Knowing the best way to deal with specific stains may not always work, but it gives you the opportunity to save your favorite garment.
According to, a factor that can determine the success or failure of your efforts to Stir spots It is water temperature that uses.
“A stain is a chemical reaction between the stain agent and the fibers and finishes of a fabric,” he writes Judy Price e Ann Lemley.
Each reaction is different, so different methods are needed to reverse them. “There is no single product capable of removing all stains“.
The first thing you need to do before dealing with any stain is to find out what all those symbols in the care label of your piece of clothing.
Some fabrics do not tolerate lixiviafor example, what will limit your resources to remove stains, so you need to understand what you are working on. Also, if your piece is only for dry cleaning, it is better to leave it for professionals.
After deciphering all this, you need to identify your stain. Its composition will be the great Determining factor for whether to use hot or cold water.
“Cold water is better for most spots“, These Daniel Felicianoco-founder and CEO of the Clotheslyne laundry service provider. “Common stains, such as protein and food and beverage stains, require cold water to be washed.”
This category It also includes blood stains. O American Cleaning Institute He points out that the use of hot water can actually cause fresh blood stains to be embedded in the fabric, making removal much more difficult, so cold water is definitely the best option in this case.
As grass spots are also better treated with cold water, according to Martha Stewart.
In one that analyzed the best washing cycles to remove blemishes in different tissues, 80% of blood spots and ketchup They were removed from tissues that passed a cycle of machines only 20ºC.
The exception to the cold water rule, according to Feliciano, is the oily or greasy spots, which includes things like coffee and makeup. THE warm water It can be useful for helping to break down substances so that they can be washed.
Of course, water alone may not be enough for difficult stains. The 2017 study found that spots oil -based were the harder to removeregardless of washing conditions.
Price and Lemley also list stains such as acid cleaning products, certain vegetable fertilizers and bleach among those who will probably not be able to remove.
Youtube channel dry cleaning professionals have more tips for cleaning all types of stains. For fatty spots, such as butter, they recommend pretreat with detergent before washing.
The most important, they say, is Do not dry the clothes on the machine Until you are sure the stain left – it is better to let it dry first to check for a second cycle in the machine.
Similarly, for something like lipstickACI recommends rubbing the stain with isopropyl alcohol or use a pre-gathering detergent before washing normally.
For virtually all blemishes, it will be more successful if you act quickly. Immediately drying the area with cold water can greatly help save your shirt, so Don’t let the spots set.
Teresa Oliveira Campos, Zap //
