Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Stubborn Stains-how do you do it?



I am wondering what works for you wonderful (and lovely I might add) readers in terms of getting out stubborn stains? I am really looking for something that works with greasy stains, and you get bonus points if it works even after you've washed and dried the garment! Thanks in advance for any tips!

Visit Rocks in My Dryer if you want to answer more stumpers like this one!!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Charlie's Soap gets stains out really well! It's a detergent not a soap and if you can't find it in your area it ships free from the manufacturer with no minimum order. Of course if you've already washed and dried the garment the only thing I can think of is the next time it's washed to let it dry in the sun - do that a few times and it should at least fade the stain.

Jenni said...

Every time I get grease stains on clothes around here (which is almost every wash), I don't notice it until it's dried, because the stain is the same color as wet fabric. I take the freshly dried garment, put Spray N Wash on the stain, and leave it to be re-washed next time I run a load. I've never had this not work.

Good luck!

Sonshine said...

For those greasy stains that I find on washed and dried clothes. I keep a small bottle of Dawn or Palmolive..it gets grease off of dishes and it gets grease off clothes. I put some on the stain let it sit til the next load of wash of the same color of the treated item. Wash as normal. :)

Anonymous said...

Soak in oxy clean for three or four days. I also use spray and wash dual action stain remover. Dish soap gets out grease stains, even after they have been dried many times.

Mom2fur said...

My mother, who is 85, has always sworn by 'brown soap.' It's a bar you find in the detergent aisle. Rub it on the stain, wash, and the stain is usually gone. Me...I've discovered Oxyclean spray. I squirt it on a stain...even a set in stain...and let it sit for a few days. (I've never tried to kind you mix in water. This comes in a spray bottle.) It usually does the trick!
Oh, and I keep either the Oxy or Spray and wash in the laundry room as well as my bathroom. I'm notorious for spilling things on myself so I just spray the stains as soon as I take the shirt off!

Kim said...

This is going to sound so weird - but oil will get an oily stain out. New oil reactivates the old stain.

SO what you do - pour a small amount of oil (veg will do) on the stain - let sit for about 3 mins then treat with spray & wash, or shout, or some other pretreater. make sure to completely cover the oil - let that sit a few mins - then wash. The oil will soften the old stain so that the soap can remove it.

If you get a new oil stain - put pretreater on right away before it sets.

I have saved literally dozens of t-shirts this way. Those that I had in the "too stained to wear out" pile.

Give it a shot!

SAHMmy Says said...

I use Biz for every type of stain--baby poop, coffee, red wine, ketchup, grass, oil--hasn't failed me yet! The key is patience. Fill a bucket with hot water and mix in a full scoop of Biz until dissolved. Plunge item into bucket--make sure the affected area is underwater!--and leave overnight. Check in the morning--if the stain is still there, soak for another full day. Change the water and Biz after day two so it doesn't get musty-smelling. By day three even the worst stains should be gone. If you have several items, use your bathtub or washing machine--but it's hard to tie those up from other use for days at a stretch.

D said...

Just a while ago I asked this question too, and the one I don't see mentioned yet here for you is baking soda and peroxide. She sprinkle soda on, then peroxide, and soak... use a toothbrush if you want. It worked pretty good on some outfits that Melia wore once or twice, and I was desperately wanting to not throw them away.

Wifey said...

Spray and wash always works for me. I also use this recipe for a cleaner sometimes.

1 cup Cascade Dishwashing detergent
1 cup Chlorox 2 (color safe bleach) OR Borax (Twenty Mule Team is one brand)
5 gallons of water
Mix together in large bucket and soak garment overnight. Wash as usual the next day. It made fade bright colors, though.

CC said...

I'll have to try some of these. It wasn't bad enough that my kids drew all over the WALLS last week. But they stained their clothes (nice ones too!) in the process. And yes, I've already washed and dried them before I discovered how bad the stains were. :(

LunaMoonbeam said...

I used to use this on washed and dried baby-poop stains. Hit the stain with a stain stick, then soak it in a solution of OxyClean (about half a scoop) and water (a wastebasket full, about 3-4 gallons?) Soak it for up to a week, or whenever you'll do wash again. It usually gets the stains out! When you do the wash, just dump the whole bucket into the wash, add your soap and other clothes, and go!

Rachael said...

Thank you for all the ideas everyone! Keep em' comin (if there are more!)

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Dishwashing liquid works well. It is made to break up grease.

Anonymous said...

Oxy is far and away the best stain remover I've ever found. Think baby poop that has exploded up a back and dried on. Gets that out. I use the powdered kind.

kgregory said...

gramieK likes the liquid dishsoap and hot water. Will try some of these other ideas! All the young mommies need to be careful about leaving tubs or buckets of water around!!
(I need help with cat 'accidents' in carpet =odors.) Thanks.