How can you remove oil from clothes? How to remove oil from clothes - combating fresh and old stains

Oil stains appear more often than others and the removal problem is quite common. It is not necessary to immediately throw things away, since there are many ways to solve the current situation and below we will present different methods on how to remove oil from clothes. The main thing to remember is that fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones.

First aid with folk remedies

Clothes can be treated using a variety of methods, and today many stain removers and other products are sold. Often the cost of such substances is high, but not a new T-shirt or jeans. At home, you can use simple products that can remove dirt from oil very quickly and the cost of such cleaning will be a pittance.

Salt

Before removing an oil stain in the washing machine, you need to sprinkle it with regular kitchen salt and leave for 10 minutes. As a result, when washed, such contamination can be easily removed from any fabric.

Detergent

Every person has dishwashing detergents at home and they can also remove oil residues on clothes. Everyone knows that such products can remove fat, so you can use this for things as well. Detergents are applied in small quantities directly to the defect and left for 5-10 minutes. Then wash the item as usual. After washing, things should remain as new, without a single trace.

Dry mustard

You can remove defects from fabric using mustard powder and water. These ingredients are mixed to form a mushy mass. Next, the gruel is applied to the material in those places where it is required. When the mustard is completely dry, shake it off and put everything in the wash.

Bleach

Before using bleaches, you need to know whether such substances can be applied to a specific item. For example, any bleach can remove not only fat and defects from jeans, but also color.

Bleach is ideal for white items or those that have light colors. Apply the chemical to the dirt and then put it in the wash. If the dirt is old, several repetitions of this procedure may be required.

Turpentine

In such a case, turpentine, or rather a composition based on it, with the addition of laundry soap and ammonia, has proven itself to be excellent. To prepare an effective remedy, you need to grate the soap, add turpentine and dissolve it, after which 2 drops of ammonia are added. A greasy oil stain can be removed by treating it with the resulting mixture and leaving for a quarter of an hour.

At the end of the procedure, rinse everything under water and put it in the wash. If the dirt does not disappear the first time, then you need to repeat the procedure or use other methods.

Starch

Starch should be poured onto the dirt in large quantities and run over the area with an iron until the defect goes away.

Chalk

Chalk can remove petroleum jelly and other types, as long as they are fresh. Use on fabrics made of cotton, linen, silk and chiffon. It is recommended to process light-colored items and apply on jeans.

The chalk is crushed into powder and poured onto the desired area. After a couple of hours, it is removed with a wet sponge and washed.

Talc

Talc can be applied to a greasy oil stain while it is fresh. To do this, you need to sprinkle talc on the mark and put a piece of paper on top. The part is ironed and left for 4-5 hours. In this case, you will be able to wash things.

Old stains

It is not always possible to immediately remove marks on jeans and other things, and sometimes people do not notice the dirt. But don’t be upset, because there are techniques that remove old oil stains, the main thing is to know what it’s from.

Sunflower

For those who do not know how to remove vegetable oil stains from clothes, it is important to note that this is a simple and proven method. As soon as dirt is noticed, you need to sprinkle a little salt on it and give time for the fats to be absorbed into it. After this, washing things will be much easier.

Among other techniques, you can use folk recipes:

1. Salt can replace bread pulp; you need to roll it up and try to collect all the fat. Then, using dishwashing detergent or powder, soap.
2. Sprinkle starch onto the defect and its edges, then run an iron over it. If the mark is large, then replace the starch and repeat the procedure 2-3 times. Only then will you be able to remove the grease stain from things in the machine.
3. Gasoline and acetone can help quickly. To do this, the fat is wetted in a circle with water. Gasoline is applied to the cotton wool and the surface is treated, a sheet is placed and ironed. After washing, the marks will disappear.

Knowing what you can use to wash clothes, you can save them and use them in the future, rather than throwing them in the trash.

Olive

1. Ammonia and turpentine. It is possible to clean the materials if the main components are connected to each other. The prepared solution should be applied to the stain and left for a few minutes. After this, wash the fabric in the washing machine. The solution will be more effective if you add a little soap to it, preferably laundry soap.
2. Soda. This food additive perfectly absorbs odors and fat, so it is recommended to use it to remove greasy stains. It is applied to the damaged areas and after 20 minutes is removed with a wet sponge, then washed.
3. Acetone. Nail polish remover and other types of solvents will allow you to get rid of sunflower, olive, and coconut oil that has ingrained itself into the fabric. To do this, pour water onto the edges of the dirt and apply solvent to the area itself. Using an iron and a napkin, you need to iron the material, but the temperature of the ironing sole should be low.

After cleaning procedures, the item must be washed. To do this, you can use hand washing, which will allow you to thoroughly wash the mark and dirty area; it is recommended to use laundry soap. You can use machine wash, but add more powder than usual.

Sea buckthorn

The greasy stain from sea buckthorn oil is the most persistent and requires special attention, since it is not so easy to remove. A similar substance is strongly eaten into the fabric, after which yellow traces remain. It is very difficult to clean a thing from such a stain without prior preparation, so below we describe how to remove a sea buckthorn stain:

1. Potato starch. This powder allows you to remove only fresh marks on things. It should be poured liberally onto the trail and left for half an hour. After this, the starch is removed with a rag, and there should be no yellow blot. After removing the starch, you can add a couple of drops of dish soap and put the fabrics in the washing machine.
2. Vinegar. For an effective mixture, you need to combine equal proportions of water and vinegar, and soak your clothes in the prepared liquid. In a quarter of an hour the mark should go away, quickly wash everything.
3. Solvent "White spirit". It is used for old marks, but you need to remember that the dye may come off from the jeans, and the delicate material may be damaged. Apply using the classical method for a quarter of an hour.

If the means used fail to remove the yellow blot, then you need to use ammonia, but it can lighten a certain area, which means it is better to use it only for light-colored things. This product is suitable for those who do not know how to remove burdock oil. Peroxide is poured onto the defect and left for half an hour, after rinsing it is sent to the machine.

Machine

Clothes can be stained not only by vegetable or massage fats; jackets and jeans are often soiled by machine oil and other automotive lubricants. As a rule, the problem is typical for men and you need to understand how to save clothes.

In general, the cleansing techniques are almost the same as for vegetable oil that were presented above. Before using anything new for cleaning, it is important to try proven methods on a jacket or other items.

If proven techniques do not produce results, then other options are used:

1. Cleaning sprays. They are sold in stores and it is a special substance. Before use, you will need to carefully read the instructions and method of use, and also make sure that the jacket, jeans and other things can survive such a method.
2. Wash by hand. It is not recommended for machine oil to be used in washing machines to clean clothes. This is due to the fact that hand washing is much more intensive and will be more effective. Before washing, it is recommended to rub the area with soap and then soak the item in water. Next, you can rinse the clothes and wash them, paying special attention to the dirty mark.

Knowing all the possible methods, you can easily remove any lubricant from your favorite clothes, be it vegetable oil, vegetable oil, butter or lamp oil. Any of the procedures is quite simple and will not take much time or money.

Solvents

To clean things, you can use various types of solvents that will have a positive effect.

Petrol

When using gasoline, it is recommended to be outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. To remove dirt, you need to prevent the appearance of fire nearby, this will protect against fire. Traces of fat should be soaked in gasoline and treated with plain water around them. Next, paper is placed and a hot iron is passed through several times. After this, you need to wash the item well in soapy water.

Ammonia

Any greasy dirt from things can be removed with ammonia. It is often used for delicate fabrics and synthetics. There are several time-tested methods for removing old fat:

1. You need to add 1 tsp to 250 ml of heated water. ammonia. Soak a cotton swab in this solution and wipe off the fat in the right places. Next, a cotton cloth is placed and the cleaned area is ironed. Using a similar method, you can prepare a solution based on 100 ml of water, 1 tsp. ammonia and washing powder.
2. In the second case, turpentine and ammonia are combined in equal parts, the solution is applied to the dirt, and after a couple of hours the fabric will need to be washed.
3. Ammonia, water and glycerin help well. Such ingredients are combined in equal parts, and the resulting solution is applied to the fatty tissue. Washing is possible in an hour. Glycerin itself will also help if it is applied clean, without additives, but washing should be done after half an hour.

Ammonia will help you cope with any contamination, but you need to do everything carefully so as not to damage things.

Acetone

Acetone perfectly removes not only paints and varnishes, but also grease. To do this, you will need to use it in the same way as gasoline. The dirt is moistened with water in a circle, wiped with acetone and washed off.

To make the entire process of cleaning and further washing as easy as possible, it is recommended to use some tips:

1. Dried and old fat deposits will require more time to remove than fresh ones. It is recommended to clean items immediately when dirt gets into them.
2. Initially, it is better to wash by hand, and then use the machine method.
3. Fat should be removed with smooth, careful movements so as not to rub it into the fabric. Otherwise, the result may be even worse, because the defect will become larger and absorb more strongly.
4. If the fabric is thick, for example, denim, or a jacket is being cleaned, then you will need to wipe off marks on both sides of the material.
5. If things are very expensive, then it is recommended not to conduct experiments, but to leave it in the reliable hands of specialists.

If it is impossible to wash items using the methods described, you will need to use dry cleaning services.

Since ancient times, people have constantly dealt with edible oil - they can cook food with it and, of course, eat it. Any carelessness can lead to the appearance of greasy stains on clothes that stand out well and are difficult to wash off. In this article, we will tell you several effective ways to remove oil stains.

Before removing oil stains, try a few tricks:

• Remove excess fat with a damp cloth - subsequently, the oil will be easier to remove using the methods below;
• Level the dirty item and place it on a hard, smooth surface - this will make it easier to work with;
• Place a folded piece of fabric under your clothing to ensure full access to the stain.

Look at photos of oil stains before and after using various products to choose the best solution for yourself;

Removing greasy stains with salt

How can you remove an oil stain immediately after it occurs? Use regular table salt, which can be found in every home and catering establishment:

• Sprinkle salt liberally onto stains;
• Rub the salt into the stain with a piece of cloth;
• After a few minutes, shake the clothes;

Perform these operations several times to achieve visible results.

Removing greasy stains with chalk

Chalk powder is great for removing oil stains from light-colored, delicate fabrics (such as silk, linen or cotton). Also, instead of chalk, talc or dental powder is suitable.

We offer several instructions describing how to remove oil stains using chalk:

• Crush the chalk to a powder;
• Pour it onto the blot and spread it over it in an even layer;
• Rub chalk onto the dirt;
• After a few hours, get rid of the powder with a toothbrush and warm water;

Second option:

• Sprinkle chalk, talcum powder or tooth powder onto the oil mark;
• Place a paper napkin or “blotter” on top;
• Iron the item with a slightly heated iron;
• Put the item away overnight by placing something heavy on top of the napkin;
• In the morning, get rid of the powder and wash the item as usual.

Removing greasy stains with laundry soap

In almost every home you can find a bar of brown laundry soap - a universal remedy for solving various household problems.

This simple remedy can also help get rid of oil on your clothes:

• Wet the dirty item in warm water;
• Thoroughly rub the dirty area with soap;
• After 12 hours, wash the item as usual.

Express method:

• Wet the stained area with warm water;
• Wipe the stain with laundry soap;
• Sprinkle a small amount of sugar on top;
• Scrub your clothes with a toothbrush;
• After 15 minutes, wash the item in warm water;

Removing greasy stains with dishwashing detergent

This product is best suited for removing oil stains from outerwear (windbreaker, coat, down jacket). Description of the method:

• Wet the stained area with warm water;
• Pour dishwashing gel onto it;
• Leave the item for a quarter of an hour;
• Rub the blot with a brush, wash the clothes in the standard way.

Removing grease stains with an iron

You can remove oil stains without using various products that require subsequent washing. To do this you will need an iron and several pieces of paper napkins.

Instructions:

• Place pieces of paper on both sides of the stain: top and bottom;
• Now you should iron the item with an iron;
• If grease stains appear on the paper, replace it with a new one;
• Repeat the manipulations until the stain disappears;

Other methods for removing grease stains

Life experience brings a person a lot of knowledge and skills. This is how alternative ways to remove oil stains from clothes and various surfaces were invented.

Let's list some of them:

Apply shaving foam to the stain and within 10 minutes you can start washing your dirty clothes.

Regular baking soda can help solve this problem: pour a generous amount of this product onto the moistened blot, after half an hour, rub the mark with a brush. Repeat these steps if the area is heavily soiled. Once lumps appear, pour a few drops of dishwashing detergent on top. After these procedures, wash your clothes in a washing machine.

Sprinkle baby powder on the dirty area and place paper napkins on either side of the stain. Iron the stained area. Change the paper and leave the product overnight with a weight on top.

A small greasy spot can be removed with toothpaste - rub it and leave until a crust forms. Remove the crust with a toothbrush.

What to do with old grease stains?

To remove old oil stains from fabric, use one of these effective methods:

Gasoline solvent “Galosh”. Wet cotton wool with this product and rub it onto the stain. Rinse thoroughly and wash the item several times. Turpentine is used in the same way.

Ammonia. Pour a teaspoon of this substance into a glass of water, soak a cotton swab in it and wipe the old mark with it. Iron the dirty area with a piece of cotton cloth underneath.

Mix ammonia and turpentine in equal quantities and apply to clothing using a cotton swab. After a few hours you can start washing.

Starch. Pour onto the blot and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse clothes in cold water and wash as usual.

Mustard powder. Mix with water, make a paste and apply to the dirt for half an hour. Wash in warm water.

Now you know several ways to remove oil stains. These working and simple methods are designed to help in any situation in which greasy marks may appear on clothing.

Photo of oil stains

Professional motorists, mechanics or motorcycle enthusiasts often face the problem of machine oil stains. Some people don’t care, but many don’t want to throw things away and start looking for a way to wash off machine oil.

There are two options for solving the problem at home - regular washing with addition or folk recipes. Both have their advantages.

It is possible to wash off machine oil manually or using. In both cases, the stains are initially soaked in various products, and only then washed off.

1. Mustard powder. To remove a fresh or old stain, you can use mustard, namely, sprinkle the stained area with powder. Then you need to take a brush, soap, warm water and alternately apply mustard and soap, while rubbing them with a brush.
2. Toothpaste. If you suddenly find a stain on your clothes, you don’t need to specifically find creative ways to remove machine oil; just use toothpaste. To do this, apply it to the stains and leave until completely dry. As soon as it dries, you need to brush off the residue and wash the item in the washing machine.
3. Kerosene. This product can easily remove dirt from motor oil and other oil stains. This doesn't require any complicated steps. You just need to apply kerosene to the soiled areas of clothing and leave for 10 minutes. Then remove the remaining product using a thick paper napkin and wash the item in the washing machine.

If you have any stain remover on hand, you won’t have to look for other means than washing off machine oil. It is enough to simply rub the stained areas with it, and then wash the clothes by hand or in an automatic machine.

Methods for removing machine oil stains from denim

Probably, in most cases, an oil stain is found on jeans. And this is not strange, because clothes made from this material are the most comfortable for work and leisure.

There are several effective ways to remove jeans.

• Washing powder and solvent. This is a simple, effective, effortless method. To remove oil stains from jeans, you need to treat it with a solvent. Then apply washing powder to the stained area and scrub thoroughly with a brush (10 minutes should be enough). After this, wash the item in hot water (if the jeans do not fade).
• Ammonia and turpentine. You need to mix the two components in equal proportions and apply the mixture to the soiled areas of clothing. Within a few minutes, you can rub the oil stain, then wash the item with warm water.
• Nail polish remover. This affordable product is found in almost every woman’s closet and helps not only remove nail polish, but also remove complex stains on jeans. To do this, you need to apply the product to a sponge, then blot the stained area, and then wash the item with warm water.

Before you start removing machine oil stains from jeans, you need to study the information on the label regarding the washing temperature and the possibility of using detergents.

Delicate fabrics can be damaged when washed with any type of stain. Luckily, there are several ways to help treat oil stains at home.

1. Talc, cornstarch, baby powder. To remove them, you need to sprinkle them with one of these substances (at your discretion) and leave the thing in this form overnight in a warm place. In the morning, brush the powder off the fabric and wash the items with warm water. When exposed to temperature, the powder will adsorb the oil from the fabric and the stain will disappear.
2. Chalk. An affordable natural dye that helps remove oily stains from delicate clothing, jackets, and jeans. To do this, you need to grind the chalk into powder and apply it to the stains, leave for a couple of minutes, then shake the remaining substance from the fabric. White chalk marks can be removed by regular washing with detergent.
3. Synthetic stain removers. If in the old days people looked for all sorts of folk remedies to remove stains from clothes, now they don’t have to do this, but use synthetic detergents. Washing powders and stain removers of different composition, price and purpose will remove stains from white and colored fabrics and even remove difficult stains on jeans. You can find out how to do this correctly by reading the information on the packaging.

In order to remove fresh and old dirt from clothes, you can use folk and modern remedies. But successful combinations of the first and second will deal with stains best (and faster).

What not to do about machine oil stains

In addition to effective and efficient recipes, there are also peculiar “contraindications” for oily stains.

1. The faster the better. To remove complex stains from clothes, you need to act quickly. The longer machine oil sits on the fabric, the more difficult it will be to remove.
2. Expiration dates. To remove oil stains from clothes, many technical substances are used: turpentine, gasoline, solvents. If their expiration dates are in order, then everything will go with a bang, but if not, then the trousers or jacket may be damaged.
3. Hot water. In cases where machine oil stains something made from natural fabric, jeans or undyed synthetics, you don’t have to worry too much. But if the fabric is thin, colored or decorated with decorative elements (beads, embroidery, rhinestones), then you should be careful.

When removing machine oil stains from casual and formal clothing, you must take into account all the rules and requirements. Even if a jacket, sheepskin coat or white trousers are dirty, this is not a reason to throw them away. Using the usual means, they will again become clean and fragrant, as on the first day after purchase.

Mother of two children. I have been running a house for more than 7 years - this is my main job. I like to experiment, I constantly try different means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, more fulfilling. I love my family.

Grease marks often appear during cooking or working with machine parts.

You won’t be able to get rid of it right away, as it is well absorbed into the fibers.

Regular washing will also not cope with this type of contamination. Therefore, you need to know how to remove oil stains from clothes.

Preparatory activities

Before removing vegetable oil stains from things, you need to take some preparatory measures:

1. We soak up any remaining fat with a napkin.
2. Using a small brush, we carry out dry cleaning. This will help remove excess dust and dirt from your clothes.
3. Lay out the product on the table so that the greasy mark is on top.
4. Place a white cotton cloth folded in several layers under the contaminated area.
5. Before treating the stain, apply a small amount of the selected product to an inconspicuous area of ​​the item. This will allow you to check the reaction of the tissue.

When cleaning dirt, it is necessary to move from the edges of the stain to the central part, this will prevent the dirt from becoming even larger. It is better to process the product from the wrong side.

Methods for removing fresh stains

If a stain from sunflower or machine oil has appeared recently, it can be removed using non-aggressive means.

Fresh stains are removed with products based on salt, laundry soap, dishwashing gel, using a hot iron, talcum powder or baby powder.

How to remove oil stains from clothes using salt? This technique is considered universal, because it allows you to eliminate various types of contaminants.

The application scheme is as follows:

1. Salt is poured onto oil stains.
2. Using a small scrap or soft brush, rub it into the fibers of the fabric.
3. As soon as the salt absorbs the oil residues, the item must be shaken out.
4. We repeat the procedure several times.

There is another method for removing dirt. Three liters of hot water are poured into a basin. 100 grams of salt are dissolved in it and mixed thoroughly. Dip dirty clothes into the resulting liquid for half an hour.

To ensure that there are no traces of salt left, you should wash the item in a machine with the addition of powder. It is better to dry the product outdoors in the shade.

Soap

How to remove oil stains from clothes? Many people use laundry soap in their household. It helps to cope not only with ordinary, but also greasy stains.

To remove stains from fabric, soak the product in water at a temperature of 36-37 degrees. Rub the dirty item with laundry soap and leave it overnight.

You can use another cleansing method. Wet the trace of fat with water and treat it with soap. Sprinkle a little sugar and rub in with a soft brush. Leave for 15 minutes. Then we wash it.

There is also a third processing method. Apply the crumb from a fresh loaf of bread to the fatty mark. It absorbs oil well. Prepare a soap solution and soak the item in it for one hour.

Powder

How to remove an oil stain? Powdered substances that have an adsorbing effect can cope with contamination. This includes tooth powder, crushed chalk, talc, and baby powder.

They need to be applied to the stain and rubbed in lightly. As soon as the powder rolls up, shake it out and repeat the procedure again. Remove any remaining product and wash the product in warm water.

This technique is suitable for thin and delicate fabrics: chiffon, silk, viscose, as well as light-colored items.

Dishwashing liquid

This method is intended for outerwear: jackets, down jackets, raincoats. The product should have a thick consistency and not have a bright color. Pemolux or Fary with lemon is best.

We get rid of pollution at home according to the following scheme:

1. Wet the soiled fabric in warm water.
2. Pour gel onto the fat mark. Rub in lightly.
3. Leave in this state for 10-15 minutes.
4. After the time has passed, wash the item with powder.

Dishwashing gel will help remove dirt from jeans. Only the processing of the product will be slightly different. Jeans are also soaked in water, treated with detergent, and then poured with boiling water.

Iron

If you don’t know how to remove oil stains from clothes, then use an iron.

Place a napkin or paper towel on the greasy mark and under it. Then the fabric is ironed with a hot iron. As soon as the dirt transfers to the paper, replace it with a clean napkin and continue processing until the remaining grease is completely removed.

Removing old stains

It is much more difficult to remove an old oil stain from clothes at home, but folk methods can help here too.

Mustard

How to remove oil stains from clothes? Mustard removes old dirt.

To carry out the procedure, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Mustard powder must be mixed until it becomes a paste.
2. Apply the finished product to the greasy mark for half an hour.
3. To completely remove stains, wash the item with liquid gel.

Another way:

1. Pour dry mustard powder onto the remaining fat and leave for five minutes.
2. Shake out the product.
3. We wet the remaining mark and rub it with laundry soap.
4. Wash with powder.

Mustard should not be used on white or light-colored items, otherwise the fabric may turn yellowish.

Petrol

How to get rid of an oil stain? Some housewives remove greasy stains from fabrics using gasoline.

In hardware stores, purified gasoline is available for sale, which is used not for refueling a car, but for diluting paint and varnish products and treating surfaces.

This method is best used as a last resort, as it can lead to discoloration of the fibers and their damage.

To get rid of oil stains on clothes, you need to soak cotton wool in gasoline and then wipe off the grease stain. If there is no gasoline, then it can be replaced with turpentine.

After treatment, the item should be washed either by hand or separately from other items.

Starch

How to remove old oil stains? In ancient times, stains were washed off using starch.

The procedure is based on the following activities:

1. Sprinkle starch onto the fat residue.
2. Leave for 10-15 minutes.
3. Shake off the powder.
4. Clean stains in cool water.
5. Then we wash as usual.

If starch remains in the fibers, the product may become rough.

Ammonia

How to remove traces of vegetable oil? Ammonia is suitable for treating synthetic and delicate fabrics.

There are three effective recipes:

1. Dissolve one spoon of ammonia in a mug of warm water. We soak cotton wool in the resulting liquid and wipe away the dirt. Place a thin cloth on the spot and iron it with an iron. You can prepare another solution, which contains not only water and ammonia, but also washing powder.
2. We combine turpentine and ammonia in equal proportions. Apply the resulting solution to the mark using a cotton pad. Wash after two to three hours.
3. Mix glycerin, ammonia and water in equal proportions. We saturate the greasy spot with the product and wash it off after half an hour. Glycerin can also be used in its pure form. It is enough to rub the mark with it and wash the product after half an hour.

It is necessary to select the means for processing things very carefully.

Other processing methods

There are other processing methods:

1. A cotton pad is soaked in alcohol and the stain is wiped. After an hour, the item should be washed.
2. Wet the product. Rub the area of ​​contamination with soap called Antipyatin. Wash in the washing machine after two hours.
3. If you don’t know how to remove a stain, you can make a product from one spoon of alcohol, three spoons of water, and a spoon of salt. The resulting solution is applied to the spot. Wash after 10-15 minutes.

How else to clean the product from oil contaminants? Some housewives solve the problem with the help of a stain remover, which is sold in any store. But it must be selected based on the type of material. To ensure that the stain remover effectively removes grease, follow the instructions on the back.

Whatever method of treating greasy stains is chosen, it is necessary to take into account the composition of the product, the type of contamination and the time spent on the fabric.

It is better to eliminate greasy marks immediately after they appear. But if the spot was noticed late, then harsher means can be used.

Remove as much oil as possible from the item. As soon as oil spills, use paper towels to blot up as much oil as possible from your clothing. Do not rub the fabric as this may cause the stain to increase in size.

Check the item's care label. Before you begin removing a stain, read the information on the label sewn into the item. If the item is dry clean only, take it to the dry cleaner as soon as possible. Otherwise, check whether the item can be washed in a washing machine or only by hand, and whether it is allowed to be hung dry or only laid flat. Pay attention to the wash temperature requirements and adjust your stain removal steps accordingly.

• For example, if the label says cold wash only, use cold water rather than hot water for all subsequent steps.