Nothing spoils your mood more than when you get dressed up and realise that your shirt has a stain from the dinner you attended a few days ago. What’s even worse is when a brand new top your khala sent for you gets stained the very first time you wear it. Some stains are so stubborn, even dry cleaning doesn’t help. As compiled from the Men’s Health magazine, yankeemagazine.com and askmen.com, here are five common stains and pain-free ways to remove them.
For deodorant stains: Stains from deodorants should never be a reason to stop using them. Use tumble dryer sheets and wipe them on your shirt’s underarm area. You can also rub a little liquid detergent on the stain and leave it on for 10 minutes. Another viable solution is soaking the stain in white vinegar for 30 minutes and dipping the shirt in warm water using detergent.
Candle wax: Scrape off the excess wax with a round knife and then place the stained area between brown paper bags, pressing the area with an iron on low heat. If the fabric is not iron-friendly, hold the iron just above the paper, slowly moving it back and forth. This will do the trick.
Blood: Soak the cloth in cold water and liquid soap for an hour and then wash it. If the stain is fresh, soak the garment in cold water, but if it has already set, opt for warm water. Apply some unseasoned meat tenderiser, such as papaya paste, on the stain. Cover it with a paper towel, ensuring it stays damp. The following day, rinse off the paste with water combined with a little bit of ammonia. Wash normally.
Lipstick: Perhaps one of the most stubborn stains is that of lipstick. To remove the stain, apply a prewash stain remover and rinse the fabric in warm water. Make sure that you don’t rub the stain as that may make it harder to remove. After this, use liquid detergent and rinse the fabric in warm water again.
Grease: Sprinkle corn flour over the stain and soak it in water for 30 minutes. After that, rub it with soap and wash as normal. You can also place the stained portion between two paper towels and rub it with the iron on low heat. An easier trick is to rub baby powder on the stain and let it stay overnight.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2014.
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