Wine spills, oil splatters, and a loose thread on your favourite sweater — we’ve been there, and there’s nothing more heart dropping than the sight of our favourite statement piece stained. But fear not, because we’ve got you covered.
Before you decide to throw a fit or throw your clothes out, try out these fashion tips and tricks for removing stains and reviving your precious fashion investments back to its stylish original state.
Remove wine stains:
Wine stains are the bane of any sophisticated dresser. One minute you’re indulging in a sumptuous wine and dine occasion and the next minute you’ve spilled wine over your silk shirt — we’ve all be there. The next time this happens, rush to request a club soda (soda water) and run it through the soaked area before it sets.
The salts and weakly acidic properties of the beverage breaks down any stains without decolourising the fabric, making for an instantly quick relief. Though getting home without a shirt might be a concern for the aftermath.
Remove oil stains:
Unlike wine stains, oil stains are much more tricky to remove and difficult to ignore. They are especially attracted to fabric and sets much quicker than water-based liquids. But whether it is cooking oil, butter, make up or motor grease, the solution is easier than you think.
Fill a basin with hot water and dish washing detergent (not laundry detergent) and leave the fabric to soak for at least 30 minutes. Then, rinse and wash with laundry detergent and voila — Good as new!
Also Read: 9 Tips to care for your designer clothes
Remove set-in stains and discoloration:
If however, a stain goes unnoticed for several days or weeks, it could set into a permanent stain, but not all hope is lost. White vinegar should be a staple in every household for its versatile cleaning, preserving and sanitising properties.
First, fill an empty water bottle with vinegar. Start by sprinkling baking soda over the area, before spraying vinegar on it, then gently rubbing the mixture into the fabric. Let it sit for up to 30 minutes then rinse and repeat if necessary. Alternatively, let it sit in a formula of vinegar and detergent overnight before rinsing and laundering. This formula also applies to blood stains.
Remove ink stains:
If you’ve ever left a pen in your pocket or accidentally written on your shirt, you’d know that ink stains are some of the most stubborn stains to remove. But in the hopes that it hasn’t done permanent damage yet, using a hairspray, whether on ball point ink or permanent marker stains, can work magic on fabrics.
Start by dabbing a damp sponge around area for the hairspray to set in. Then, spray a generous amount of hairspray onto the affected area before scrubbing the stain. Repeat the process until the stain is no longer visible and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes (or overnight). Finally, rinse thoroughly and wash the garment. If you don’t have hairspray or would prefer a less chemically-derived product, you can replace it with rubbing alcohol and detergent.
Remove adhesive markings:
Not so much stains than just very stubborn foreign material, adhesive from stickers or other sticky objects leave a nasty mark for all to see, but the good news is, they are easier to remove than stains. Simply apply ice to the affected area to soften the hardened adhesive. Scrape off any adhesive materials if you have to. Then, pre-wash the garment in hot soapy water and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing. This will clean the marks right off.
Fix a hole in the sweater:
Could there be a more dreadful sight than a loose thread sticking out from an otherwise tightly-knit sweater? Don’t fret — there’s a simple and effortless solution to returning your beloved cardigan to perfect condition. Simply pick up a crochet hook, insert it through the underside of the knit and pull the string of yarn inward to tuck it underneath and through the hole from which the stitch had come loose from, then make a knot.
If small hole has opened up into a laddered stitch with an unfortunately large gap between the edges of the hole, the simplest solution is to patch it up with a needle and thread. This video is a good example of how to do it.
Also Read: Men’s Fashion: The ultimate guide to styling your outfit with jewellery