Garment ALERT: The Valentines Day Aftermath STAINS!

Elaundry hopes you had a wonderful Valentines Day! However Valentine's Day may be all hearts and flowers on Feb 14th, but after the romantic gestures, roses, chocolate, wine, elaundry gift vouchers the list goes on and on. You may be left with some tough stains from your treats and treasures wine, chocolate, flower pollen and make-up. Here are some handy tips and tricks to avoid a stained Valentines day nightmare!

Chocolate

A moment on the lips does not have to be a lifetime on the blouse. Chocolate is a combination stain - of oil and dye. Begin to remove this stain by rubbing heavy-duty liquid detergent or a paste of powdered detergent and water into the stain. Try Murchison-Hume Luxury soak wash! Wash garment as usual with an all-fabric bleach and detergent. Check for stain before drying. If it is still present, repeat steps BEFORE drying.
If the garment is dry clean only, Bring it into Elaundry and point it out to our helpful staff! If you are using a home dry cleaning kit like the professional spotting kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

Red Wine

Attack this stain quickly and red wine will come out in a breeze!Check your washing care label! For washable garments, dilute the spot with club soda or cool water, sprinkle heavily with salt and flush again with water.

If the garment is dry clean only, Bring it into Elaundry and point it out to our helpful staff! If you are using a home dry cleaning kit like the professional spotting kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

Candle Wax

NOW don't freak out! Lets breath its only candle wax! If the wax has not hardened, place an ice cube on the stain to freeze the wax. You do not want to try to remove hot wax because, most likely, you will push the stain deeper into the fibers of the fabric. When the wax is hard, use a kitchen knife or your fingernail to gently pick it up off the fabric.
Now lets start by treating the oily/waxy component of the stain with a pre-treater like Cinderella Stain Remover! Great and smells amazing!!!Then rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent or a paste made of powdered detergent and water. Scrub stain lightly and rinse in hot water. Next, wash in the hottest water suitable for the fabric using detergent and an all-fabric bleach to remove the dye in the stain.

If the garment is dry clean only, Bring it into Elaundry and point it out to our helpful staff! If you are using a home dry cleaning kit like the professional spotting kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

Flower Pollen

To prevent yellow pollen stains, pinch off the stamen of the lily before arranging the flowers. It will save you a stain! First, NEVER rub the pollen with your hand or a cloth this will only rub the stain further into the fabric. Take the garment outside and shake off the excess pollen. Better yet use a piece of tape to pick up the pollen grains. The trick is to keep the pollen from penetrating the fibers, less pollen less stain!
For washable fabrics yes you will need to check your care label tag first, soak the garment in cold water for at least 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly; repeat these two steps until most of the stain has been removed. If the stain is still present, apply a spot stain remover to the area and wash the garment in the hottest recommended temperature for the fabric.Check the area again before drying the garment – if the stain remains, repeat the stain remover and wash treatment.

If the garment is dry clean only, Bring it into Elaundry and point it out to our helpful staff! If you are using a home dry cleaning kit like the professional spotting kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

 Makeup

To a women who isn't quite make up obsessed it is important to wear your favorites however sometimes they end up on clothing! One answer would be switch to a brand that doesn't rub off so easily. BUT why should you!! Learn how to remove make up stains!

Start by treating the oily/waxy component of the stain with a pre-treater like Cinderella Stain Remover, Resolve or any stain remover. Then rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent or a paste made of powdered detergent and water. Scrub stain lightly and rinse in hot water. Next, wash in the hottest water suitable for the fabric using detergent and an all-fabric bleach to remove the dye in the stain.

If the garment is dry clean only, Bring it into Elaundry and point it out to our helpful staff! If you are using a home dry cleaning kit like the professional spotting kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

I hope these few tips have saved spots and stains that threaten to ruin your special Valentines Day!