'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 (D - L)

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.

Deodorants & Antiperspirants

Sponge dry fabric stain thoroughly with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) and warm water. Rinse. If some stain remains, use a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate. Antiperspirants may cause fabric damage and color damage in some dyes. Color may be restored by sponging with ammonia. Dilute ammonia with an equal volume of water for use on wool or silk. Rinse well.

Dyes & Running Colors

These are difficult to remove and no one treatment is successful in all cases. Immediate copious rinsing in tepid water, forcing the water through the stain, is sometimes effective. Washing and sunning will gradually bring results in some cases. Equal parts of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia may also succeed. White fabrics may be bleached. Use a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate for linens and untreated cottons, hydrogen peroxide for silk, wool and delicate fabrics.

Dye – Setting

Common household salt can be used to “Set Dyes” at a rate of quarter to half a cup per wash tub load. Leave to soak half an hour, rinse, then hang to dry. Salt is a common additive to Laundry Powder formulations. Among its many uses, salt minimizes the risk of “running dyes” when laundering garments.

Egg

Scrape away as much as possible. Sponge with lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as heat hardens the stain. If this does not succeed, spread the stain with a paste of cream of tartar and water, adding a crushed aspirin to the paste. Leave for 20 – 30 minutes. Rinse well in warm water. OR use a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate.

Fruit Juices & Berries

Fresh stains are easy to remove, but once dry, they are very obstinate. Treat with cool water first and follow up, if necessary, by soaking in a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate. Rinse. White cottons and linens may be stretched over a basin and boiling water poured through from a height. Any remaining stain may be removed with chlorinated laundry bleach. Colored fabrics or washable silk, etc., may be soaked in a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate or a warm borax solution (1 tbsp : 1 c water), or covered with a paste of cream of tartar and warm water. Leave 30 minutes or until stain goes, then rinse well. For persistent stains apply equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia. Rinse well after treatment. This method is safe for all fabrics, except triacetate (e.g. Tricel). Dilute mixture with an equal quantity of water for fabrics with fugitive dyes. Old stains may be softened in glycerine before treatment. Damp stain, apply glycerine, leave 1 – 2 hours, then add a few drops of vinegar, leave 5 – 10 minutes and rinse well.

Glues, Gums & Cellulose Adhesive

Soaking in cool water will remove water-soluable glues, e.g. casein glue. For waterproof varieties, use spirit solvent, e.g. methylated spirits (wood alcohol) or amyl acetate (test before using on synthetic fabrics). Artificial Nail glue can be removed; use acetone (test on an inconspicuous area first). Acetone evaporates quickly, so hold a wad of absorbant paper or soft cloth against the glue, and soak the acetate through from the other side. (The glue soaks on to the wad of absorbant).

Grass & Other Garden Foliage

Soak in a solution of a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate. OR sponge with methylated spirits (wood alcohol). Remove this with warm water and where possible wash the article using Laundry powder or Liquid.

Ice Cream & Milk

For washable materials, first sponge with lukewarm water, then wash as usual. If the material is not washable, sponge with dry cleaning fluid then with cold water.

Indelible Pencil

Do not use water as this spreads the stain. Sponge over a pad of soft cloth, using equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia (test colored fabrics first). Should the colors run, try methylated spirits (wood alcohol) alone. Rinse or sponge with warm water.

Ink

Because inks differ in composition it is impossible to find removers that are equally effective for all types of ink spots. The following is a range of suggestions from which you can choose. The best treatment we have discovered is using a D’limonene based product. (read our notes on each product HERE). However, general Instructions using D’Limonene are:

• Dry the stained area.

• Mix together 3 parts dishwashing liquid with 1 part of D’limonene.

• Soak the stained area in this solution for 10-15 minutes.

• After the soak time, rinse in water as hot as is suitable for the fabric, then wash as usual, but preferably with a Laundry Liquid.

This treatment may require repeating. Other treatments you can try for ballpoint ink include:

• First, saturate material with an alcohol-based hair spray (this seems to be a very popular method). The alcohol content in the hair spray will break up the ink.

• Be sure to place an absorbent paper towel or rag under the stain to catch the excess.

• You then need to blot the stain with a rag. Repeat the process until the stain is removed, then launder as usual.

• A word of caution before trying this method: some fabrics may be damaged by the hair spray solution. If in doubt, test on an inconspicuous area first, or consult with a professional dry cleaner.

For water-based inks:

• Try an all-purpose cleaner instead of hair spray. Be sure to place an absorbent paper towel or rag under the stain to catch the excess.

• You then need to blot the stain with a rag. Repeat the process until the stain is removed, then launder as usual.

• A word of caution before trying this method: some fabrics may be damaged by the cleaning solution. If in doubt, test on an inconspicuous area first, or consult with a professional dry cleaner.

NOTE: If the stain is still wet, apply an absorbent – French chalk, talcum powder, starch or salt – to absorb excess ink and stop it from spreading. Continue this treatment, removing the discolored powder and applying fresh, until all of the ink is soaked up.

Alternatively, take up excess ink with blotting paper, pressing fresh patches of blotter into the stain until it no longer discolors. Then treat as required. These suggestions are also suitable for dried writing ink, ball point pen, or marking ink. Soak the stain in “sour” milk – this is an old fashioned, but effective method.

Fresh milk also works, but sour milk is faster. Sponge or dip the stain in equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia (test on colored fabrics first). Rinse in warm water. Rinse again in warm water containing a little ammonia, then finally in fresh water. Sponge with pure Dettol.

If not effective, try isopropyl alcohol or dry cleaning fluid (from chemist).

Iodine

Very fresh stains can often be removed by normal washing or by moistening the stain with water and placing in the sun or before a radiator. If not successful, apply a solution of 1 tsp sodium thiosulphate, (from chemist) in 1 cup warm water. Rinse well.

Lipstick & Other Cosmetics

e.g. eyeshadow, mascara, blusher – washing with your usual laundry product may remove these stains. Pre-treat the dry fabric stain with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). On an un-washable fabric, first try dry cleaning fluid. If stains are stubborn, sponge with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia. (Test on colored fabrics first). If color fades, reduce ammonia by half and test again. Rinse in warm water, or wash if possible.

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.