How to identify stains

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Identifying a stain on your laundry can be a bit of a hunt. However here are a few clues to save the life of your clothing.

In order to find the stains in our clothing we need to understand what a stain is. A stain is some form of discoloration that will be different from the original material. This is an unintentional mark, which blemishes and ruins the material if not promptly removed.

Some materials are stain resistant, however the majority of clothing we wear are not stain resistant. So therefore, in order to maintain our clothing, and help it last for its natural life, finding these stains and removing them are necessary.

With each load of laundry you wash, there can be several stains hiding from you. So how do you find that stain, the one that is going to be a pain to get rid of if you do not find it before washing and drying the clothing?

Some steps can help with finding and removing stains.

  • When sorting your laundry, pay close attention at your clothing that could have stains.

For example: Children clothing, knees, bottoms, and shirts, collars, baby shirt fronts, diaper lines of pants, sleeves, hat linings, cuffs of shirts. Any area, which will have an extra chance or making contact with something that can stain

Sorting laundry is a time consuming process, however this is the main step to identifying stains in your laundry. For example, if it is on your child's knee, it is likely to be grass stains, or dirt.

Next, start by reading the labels on the clothing that is dirty. Next, match up the colors of the laundry that match the same washing instructions. Unfold, or unstuck any articles of clothing that have arms inside out, legs tucked in etc. This is so that you can get a clear view of each article as a whole. Check all pockets to make sure to be ride of any pens, lipsticks, candy, or any other items that can cause a stain. Finally, go through the areas on each clothing that will be more likely to have a stain.

Look at areas that appear to be darker than other parts of the material
Determine, or identify the stain by the proximity of it. For example, if it is near the collar, it is likely food. So, think about what your child ate. That should help you identify the stain.

  • Common stains include:
    • Chocolate

    • Blood

    • Wine

    • Dirt

    • Grass

    • Oil

    • Sauces

    • Meat

    • Paint

    • Cosmetics

    • Fruits and juices

    • Sweat

    • Soda
  • Next, define the material you are working with.
    • Cotton

    • Silk

    • Leather

    • Wool

    • Other various

    • Dry cleaning

Once you have identified the stain and the fabric, there are many cleaners available to use in order to remove the stain. Here is a list of several you can try.

For the enzyme presoak products, you can try Biz or Axion.
There are pre wash stain removers like Shout, or Spray and Wash

Some detergents that can be used are All, Cheer, Era, Tide, Wisk, Woolite, Tide and many others. There are detergents that have stain lifters in them, or color safe bleach that will also help removing stains.

There are also bleaching products available to help remove these stains. You can try Hydrogen peroxide. It is likely the most inexpensive way to remove stains.
You can use regular bleach or powder bleach.
There are also liquid color safe bleaches that you can use.

Take your time when you wash you are looking for stains. However, time consuming it may be, clothing is expensive and a stain can be removed before washing and drying. On the other hand, a stain that is not treated, after a wash an dry will likely be the death of the clothing.

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