Removing tough Household Stains

Removing tough household stains

In today’s world the economy is tight. Every penny you spend you have to count and any way to save those extra pennies is a great help! Society is focussed on materialism today and everyone always wants to have the best; and to show it off!

But accidents happen. If you drop some food on your sofa set; or some wine on your carpet what are you going to do?

Are you going to keep a cupboard stocked with cleaning items just in the off chance something will happen? Are you going to spend your money on new possessions? Maybe you will just try your best to clean the stains off with water and hope nobody will notice?

I am going to explore some tips and tricks into how you can easy get rid of those common sneaky stains! I hope this article will help if you get into a crisis!

Food & Drink Stains

1. Beer can leave a dark stain and a lingering horrible smell. To remove from carpets use a carpet shampoo or a stain removal product. From clothes run a hot wash using a biological detergent. For Upholstery use a solution of water and vinegar to dab at the stain. Mix the solution with one part vinegar to five parts water.

2. Black current juice is a very popular stain for parents to deal with! For carpets dab up with kitchen paper then use a stain remover. Shampoo the carpet. For fabrics firstly rinse in cold water; then soak in a fabric cleaning solution. Do a hot wash afterwards to remove the stain. Use water on Upholstery; if it doesn’t work use a solution of Hydrogen Peroxide.

3. Chewing Gum is easiest to remove when at a different temperature. First try freezing it, then scraping of as much as you can. If it doesn’t work heat it up using a hairdryer then try to peel it away.

4. Chocolate should be scraped off with a knife to start with. For Carpets shampoo after scraping, and for fabric use a soda solution followed by a hot wash. For upholstery use a stain remover after scraping off.

5. Coffee is an accident that happens all the time! From Carpets use cold water to sponge away and shampoo if needed. For fabric, soak in water then soak in a fabric cleaning solution. Do a hot wash. If you have to you can resort to using a water and vinegar solution to clean it. (One part Vinegar, Two parts water). For Upholster sponge off with cold water and then detergent.

6. Curry Stains are something you have to tackle quickly! The longer you leave them, the tougher they get to clean. For carpets use a stain removal treatment then use a shampoo on the carpet. For Fabrics rub in a detergent then wash as usual. You can use a hydrogen Peroxide solution if required. For Upholstery try with the Hydrogen Peroxide Solution.

7. Fizzy Drinks should be soaked up and then dabbed down with water. If you need to use shampoo on the carpets or upholstery, if its fabric just pop it in the wash.

8. Fruit Stains can be removed by pouring boiling water over them. Leave to soak then rub in.

9. Grease, Fat & Oils are notoriously tough to clean. For carpets place a kitchen tissue over the stain and run a cold iron onto the tissue to bring up the grease. Then Shampoo. For fabric rub fabric cleaner and water into the stain before washing. Do this repeatedly until the stain vanishes. For Upholstery place Talcum powder and White Spirit on the spill. Hoover and clean up after. Eventually it will go.

10. Liquor can be soaked in a solution of cold water and dish washing liquid. Rinse and wash after.

11. Milk is easy to clean with cold water! Just make sure you get rid of as much as you can with water before using any other methods (i.e. washing or carpet cleaners).

12. Mustard can be firstly scraped off. Whatever is left can be dabbed with a mixture of three parts dish washing liquid and one part denatured alcohol. Rub in and then wash out with hot water.

13. Red Wine has many myths of cleaning including salt and White Wine. Forget them all. Start by cleaning as much as you can with a sponge / tissue. Then wet a tissue with fizzy water and rub. Use a sponge with soapy water to clean further. On a carpet you can eventually use a shampoo.

14. Soda Stains can be scrubbed out with a mixture of hot water and dishwater detergent. (Four parts water, one part dishwater detergent.)

15. Tea seems simple enough to clean with water but that’s only the first step. For carpets use shampoo after; fabrics should get a biological wash and upholstery should be dabbed with a mixture of biological detergent and water.

16. Tomato Ketchup can be scraped off carpets then blotted with a mixture of glycerine and water. Wash again with baking soda before shampooing. For fabric pre soak the clothes before running a wash. For upholstery dab with cold water, but don’t let the fabric very wet as the stain will sink in!

Bodily Stains

1. Animal Droppings should first be allowed to dry off. Then sponge with a water and vinegar solution. (Five parts water, one part vinegar).

2. Blood should be dabbed with cold water from any material first. Never use hot water or warm water. You can always add some water with a little washing up liquid so soak the fabric in if it doesn’t clear with plain water. If the fabric is white use some hydrogen peroxide as well. For carpets and upholstery using flour or talcum powder mixed with water can make a great cleaning paste.

3. Sweat won’t go with water. Run a dry clean if possible, If not mix a solution of water and clear vinegar and dab. If this doesn’t work after washing leave it to soak in the sun; but make sure you place the item on green grass!

4. Urine can be sponged with cold water and blot dried. Always spray a disinfectant then shampoo or wash.

5. Vomit should be all scraped up and removed first. Use bicarbonate of soda to soak in and then vacuum. Finally use a mixture of water and washing up liquid; or machine wash.

Other Stains

1. Acrylic Paint can often be loosened by hair spray. After applying you should be able to pick of the dried paint easily. Wash with shampoo or in the washing machine after.

2. Ball Point Pens can often snap and leave an awful mess! Use Hydrogen Peroxide (one part to six parts water) then wash or shampoo! If you don’t have any Hydrogen Peroxide to hand try to wash out with some milk. It should pick up a large amount.

3. Candle wax should be frozen then chipped off. Whatever is left, cover with a tissue paper and iron over the top with a cool iron. Any marks left can be dabbed with white spirit.

4. Crayon should be wiped down with water; then use white spirit.

5. Dark Oils can be rubbed out using a light oil such as Baby oil.

6. Felt Tip Pen should be soaked up with kitchen towel; then a fabric wash or a carpet shampoo should help.

7. Glue should be sponged with warm soapy water to dissolve the glue; but if that doesn’t work don’t be afraid to freeze it (with ice cubes if you can’t pop it in the freezer) and then scrape away!

8. Hair Dye on carpets and upholstery warrants a professional’s help. For Fabrics, soak them is washing soda then use a normal biological wash.

9. Lipstick can be cleaned with a knife to start. Use a little soap or washing up liquid to clean.

10. Nail varnish can be cleaned of carpets with shampoo. On fabrics use Nail varnish remover from the other side of the fabric.

11. Oil Based Paints should be dabbed at with white spirit before washing in warm water. A normal wash should be fine after.

12. Pollen can be hovered up! Nice and simple.

13. Rust can be bought home on shoes very easily. To remove from carpets apply a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda and leave to absorb for a few hours then shampoo. From clothes mix a paste of lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda, leave to absorb then wash away.

14. Scorch Marks should be trimmed away with scissors and may need to be brushed away. Try to wash after and use stain removers but these are difficult to remove.