It’s getting to be that time of year again: the weather is getting cooler, the stores are starting to sell more jackets and long-sleeved shirts, and you can’t turn on the TV without seeing a back-to-school ad.
As students grudgingly get ready to head back to school, parents feel pressure as the first day of school draws near. School supplies need to be purchased, schedules need to be rearranged, and clothes and uniforms must be spick and span. Set-in summer stains can make this last task more difficult, but these tricks should help get those stains out and keep your kids looking fresh.
- Did your kids go a little overboard with the gum? You can easily remove gum from fabric by sticking the article of clothing in the freezer for at least an hour. The gum will harden and you will easily be able to scrape it off with a spoon.
- Did arts and crafts time get crazy? Ink and markers can be removed from fabric with rubbing alcohol; blot the stain gently and the stain should come out.
- Are your kids just plain dirty at the end of the day? Mix a solution of one part vinegar to one part water to pretreat stains. This works better on lighter stains and isn’t recommended for darker stains such as ground in dirt, grass, or red stains such as ketchup, juice, or berries.
- Do you have tougher, set-in stains? Mix a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to one part water and use on darker stains such as juice, blood, ketchup, etc. Be careful when using this solution as it can bleach clothing; try to use it on only colorfast clothing and test it on the article of clothing before using it extensively.
These natural stain removal methods will have your kids looking spiffy for the whole school year! They may not be looking forward to returning to class, but at least their clothes will be nice and clean.
What are your tried and true methods for removing stains?
-Sam