How to Remove Stubborn Stains in Sydney [Cleaning Tips]

You’ve been clumsy with a bottle of ketchup and poof, there’s a big old stain on your T-shirt.

So how do you get stubborn stains out?

There are two basic methods for stain removal. They include interacting with the stain chemically or physically loosening the stain to remove it from a surface. Many hard-to-remove stains necessitate both chemical and physical treatment. 

This article will help you understand some of the ways that you can remove the most stubborn stains.

Understanding the Type of Stain in Sydney

Before getting into the process of stain removal, you need to identify the type of stain you are removing. 

Some examples of stains include oil, grease, a spilled food or beverage, blood, and bodily fluids, among many others. Once you identify the type of stain to be removed, it becomes easy to select the stain removal method. 

Selecting the Stain Removal Technique in Sydney

An important determinant in selecting the stain removal technique is the type of surface the stain has occurred on. Whether the stain is wet or dry is another key factor to consider.

If the stain is on a very delicate material, you cannot use techniques that are physical because it might end up damaging your fabric. 

It is also important to have a proper understanding of the different chemicals that can be used and how to optimize usage to ensure that they give the best results. For stains that require both physical and chemical techniques, you may also be required to learn the exact procedures and be precise in the measurements used. 

The Various Methods of Stain Removal in Sydney

1) Presoaking

Presoaking is a useful treatment for heavy stains on washable items. It’s important to sort the soiled items before soaking them, separating the lightly-colored items from the darks,  just like you would while regularly washing clothes. 

During the presoaking process, you may be required to incorporate chemical products as well. This may include adding bleach, laundry detergents, or an enzyme presoak product. 

This way, you can ensure that the hard-to-remove stains will easily come off during the actual washing process. It’s also important to keep in mind the do’s & don’ts for commercial cleaning laminate floors.

2) Use of Chemicals

Chemical stain removal techniques vary depending on the type of stained material. For example, acetic acid is mostly used for silk and wool items as they are delicate. 

On the other hand, acetone together with alcohol can be used to remove stains from natural fabric or synthetics. However, you need to ensure that the alcohol or acetone will not damage your dyed items. Thus, colourless chemical products would be the best choice here. 

3) Pretreating

Pretreating is a good method to remove small stains, especially from oily or greasy items. 

Pretreating requires that you apply the stain-removing agent directly to the stained area. A quick wash after pretreating the stain will help remove any remaining marks. 

Types of Stubborn Stains and How to Remove Them

1. Oil Stains

Oil stains are very easy to remove, however, you will still find people ignoring oil stains. This is because they leave only a slightly darkened area that is tough to notice and doesn’t draw much attention.

It is however imperative to remove oil stains as it tends to darken and become more visible when left untouched for a long time. 

There are several methods that you may use in oil stain removal. There are laundry detergents in the market with the express purpose of removing oil stains. You may also decide to use dishwashing soap as it helps do away with grease easily.

Salt is also another simple alternative. Simply pour some salt on the stain and leave it to absorb for 24 hours. Then apply some liquid soap on the stain and run a wash. Voila, it’s clean! This technique shouldn’t be used on sensitive fabrics though. 

A helpful pointer to keep in mind: Never ever rub water directly on an oil stain. 

2. Tea or Coffee Stains

Picture this…You’re at a restaurant and get up to use the washroom. Unexpectedly, you bump into a waiter carrying a piping cup of coffee. Ouch!

On most occasions, you may not have the time to soak and wash your garment immediately after a coffee or tea stain. However, there are several ways to a quick fix. One easy example that comes to mind is vinegar. 

In most restaurants and kitchens, you will find vinegar easily available. Begin by mixing one teaspoon of vinegar into a few cups of water and then spray the area of your garment with the coffee or tea stain. Then, gently blot the garment and you will see the stain slowly start to fade away. 

Baking soda is another ingredient to do away with coffee or tea stains. After wetting the tea or coffee-stained garment with warm water, you will be required to pour a teaspoon of baking soda on the stain. Then, rub it into the fabric, wait for some time, and rinse the stain. 

3. Blood Stains

If the stain is fresh, you should run the fabric under a stream of cold water fast. This will help get as much of the blood as possible out of the cloth before using other stain-removal techniques. 

However, if the blood stain has dried up, a liquid laundry or dishwashing detergent ensures that the stain is removed efficiently and effectively.

 4) Tomato Ketchup Stains

We began this article by examining the unfortunate scenario where you get a ketchup stain on your T-shirt. We’re here to tell you how to remove it. 

First, you’ll need to rinse the stained garment with a lot of cold water and pretreat it with a liquid laundry detergent. Then, wash the garment properly, following which, sponge the stained area using white vinegar.

You might be forced to repeat the pretreating, washing, and sponging process until you have removed as much of the stain as possible. 

Pretreat the garment again, this time using a prewash stain remover, and then launder the item. 

Our office cleaning services in Sydney know how to tackle all types of stubborn stains with ease.

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