How to save your clothing from stains. I remember being in my teens and being extremely upset that my mother wouldn’t let me get white jeans. I really, really wanted a pair, but to no avail. She put her foot down. The reason? They would get dirty and she simply didn’t want to deal with it.
My mother was a neat freak, she was the woman who ironed all of our dish rags and would wake me up early in the morning to help clean.
While I may not be as concerned with making sure everything is as perfect I certainly did pick up her habits when it came to my clothing. For one, I change the minute I get home and never sit around in the clothing I wear out. I’m also very careful about treating stains as soon as they happen. Once the stain dries it is much harder to lift it off the fabric.

I believe that you should treat your clothing like you do your skin. You wouldn’t put just anything on your face without testing it out, right? Why would you do that with fabrics? The key is to treat your nice pieces with respect.

HOW TO SAVE YOUR CLOTHING FROM STAINS

SWEAT
I’ve worked in the fitness industry for almost more years than I can count so I’m very familiar with those awful yellow armpit stains. I used to have to throw out my favourite workout clothes until I discovered that dissolving 4 tablespoons of salt with 1 liter (quart) of hot water gets rid of them beautifully. Using a sponge lightly scrub your top until the stains comes out. You can also try crushing two aspirins and mixing them with ½ cup of warm water. Then just soak your outfit for a few hours.

WINE
First, don’t panic, there is hope of saving your outfit. Place a cloth under the stain and run it under cold water. If it doesn’t lift, take about 2 ounces of vinegar and 2 ounces of dish detergent. Then, using a Q-tip or a cloth, start gently dabbing (no rubbing) at the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes before throwing your outfit into the wash on the delicate cycle or washing it by hand.

INK
If the stain is from a water-based ink (most pens) then a simple detergent might do the trick. If, however, the stain is from something like a permanent marker, apply a bit of rubbing alcohol, hairspray or glycerin to the stain and then start dabbing away at it with a cloth. Remember, don’t rub the stain. Just be patient and dab.

LIPSTICK/MAKEUP
While unsightly, lipstick is fairly easy to remove from your clothing. Grab some hairspray and apply onto the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes or so and then gently wipe it off with a damp cloth. You can also try using rubbing alcohol or a mild detergent. Then let the fabric air dry.

As a general rule, don’t forget to always spot check your nice pieces. Think of your clothing like you would your skin. For instance, before trying a new product, it’s important to do a spot test to ensure that you aren’t going to have a reaction. With fabric it’s no different. Find am inconspicuous seam on the inside of your clothing and test any and every cleaning solution there first!

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