TIPS FROM THE LAUNDRESS

Pretreating stains will help us remove them from your clothes. Here are some tips for pretreating along with some other miscellaneous helpful hints. Just remember that a stain is more likely to be removed if treated while it is still fresh, so we need your help!

Oil Stains: Use cornstarch to help absorb oil stains. Sprinkle the stain with cornstarch, wait 10 to 15 minutes and scrape off.

Candle wax: Gently scrape off as much of the hardened wax as possible. If it's a colored candle, sponge the stain with a stain remover spray. Place the stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron to melt and transfer the wax to the paper towels. Rotate or replace the paper towels as they absorb the wax. Repeat until no more wax is released. Rub a little liquid laundry detergent into the stain and wash in warm or hot water, adding chlorine or oxygen bleach, whichever is safe for the fabric. You can also spray the area with the stain remover and let it sit until you are ready for your clothes to be picked up.

Gum: Put the article of clothing in the freezer or put ice on the area to harden the gum. Scrape off using a butter knife after about 10-15 minutes. Apply stain remover and launder.

Coffee: If you’re anything like The Laundress, you simply cannot do without your coffee! I've dabbed at many coffee stains in my busy life! Just dab a little water on the stain and let it go, for now. If your fabric tends to water spot, like silk, just leave the coffee stain alone. Later, for fabrics that can safely be cleaned with water, sponge the stain with a clean cloth dipped in a solution of 1 tablespoon plain hand dishwashing liquid mixed into 2 cups cool water. Blot with a dry cloth and repeat until the stain disappears. Rinse and blot dry. If the chair fabric can't be cleaned with water or if milk was in the coffee, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent until the stain disappears and blot dry.

Red wine: If it is a delicate fabric, soak the spot with denatured alcohol. Flush with white vinegar to remove the stain. On sturdy fabrics, coat the stain with salt and let it stand for five minutes. Stretch stained area over a bowl; secure with a rubber band. Place in sink; carefully pour boiling water over stain from a height of at least a foot.

Butter: Salt can help absorb the grease while it's still fresh and keep it from soaking further into the fabric. Artificial sweetener also does the trick. The next day, pretreat the stain with your usual laundry spot remover or rub a little liquid detergent into the stain and launder it in the hottest water that's safe for the fabric.

*Remember to remove pens, money, receipts and any valuables from pockets of clothes before putting them in your hamper or tote. However, if you do miss something, it will be put in a Ziploc or envelope and returned to you with your laundry.

Resources: marthastewart.com & goodhousekeeping.com