Susan M. Morgan, CFCS, M.Ed.
County Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Education
Bolivia, NC 28422
For the past week, I’ve answered countless questions about removing stains that occurred over the Fourth of July Holiday. Since an estimated 7 billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it’s no surprise that mustard, ketchup, and chili stains on tablecloths, and clothing resulted. Soap and Detergent officials give advice on how to remove these stains and many others.
Mustard stains can be quite difficult to remove, so do it immediately! Treat the item with a pretreatment such as pre-wash stain removers. Then, launder the item using an oxygen bleach (such as Clorox 2) or a chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric. Ketchup is what kids prefer on their hot dogs, so that’s what you’ll usually find on the children’s clothing or around where the children sat. To get rid of ketchup stains, flush the stain with cold water, then pretreat with liquid laundry detergent or a pre-wash stain remover. Launder using bleach that’s safe for the fabric.
With the summer come fresh fruits and these pose special stain problems. Strawberries have wound down, but now we’ll have two of my favorite fruits—blueberries and peaches. When fruit stains strike, scrape off the fruit residue, run fabric under cold water (run the water through from the reverse side—that means you are forcing the stain out the way it came into the fabric). Launder, using the warmest water possible and bleach that is safe for the fabric.
Dairy foods—like old fashioned home made ice cream, or perhaps one from your favorite ice cream shop can cause stains as well. When they leave their mark, pre-treat by soaking the stain with a pre-wash product, soak for at least 30 minutes or several hours if the stain has been in for a while. Finally, launder with the warmest water that’s safe for the fabric.
Remember to check that the entire stain is out of the table cloth, fabric napkin or clothing article before you pop it into the clothes dryer. Heat from the dryer can “set” the stain, making it virtually impossible to remove.
There are a myriad of other stains and most come with their own special problems—but treated immediately, most can be removed. There are a few—dried latex paint, for example, that will take a creative patch or appliqué to cover up—it’s never going to come out! And most people don’t want to hear me say, “the best way to remove it is with a pair of scissors”. Latex paint, when wet, is actually one of the easiest stains to remove.
For other problem stains, contact the Brunswick Cooperative Extension office and we’ll give you the advise of the experts—NCSU Specialists, and the Soap and Detergent Association—resources used for this article. You can also access the HomeCare manuals on the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s website. This works sort of like a search engine, giving you the opportunity to look for the specific stain and get a print-out of the directions for removal.
The information presented is for educational purposes only. References to trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
Susan Morgan is Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Education for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Brunswick County. For more information or questions, contact Susan at 253-2610 or P. O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422.
Please e-mail Susan Morgan
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Date Created 7/15/2005