Want to know what to use to get stains out of clothes, without relying on mod cons? These old-fashioned household stain removers might surprise you!
Luckily we no longer have to rely on mangles and good old-fashioned elbow grease to keep our clothes spotless, but there are a number of tried and tested remedies that we’d do well to remember.
Read on to find out how to remove stains from clothes and what to use to get stains out of clothes the way your wise old elders did.
Get Rid of Grease Stains
A tricky stain now and in the past, follow the steps in our handy article on grease stains for the modern method or try this old fashioned remedy:
- Blot as much of the stain as you can with a paper towel
- Cover the remaining stain with a few drops of Skip Anti-Ageing* Liquid Detergent
- Leave for 15-20 minutes
- Carefully remove the remaining liquid with a spoon
If the stain is still on the fabric, create a paste with the Skip Anti-Ageing* Liquid Detergent and water and gently scrub with a clean toothbrush.
How to Remove Grass Stains
What you use to remove stains from clothes doesn’t always need to involve mod cons – grass stains were a problem for parents long before fancy remedies existed! Try this method next time your kids come back inside with grassy marks on their clothes:
- Soak the fabric in cold water – never hot, this will make the stain worse.
- Apply rubbing alcohol (available in most pharmacies) gently with a sponge. Check the garment’s care label first as rubbing alcohol can damage some fabrics, like snythetics.
- Rinse well
If the stain persists and is on white fabric, use a toothbrush to gently scrub the stain with a small spoonful of Skip Anti-Ageing Liquid Detergent for white garments.
Fail-Safe Ink Stain Removal
Like any stain, it’s best to treat an ink stain as soon as possible. If you need to know what removes stains from clothes caused by leaking pens, then these steps are for you:
- Pour salt onto wet ink stains. For dried ink stains, skip to Step 4
- Leave for 20 minutes
- Brush off the salt
- Make a paste of cream of tartare and lemon juice, and apply to the stain
- Leave for 3-4 hours
- Wash the garment with Skip Anti-Aging Liquid Detergent
Remember: the choice of what to use to remove stains from clothes varies as the best technique for one stain can make another stain worse. In this case, don’t be tempted to scrub the stain with water (especially hot water), as this can spread the stain and cause more damage. Our article on how to get rid of ink stains can offer more guidance.
*Five benefits based on lab tests on select fabrics.
