tips for helpful hints on removing art material stains from clothes, walls and other tough spots!

Recommendations

Speak to the experts at equi-linc for all your water damage repair, structural drying, mold abatement or water extraction service needs.

Our certified technicians will walk through every step of this process with you ensuring not only the water damage repair but also prevention from it happening again in future emergencies or disasters alike.

Finally we will return the space to one that you desire so that you can enjoy the improved home without worry and knowing it is safe from the past damage.

Call us today on 213-361-8214

Disclaimer: The information and our technical advice – whether verbal or in writing or by way of trials – are given in good faith, but without warranty, and this also applies where proprietary rights of third parties are involved. Our advice does not release you from the obligation to check its validity and to test products as to the suitability for the intended processes and uses.