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Removing Blood: Soak stain in cold water immediately. If stain remains, soak in lukewarm water, then wash in hot water. Soaking in a solution of 2 tbsps. of household ammonia to 1 gallon of water is also advised. Then wash in hot water and soap. Rinse well.
Bleaching: Sunshine bleaches clothes. Extra moisture should be left in the clothes after the final rinsing, as it increases the efefct of the bleaching. Hanging clothes out-of-doors in freezing weather is also a good bleach. A highly recommended chemical bleach may be used to whiten clothes. Follow manufacturers directions as to the amount to use. Mix the bleach with the first rinse water and then rinse the clothes at least twice after using bleach.
Removing Chocolate and Cocoa: Use heavy soap suds, rub the stain and boil if needed. Drop hydrogen peroxide on the stain and repeat after five minutes, then rinse well before washing. Also---sprinkle stains with powdered borax. Soak the stain in cold water one-half hour or more, then pour boiling water through the stain. Or, soak the stain in glyderine, then in cold water, and wash with soap in hot water.
Coffee Stains: Pour boiling water through the stain. Most stains can be removed by ordinary laundering. If stain remains, rub with glycerine.
Grape juice stain: Stretch stain over a bowl and hold in place with a rubber band. Pour boiling water through the stain at a height of two feet. Rub spot gently and repeat. If stain remains, use hydrogen peroxide, using a medicine dropper. Rinse, then wash.
LINE DRYING TIPS
Shake all clothes after wringing. Careful hanging is important. When dry, the clothes are easier to iron. Shake turkish towels briskly before hanging to dry. This removes wrinkles and raises the nap. Hang the nightgowns and skirts by the hem, pajama shirts by shoulders. This prevents sagging. For dresses use two coat hangers, reverse them so the hooks form a circle. This will prevent the garment blowing off the line.
Preserving Clothesline: When new, soak line in hot water, and hang out to dry. When dry, rub with liquid wax. This keep the line pliable and makes it waterproof. Boil the line occasionally to keep it clean and rub with liquid wax when dry. Wipe the line before hanging the clothing on it.
Clothespins: place in boiling water before using to prevent marking clothes. Do not use on rayon.
Homemade Clothespin Bag: Make a bag 10 by 14 inches of bed ticking or canvas, with a wooden embroidery hoop sewed to the top. Then use a coat hanger through the hoop and slide the hanger as needed. Or fasten a wire hook to a grape basket to hold pins.
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Bleeding of Colors: Your red shirt got mixed in with other clothes and ruined them? First off, DON'T DRY THEM! Wash again with regular detergent and color-safe bleach. If that didn't work, Rit®, the makers of clothes dye, makes a color remover that works wonders and doesn't cost much. To prevent bleeding in the first place, wash in cold water; I also use a cup of salt OR a scoop of Oxi Clean® with every load. Blood on Clothes: Pour hydrogen peroxide on blood and rinse with cold water. If some blood remains, repeat. (Submitted by Michele Dutcher) Burn / Scorch Marks: If the fabric is washable, brush it gently with a soft brush or dry sponge to remove loose carbon particles. Then, wash the fabric with regular detergent and color-safe bleach. This will permanently weaken the fabric even more than the scorch has, but the scorch may no longer be noticeable. Burnt Stuff on Iron: Rub iron with aluminum foil to remove burnt on starch, etc. Deodorant Stains on the Underarms of Washable Shirts: Sponge on white vinegar (or soak stain in it); wait 30 minutes. Launder shirts in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Using an enzyme detergent or a detergent with bleach alternative check care labels to be sure this is okay). I sometimes put liquid laundry detergent right on the area, leave it for five to ten minutes, then wash. To prevent: Let deodorant dry before dressing. And don't let stains sit! Apply prewash spray or liquid detergent ASAP, then launder. Every third or fourth washing, use the hottest water safe for the shirts. Down Comforters / Jackets: These can, indeed, be washed rather than dry cleaned. Any stains, such as the grime on the cuffs of a jacket, should be spot-cleaned with a pre-treater, then rinsed with water. Wash the item in the gentle cycle with mild detergent. The key is to ensure the down is rinsed extremely well. Then, place in the dryer rather than line drying. This allows the feathers to plump up again. Place large knotted towels or tennis balls in the dryer with it to help fluff the down. The only caution is, if the item has weak seams or fragile fabric it could "explode" and leave you with only down. If there are stains remaining, place it (on a blanket) outdoors in full sunshine for a day or two. This often helps. If not, at least your comforter will have that outdoor fresh smell. (Submitted by Koilaf and michelle6802) Fabric Softener: I have been using an old dish towel as a fabric softener sheet. I pour a couple of capfuls of Downey on it and throw it in the dryer. It has taken over a year to go thru a bottle of (small) Downey fabric softener. I add more Downey about every 15 loads or just when I notice a little static. It helps to use a towel that is distinct from the other laundry. I use a pink towel, which is a one of a kind in our house. (Submitted by a site visitor) Fading: Turn dark clothes inside out and wash in the coolest water possible; dry on lowest heat. For all-black clothes, throw in a box of black Rit® dye every 8-10 washes or so to keep black clothes black. Gasoline On Clothing: Gasoline is an oil based product, therefore, use another oil based product to pull out the odor (which is left because all the gas oil has not been removed yet). You can use any kind of oil that normally washes out of clothing, like baby oil. Put some of the oil into the washer along with the shorts, let it swish around for a while, then put in the detergent and all should come out okay. General Stain Removal for Clothing: Read the label! If it says dry-clean only, dry-clean it. If it's washable, try cleaning fluid, spot remover, or petroleum-based pre-wash spray. Place garment stain side down on paper towels and dab cleaner on stain using a terry-cloth towel or scrub brush. Check paper towels underneath and move frequently so there's always a clean area under the stain to absorb soil. Let area dry and check it. If stain remains, treat with prewash spray and launder. Before drying, check again. Still visible? Repeat steps. Glitter on Clothing: That new sparkly shirt shedding glitter all over the place? Spray with aerosol hair spray to make it stay put. Wash separately from other clothes, or at least wash it inside out if you must wash with other articles of clothing. Grease Stains: Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch or baby powder over the grease stain, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, then brush the powder off. The powder absorbs the grease and it brushes off with the powder. Gum On Clothing: Use egg whites to remove gum on clothing. Brush egg white onto gum with a toothbrush. Let sit for 15 minutes and then launder on the items normally. Ink Stains: The best way I have found to get out ink stains is to put rubbing alcohol on the stain - it disappears! This must be done before washing. (Submitted by Darvin Mossing) Laundry Basket Freshener: Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remember to change it weekly.) You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the odors as well. Linen Closet: In the linen closet, place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favorite scent. Once they are dry, place them in corners and on the shelves. Lint: Keep lint off dark clothes by not washing them with towels, washcloths, dishrags, etc. This is where a majority of the lint comes from and it's just easier to eliminate them. (Submitted by michelle6802) Another way to get lint to stay off clothes in the washer is to add 1 cup distilled white vinegar to the load with the detergent. Lipstick: Use petroleum jelly for removing lipstick stains. Another possibility is to rub in a little vegetable shortening and then launder as normal. Mildew Stains: Shake or brush the item to remove loose growth. Presoak in cold water. Wash in hot water with heavy duty detergent. For whites, add 1/2 cup bleach. If colored, use color-safe bleach. If staining remains on white items, repeat washing before drying. Dry thoroughly; heat and sun tend to kill mildew. Mothball Alternative: A better idea than using mothballs is to take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. You place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm but also they'll smell great when you pull them out. I especially like this for sweaters, which can be difficult to remove the odor of mothballs from. Using soap you simply have a clean smell rather than the smell of an attic. Mothball Odors: This odor is a hard one to get rid of. Your first step is ventilation - air out larger items outside for a day or two; for clothes, fluff in the dryer with fabric softener sheets for a couple of hours. Odor removers such as Febreeze® may help. If an entire room or closet is affected, place trays of activated charcoal (available in pet supply stores) in the corners of the rooms to absorb the smell. Panty Hose / Nylons: To stop a run in panty hose, dab nail polish over the run; clear polish is best, for obvious reasons, but any color will do. To strengthen nylons, spray with aerosol hair spray when you first put them on. Perspiration Stains/Odor: Soak the stained shirt in equal parts ammonia and water and add a few Tbls. of liquid dish soap overnight. Then, wash the shirts as usual. Rust and Mineral Stains: Add 1 cup of bottled lemon juice in the wash to remove discoloration from cotton laundry. Soiled Shirt Collars: Take a small paintbrush and brush hair shampoo into soiled shirt collars before laundering. Shampoo is made to dissolve body oils. Spaghetti Stains: Wet the fabric and then sprinkle with powdered dish detergent. Scrub gently with a toothbrush. Rinse the item and launder normally. Travel Saver: Whenever you travel carry along a stain pretreatment stick. Taking the time to use it on stains before they set ensures that they will wash out when you get home. White-Out / Liquid Paper and Permanent Marker Stains: Dab some sunscreen over the stain and rub off with a paper towel. Repeat until stain is gone. Yellowed / Grayed Whites: Rit®, the makers of clothes dye, makes a white-wash that works well for bleachable and non-bleachable clothing that has yellowed or grayed. You can also hang yellowed clothes out to dry whenever possible to reduce the yellow. Zippers: To make a zipper slide up and down more smoothly, rub a bar of soap over the teeth. |
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FABRIC CARE AND TIPS Muslin: To prevent it from turning yellow soak two days before washing, in clear cold water.
To Iron Napkins: Dip every third napkin in warm water and place between two dry napkins, then fold and roll. Let stand an hour and the ironing will be easier.
To Wash Lace: Baste fine laces on pieces of muslin, then wash by shaking in a fruit jar. Use warm water and soap. Rinse in warm water. Place in a towel and stretch to dry. Or wrap lace around a bottle and place bottle in lukewarm sudsy water. Rinse in clear water. Dip in a weak sugar and water solution, and press under a piece of cheesecloth.
To Iron Lace: Press heavy laces on wrong side over a heavy pad. Iron lace pieces from the inside toward the outside edge.
Silk Handkerchiefs: Use lukewarm water and borax instead of soap. Wrap in a cloth to dry and use a warm NOT hot, iron.
MORE CLEANING TIPS Cork Mats: To remove stains squeeze the juice of one lemon on the stain and leave it for two to three hours. Then wash the mat with hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry.
Removing Grease Spots on Walls: Rub a little cornstarch over the stain. Brush off with a soft dry cloth. Repeat if necessary.
Ink Spots on Varnished Wood: Use equal parts of vinegar and linseed oil that has been mixed well. Use a soft cloth and rub well. Polish as normal.
Mattress Stains: Place the mattress on two jacks in the sun and cover the stain with a thick paste made of starch and cold water. After an hour or more, scrape off and repeat if necessary.
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When washing dark clothing, if you put a half cup of vinegar into the rinse water, lint will not stick to them. |
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I think if you got blood stains on your clothes, you got more problems than just laundry. Go see a doctor! Wade |
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