Common Stains and How to Remove Them – Part 2

By L. Paul Cline 

Selecting the right solvent requires you to know two things:

1) what will dissolve the stain and 2) what is safe to use on the cloth you’re working with.

What Each Fabric Requires

Using the wrong product and can end up damaging your cloth.   Most clothes are made from fairly sturdy materials, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Always check the label. It’s your best guide in most cases. If it doesn’t provide any instructions, go by fabric type:

Cotton: can endure soaking, drying, and heat (though you want to avoid the latter for most stains — warm water is fine, but dry heat will set the stain). It’s easy to bleach white cotton, but it’s very hard on fabric, so use bleaches as the last resort, and be sure to dilute them. The best stain treatments for cotton are detergents and light acids (lemon juice, vinegar, etc.).

Wool: is much more heat-sensitive than cotton, and needs to be treated gently. You can soak it, but you have to lay it flat as it dries to prevent distortion. Use only wool-safe detergents and lukewarm (not hot) water — bleaches and acidic treatments will damage the wool permanently. Treat with water or a wool detergent as soon as possible, and then get the garment to the dry cleaner at the first opportunity.

Synthetics: vary depending on the material. Rayon and polyester can be washed and scrubbed more harshly than cotton, but will be destroyed by oxidizing bleaches like hydrogen peroxide. It’s usually best to clean them with a standard laundry detergent, or with dish soap for grease-heavy stains.

Silk: is exceedingly temperamental. You can treat stains on silk with water, but rather than letting the wet spot dry on its own, rinse the whole garment thoroughly — otherwise you will get water spotting. Glycerin stain remover is also effective and neutral. No matter what you’re using, test the stain remover on an inside patch of the cloth or an unobtrusive seam before applying it to the stain to make sure it doesn’t do anything damaging to the fabric

LesCline Clothiers

Les Paul Cline has spent the past 20 years helping men perfect their image, both inside and out. He has worked with hundreds of business executives to help them design their wardrobes in the privacy of their own home or office.

In January 2003 he started Les Cline Company, a bespoke clothier that offers custom made suits and shirts at an affordable price. Today, Les Cline has grown to help hundreds of men find greater confidence through a bespoke suit.

Lescline.com  [email protected]
1-855-712-7312
Greenville, SC 29615