First,
READ THE WONDERFULSTAIN
PAGE
(SHOP
THE DOLLAR STORE for
these products, especially SPRAY 'N WASH STICK. THE ONLY famous brand I
ever tell you to use. It's amazing stuff. Take your savings, put them in
99c Store Stock at 12$ a share now. ON NYSE as NDN, that’s their stock
initials)
HOW TO REMOVE PILLS FROM winter fine wool SWEATERS
and
a thousand other household complaints that will save you money!
GROOMING, PERSONAL CARE AND STYLE tips
PRE-DRY
CLEANING TIPS http://www.ehow.com/list_1060.html
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~
LAUNDRY,
DYING TIPS & MORE ON LAUNDRY-type-PILLING!
http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/tips/laundry.shtml
Stains
There’s
nothing worse than having to say goodbye to a much-loved garment, rug or
sentimental item because it has ruined by an accidental spill. Readers
of The Australian Women’s Weekly have for years been sharing their hints
on removing stubborn spots. Some of these stains are PECULIARLY AUSSIE….Ok?
Bird
droppings
Allow
to dry before scraping off excess. Soak washable articles in biological
detergent or sponge with a weak vinegar and water solution before washing.
Non-washable articles: Sponge with weak ammonia and water solution, then
white vinegar, then cold water. Dry thoroughly and quickly.
Blood
Sponge
fresh blood stains quickly with a mixture of one tablespoon of salt in
two cups of cold water, then with an ammonia solution. Wash in cooler water
than usual. Old stains should be soaked in a hydrogen peroxide or ammonia
solution (one part to eight parts of water), then wash in detergent with
a few drops of ammonia added.Carpet: For carpet or mattress, apply a thick
paste of raw starch and water, allow to dry, then brush off.
Butter
Scrape
closely, then place absorbent paper over and under stain and iron with
a warm iron. For washable items, rub powdered detergent welt in, then rinse.
Try white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid if the stain is still there, then
wash in water as hot as the fabric will stand. Non-washable items: Try
ironing through paper, then dab with dry-cleaning fluid. Blot as dry as
possible.
Candle
wax
Scrape
off as much as possible, then put the article in the freezer for an hour
or two. Otherwise, use a few ice cubes in a plastic bag to harden the wax.
Then place fabric between sheets of absorbent paper or between several
tissues with stronger paper on top, and iron with warm iron. Remove any
fragments with methylated spirits or dry-cleaning fluid. Carpet: Place
absorbent paper over the mark, iron on a cool setting.
Make
a bucket of detergent water to which you add ammonia and vinegar. Get a
big square bristle brush. Dip, scuz rub the carpet so foam appears on top
surface.Swipe with clean, dry rag. Do again,Swipe again. Takes a pile of
rags. If you want to do the entire house, you put all the children, husband,
friends, neighborhood kids to work with their own square brush and pile
of rags. Do the whole house in an hour.
Chewing
gum
Rub
with ice cubes or put in freezer to harden, then scrape off as much as
you can. Dab remainder with fluid, white spirit or methylated spirits.
Non-washable items: Blot dry as quickly as possible.
Chocolate
Scrape
off solids with a blunt knife. For washable articles, use boiling water
poured from a height (taking care not to splash yourself or apply biological
detergent with enzymes to the back of the stain, mopping as you sponge.
Rinse. Use aerosol grease solvent to remove any residue. Wash as usual.
Cocoa
Soak
washables in a solution of 30g borax to one litre of warm water, then wash
as usual. Non-washables: Sponge first with grease solvent then the borax
solution. Carpet: Sponge with borax solution (one tablespoon to one cup
warm water).
Cola
On
carpet, mop up excess immediately from outside to centre of spill.Lightly
sponge remaining stain with eucalyptus wool wash in lukewarm water.
Cordial
(AUSSIES LOVE THEIR FRUIT CORDIALS! It’s BOOZE AND FRUIT, ok?)
Mop
us excess then sponge with one tablespoon of dishwasher powder dissolved
in four cups of warm water. Non-washables: Mop up excess, sponge with cold
water and blot as dry as possible.
Correction
fluid
Most
of these have their own thinners, which will remove the stain but, if not
available, try dabbing with a cloth dampened with turpentine. Sponge with
warm water and detergent to remove the stain remover before washing as
usual.
Non-washable
items: First check that colour doesn’t run, treat as above, then sponge
with cold water and blot dry.
Cosmetics
Remove
solids. If washable, apply liquid detergent, then rinse.Repeat if needed.
Any stain remaining can be soaked in an ammonia solution before garment
is washed.
Non-washable
articles: Sponge with white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid until make-up
colour disappears. Commercial spot-removing kits are available for upholstery.
Cream/ice
cream
Scrape
or sponge off as much as you can. Rinse washable articles in cold water,
then soak in biological detergent or borax solution (one tablespoon to
one cap water). When dry, use dry-cleaning fluid on residue. Wash.
Non-washable
articles: Dab with dry-cleaning fluid, then methylated spirits.
Carpet:
Sponge with one teaspoon detergent and one teaspoon white vinegar in one
litre (qt) warm water.
Deodorant
Soak
stain with white vinegar, then rinse and wash as usual.
Non-washable
articles: Carefully sponge with warm water and liquid
detergent
Egg
yolk
Soak
washable items in cold water and biological detergent, then wash as usual.
Use a grease solvent to remove any remaining stain.Non-washable items:
Expert care is required so find a dry-cleaner without delay.
Fat
Remove
anything solid, then spray washable articles with biological detergent.
Use grease solvent on what’s left before washing in the usual way.
Non-washable
articles: Dab with grease solvent, then liquid detergent and sponge oil
with cold water, repeating as often as necessary.
Fruit,
fruit juice, berries
Sponge
or soak fresh stains at once in cold salted water, soda water or milk.
If article is washable, treat it with detergent, rubbing it into the stain
with your fingers; or treat with borax solution, vinegar or an ammonia
solution (one part to five parts water). Cover wet stain with salt and
wash at high temperature, if possible.Non-washables: Sponge with cold water
when dry, use upholstery spotting kit or dry-cleaning fluid. Carpet: Sponge
with warm water, then treat as for chocolate.
THE MIRACLE MAKER SPRAY N" WASH STICK! I AM personally astonished
at this product's FABULOUS ABILITY. THERE is no stain worse than pomegrante.
I juice this fruit by halves as if theywere ORANGES. Finished, added sugar,
threw it in fridge. Look at my cotton weave bathrobe, it's as if I had
three bullet holes in my thighs. I didn't rinse. I just threw on the SPRAY'N
WASH stick on both sides of fabric. It's a stick like a 8" lipstick. Threw
it right in wash. No bleach just cheap detergent and not much of that.
NOT ONE TRACE OF STAIN!
Furniture
polish on carpet
Dab
with dry-cleaning fluid, lighter fuel or turpentine, then sponge with a
solution of one teaspoon of detergent, one teaspoon of white vinegar and
one litre of warm water.
Gentian
Violet or Mercurochrome
On
clothing or carpet, cover stain with calamine lotion. Allow to dry, then
brush off. Dab with cloth dipped in methylated spirits.For carpet that’s
heavily stained, make a paste of methylated spirits and borax and rub into
fibre. Cover slain and let dry before vacuuming. Repeat as necessary.
Grass
Dampen
stain on washable items, then rub with methylated spirits or glycerine.
Leave an hour, then wash as usual.Non-washable items: Sponge with methylated
spirits or liquid detergent, followed by cold water. For stains that have
browned, sponge with one teaspoon wool wash in one cup warm water. Rinse
after sponging.
Gravy
Scrape
off, then sponge with cold water. if washable, soak in a pre-wash solution,
then wash with biological detergent.
Non-washable
articles: Sponge with cold water, then treat with whitespirit or dry-cleaning
fluid. Sprinkle with talcum powder; wipe and re-apply Carpet: Treat the
same as for chocolate stains.
Scrape
off what you can, then put absorbent paper under and over grease mark and
press with a warm iron (change paper as often as needed). Sponge with white
spirit or dry-cleaning fluid and, if washable, rinse then wash as usual.
Non-washable
items: Try as above without washing.Carpet: Sprinkle with talcum powder,
cover with paper towel and hold a hot iron over the paper. Press only lightly
and repeat if necessary.
Hair
dye
Once
it’s dry it will often not come out, so act quickly. Rinse washable
articles in cold water and rub with liquid detergent. Sponge with methylated
spirits or ammonia if necessary. Rinse, wash as usual.
Non-washable
articles: Dab with hydrogen peroxide, methylated spirits or ammonia and
sponge with cold water.
Iodine
For
washable articles, cover stain with damp English mustard and leave for
24 hours before washing as usual.Non- washable articles: Sponge with alcohol
or methylated spirits.
Jam
Soak
or sponge garments in a solution of 30g borax to two cups warm water, then
wash as usual.
Non-washables:
Sponge, stain with warm water containing ammonia or borax or use dry-cleaning
fluid.
Meat
juices
As
with blood, they’re harder to move when dry, so rinse or sponge with cold
water quickly. Soak washable items in biological detergent, working the
powder into the stain. If it’s still visible, use white spirit or dry-cleaning
fluid, rinse, then wash in lukewarm water.Non-washables: Use a dry-cleaning
solvent.
Metal
polish
Scrape
off what you can. If washable, rinse in cold water, rub with liquid detergent
or try methylated spirits. Rinse again, then wash.Non-washable items: Dab
with white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid.
Mildew
Unless
the fabric is drip-dry or permanent-press, soak in diluted bleach, then
wash as usual. Or spread spots with lemon juice, cover with salt and leave
in the sun. Keep moist till spots are gone, then rinse and wash as usual.
For dark clothes that have been hanging in a cupboard, sponge with hot
water and a dash of Dettol. Iron kill mould spores and dry well before
rehanging.
Milk
Rinse
washables in cold water. Then soak in lukewarm water with detergent and
a dash of ammonia. If needed, follow up with dry-cleaning fluid, rinse,
then wash as usual.Non-washables: Sponge with a grease solvent, then with
lukewarm water and blot dry.
Mud
Let
it dry and brush off what you can. Soak in hot water with plenty of good
detergent, then rub by hand in the bucket to release as much dirt as possible
before putting the article in the washing machine.Non-washable articles:
Sponge the dried mud with detergent and water solution, then use dry-cleaning
fluid.
Mulberries
Rub
a mulberry stain with a green mulberry, then sponge, or wash as usual.
Nail
polish
Wipe
up spill and dab with acetone or amyl acetate; don’t use oily polish remover.
Sponge out any colour left with methylated spirit.Rinse, wash as usual.
Never
decant Leave any household poisons in their original containers. Never
store dangerous liquids in empty food or drink containers.
Paint
Always
easier tackled while still wet, it’s a good idea to note from the can the
name of the thinner for the paint you are using in case of a major spill.
Water-based paint should wash out well in cold water but, if it has dried,
use methylated spirits or paintbrush cleaner. For oil-based paint, sponge
with warm detergent and water, then soak stained area in white spirit and
scrub gently with an old toothbrush. It takes a while and you will need
to repeat the process, but it will come out in the end. Alternatively,
soak paint-stained garment overnight in warm water with one tablespoon
of vinegar, two tablespoons of ammonia and one teaspoon of salt. Rinse
in cold water and hang to dry.
Perfume
Act
immediately on spilt perfume. Rub in a little glycerine, leave for several
hours, then wash in warm soapy water and rinse.Non-washables: Sponge with
warm water and borax.
Perspiration
Soak
for 30 minutes in warm white vinegar, rinse well and wash as usual; or
dissolve three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a bucket of cold water,
soak for an hour, then wash in the usual way.On a silk dress or shirt,
make a paste of fuller’s earth and water and spread over the stain. Brush
off when dry. For a woollen garment , sponge with a weak mixture of bicarbonate
of soda and warm water. If the underarm area is yellow, sponge with hydrogen
peroxide and keep it damp for half an hour. If it’s oily, dab with dry-cleaning
fluid.
Pet
stains See Urine/Vomit.
Sauces
, Cream
Scorch
marks are difficult to get rid of. Careful rubbing with fine sandpaper
or steel wool with a little peroxide may help fade the mark. For washable
articles sponge or soak in ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or borax solution.
On silk or wool, cover scorch with a mix of equal quantities borax and
glycerine, leave for one hour, then carefully hand wash.
Non-washable
articles: Sponge lightly with glycerine solution, then sponge with warm
water. Repeat.
Shoe
polish
Scrape
off what you can. Dab with white spirit or grease solvent, while holding
an absorbent pad underneath to stop stain spreading.Whites can be bleached.
After treatment, rinse and wash as usual.Carpet: Sponge carpet or chair
covers with a mix of three parts wool wash and four parts warm water. Use
a rough cloth like towelling, then sponge with cold water. If necessary,
first treat with white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid.
Soft
drinks See Fruit, Fruit Juice and Berries.
Tar
Scrape
off deposit. For washables, apply white spirit or eucalyptus oil. Rinse,
wash as usual. Sponge tar off pets’ paws with eucalyptus oil on a soft
cloth, followed by warm soapy water. Non-washable articles: Dab with white
spirit or eucalyptus oil - or see a drycleaner.
Tomato
juice See fruit, fruit juice and berries.
Urine
Fresh
stains on washable articles can be rinsed in cold, salty water, then washed.
Soak dried stains in biological detergent and use hydrogen peroxide and
ammonia solution if necessary. Non-washable articles: Sponge fresh stain
with cold water, then white vinegar solution. For dried stains, you may
need a drycleaner.
Vomit
Remove
excess. Run washable article under cold tap, soak in biological detergent,
rinse, then wash as usual.Non-washable articles: Sponge with cold water.
Then sponge with mix of two and a half cups warm water and one tablespoon
of borax. A wipe with eucalyptus oil helps cover odour.
Yellowing
Articles
that have been stored for some time and yellowed can be corrected with
a mild bleach solution. For something that can’t be bleached, soak 12 hours
in one dessertspoon of cream of tartar to four litres of hot water. Rinse,
wash as usual. Failing that, dye the whole thing in apot of fresh tea.
Zinc
cream
Remove deposit. Dab with neat wool wash on a cloth wrung out in hot water.
Repeat as necessary, using a fresh part of the cloth for each application.
çBACK
TO THE CLEAN HOME
PAGE