Stains are an inevitable part of motherhood, and something we must unfortunately accept as our little ones often spill things in the heat of play time or having a snack. However, accepting them doesn’t necessarily mean they need to stick around forever! After all, taking your clothes to a professional cleaner may be practical once in a while, but most people would prefer not to have the stains appear at all.
To help you save money, and maintain your sanity, here are some of the best tips for getting even the most stubborn of stains out.
Coffee
Coffee spills can happen to the best of us. All it takes is one wrong move, while sipping your coffee and the next thing you know you’ve got a hideous brown stain on your favorite shirt. The good news is that coffee may seem impossible to get out, but it’s actually pretty simple if you know the right tricks.
Start by blotting the stain gently rather than rubbing. The idea is to absorb as much coffee as possible out of the garment before moving on to the next steps. Next, you want to create a solution with half vinegar half water.
Gently scrape the stain with a cloth and rub ever so slightly if necessary. Next, rinse out the stain with warm water, and in most cases the stain will disappear. However, if it’s still persisting, rinse off, and apply a laundry stain remover before putting it in the washing machine.
Grease
Grease is one of the most frustrating types of stains, particularly if it gets on a fabric like silk. However, grease can happen when we least expect it, whether we’re cooking or eating in a restaurant. The first step, just like coffee, is blotting off the grease as much as possible.
Dish soap should be applied which will soak up the grease when cut with a bit of water. Allow the dish soap to sit for a few minutes before rubbing slightly with a microfiber cloth. Rinse, and the grease should be gone. If not, repeat the same steps until it finally disappears.
Ink
Ink stains may seem impossible to get out, but in truth there’s a little secret you may not know about. In the event that you get a streak of ballpoint pen on a shirt, or even jeans, don’t even think about adding water. The first thing you should do is find hairspray and spray directly on the stain. Rub the stain against itself with the same garment, and watch the stain magically disappear!
Grass
Kids have this magical ability of finding a patch of grass and managing to stain their clothes in a few short minutes of outdoor play. Sadly, the lighter the fabric is, the more visible the grass stains are, and the more of a headache it is for parents.
Fear not. Add a little laundry soap to the grass stain, and rub with a toothbrush in a circular motion. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then throw the clothing in the washing machine on a regular cycle. Pull the clothing out of the washing machine before drying, and ensure that the stain has disappeared. If it hasn’t, repeat the same steps, until it finally goes away!
