Milford chronicle., 1961-07-07
How To Remove
Summer Stains


clothing IL you treat spots promptly
says Sussex County Home Demon
stratiOn Agent Frances Shoffner.
But before you touch the area,
it's wise TO know what effect the
spot removers will have on fabrics.
Even water. especially IL it's the
wrong temperature, can make mat
ters worse on some materials. Hot
water sets stains made by egg,
blood, meat juices and other sub
stances with a high protein con-
tent. Soapy water sets stains caus-
ed by tea, coffee and some fruit
juices. When in doubt about the eff
feet of cleaning agents, play safe
by testing on part that won't
show.
No matter what the spot or fab
ric, try simple removal methods
first. Save drastic measures for
extra-stubborn spots.
Use cleaning fluid with care. Use
il outdoors where ventilation is am
pie and where no flame can touch
off the vapors. When some clean
ing fluids are used in an enclosed
area, the fumes can be dangerous.
When you send your garments to
the dry cleaner; it's helpful to
mark spots and tell what the sub
stance is.
Miss Shoffner suggests these
ways TO remove some common sum
mer stains:
Fruit; To remove fresh p e a h.
pear. cherry and plum stains on
cotton or linen and any fruit stain
on wool or silk. first sponge the
stain well with cool water. Then
work glycerine or a soapless sham
poo into il. rubbing lightly. Don't
use soap, as il stains.) Let stand
for several hours, and then apply
a few drops of vinegar or oxalic
acid. Let stand for about two min
utes more; then rinse thoroughly.
Boiling water removes most fruit
stains except peach, pear, cherry
and plum from cotton and linen
fabrics. First stretch the stained
portion over a bowl, fastening il
with a string. Then pour boiling
water from a height of three or
four feet so that il will strike the
stain with force. Rubbing alternat-
ed with the boiling water also
helps. II the stain remains. squeeze
a little lemon juice on il, and place
the fabric i'm the sun to dry. A
chemical bleach could be used
Soft Drinks: If the fabric is
washable, sponge the stain wi h,
equal parts of denatured alcohol
and water. Then pour on glycerine
and rub. Let stand for 80 minutes
and rinse with water
Cream, Ice Cream. Milk; If the
material is washable and the stain
is not caused by a highly colored
fruit or chocolate, sponge with cold
or lukewarm water. Then wash in
warm, soapy water.
Sponge nonwashable materials
with carbon tetrachlOride. Dry. and
then sponge with cold water If
any stain remains. sponge again,
with cold water. Sprinkle pep
sin on the dampened stain and let
stand for 80 minutes. Brush off.
and rinse the spot well.
Mustard: For washable fabrics,
rub glycerine gently into the stain.
Wash in soapy water. For other
materials, sponge the stain with
alcohol. Since alcohol makes some
colors run. test a sample of fabric
first. On acetate, sponge with dilu-
ted alcohol-one cup of denatured
alcohol to two cups of water.
Salad Dressing; Sponge delicate
washable materials with lukewarm
water. Don't use hot water for egg
or cream dressings. Use soap if il
won't harm the fabric. Or sponge
the stain with lukewarm water. Let
dry. Then sponge with carbon tet-
rachloride or another grease SOL
vent.
Absorbent powders are especially
good for splatters of salad oil. Dust
cornstarch or talcum powder over
the spot. Let stand to absorb grease
or oil. then brush off. Or make a
thick paste by mixing the powder
with a grease solvent and spread
it on the spot. Let dry and brush
off. Repeat If necessary.
Tomato Juice and catsup; sponge
the stain thoroughly with cold wa
ter. Work glycernine into it and
let stand for 30 minutes. Wash
with soapy water. Remove remain
ing stains by sponging with hydro
gen peroxide or with sodium per-
borate solution (four tablespoons,
to one pint Of water). Sponge or
rinse with cold water.
Grass and Fresh Foliage; Laun-
der washable fabrics in hot, soapy
water, rubbing the stain well. Re-
move stubborn stains with a bleach.
After testing the fabric for possible
color change, sponge with clear
water and then with a solution of
one teaspoon of sodium perborate
to one pint of hydrogen peroxide
IL the stain remains sprinkle ii
with powdered sodium perborate
and let stand for 80 minutes. Rinse
well with clear water.
For materials that might be dam
aged by soap and water, sponge
stain with benzene or alchol. (Re-
member, test first for color change.
Don't use alcohol on acetate unless