It’s happened to all of us: You’re enjoying a nice meal or glass of wine away from home when the food or wine suddenly gets on your shirt. Even if you have good friends or family around, you still want to get rid of the stain as quickly as possible.
I’ve been washing clothes for decades and I’ve discovered time-tested stain removal tips. Here are some quick tips for removing stains without washing.
My Best On-The-Go Method for Removing Shirt Stains
This method works well on all types of washable fabrics. (These steps also saved a friend’s white shirt on a red wine vineyard tour.)
- Take immediate action. The sooner you treat the stain, the more likely you are to make it disappear.
- Remove stains from solids and wipe. If the stain is caused by a solid (fish or chicken) or semi-solid such as ketchup or cream sauce, use a spoon or the edge of a credit card to remove the blob from the fabric. do not rub. Once most of the stain-forming substance is removed, blot the area with a dry, white napkin or paper towel. As the stain is transferred, keep moving to a clean part of the napkin.
- Wipe away liquid stains. Wipe away coffee or wine spills immediately with a white paper towel or napkin. As the liquid transfers, keep moving to the dry area of the napkin.
- Dilute the stain with water. Once you’ve removed most of the stain, dip a clean white napkin or paper towel in cool water (club soda or seltzer works well) and dab the stained area. Pat and blot, then repeat. This step dilutes the stain molecules remaining in the fabric.
- let it air dryOnce the stain is gone, sit back, enjoy your meal, and let the clothes air dry.
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tip
This method will not completely remove oily stains, especially from dark clothes. However, wiping with a dry napkin or a piece of white bread will help absorb most of the oil and make it less visible. treat oily stains later at home.
ask for wet wipes
On a recent trip with my son, the flight attendant spilled red wine on his shirt while pouring a glass for another passenger. I didn’t even need to intervene as she immediately picked up the wet mop and went to work. a disposable wipe It contains water, alcohol and other ingredients that effectively clean hands but are also effective in reducing and removing stains.
After wiping the stain with a dry handkerchief, place another handkerchief under the stained area. Gently wipe and rub the cloth with a disposable wipe. Keep moving to a clean area as the stain is gone, or use another wipe until the stain is gone. Wipe the area with a dry napkin and let it air dry.
use toilet hand soap
Follow the same steps as Lift and Blot and then head to the restroom. Add a drop of hand soap to a wet paper towel or napkin and gently wipe the stain. Prevent the stain from getting bigger by placing a dry towel or handkerchief under it. When the stain is gone, wipe the cloth with a dry towel. Then let your shirt air dry or if the wet spot is larger, remove the shirt and place it under a hand dryer.
This hand soap recipe extracts meat juice and oily stains caused by butter or salad dressing.
Additional Tips for Removing Shirt Stains Quickly
- keep one stain remover pen or wipe On hand if you know you spill food all the time. Follow the directions on the label and treat the stain as soon as possible.
- Always use cold water to treat fresh stains. Hot water can set some stains and make them almost impossible to remove.
- If the label says “dry clean only,” remove any solid stains from the fabric with a blunt knife, blot the stain with a dry white paper towel, and move on to the fabric. professional cleaner,
