Cocoa is made up of some of the world's toughest stains. It is essentially made from chocolate, which by itself is already a big culprit for dark stains. Apart from this, the drink also proves to be a tough stain to remove because it has the strong combination of proteins, fat, and sugar.
There are some stains that are incredibly stubborn, but place that stain on a delicate fabric, then it becomes even more challenging and sometimes impossible to remove.
Unfortunately for everyone, some stains are permanent. They simply become part of the fabric. Continued attempts to remove them will cause dye loss or fabric damage, known as chafing or fraying. Many stains are removed by the dry cleaning machine and require no additional effort from the cleaner.
You can get unexpected blood stains out of your favorite fabrics, but the key is doing it as soon as possible—dried blood can leave a permanent mark. In fact, blood is probably the hardest stain to remove from carpet, according to Samantha Hodges, director of digital marketing at Rugs.com.
Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes with 1 cup of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar and stir. Use a Dobie All Purpose Cleaning Pad to apply the detergent-vinegar mixture to your unidentified stain. Blot with the pad until the stain is gone.
Of all the natural fibers, says Brookstein, the most stain resistant is wool because it contains lanolin, a natural oil that repels liquids.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Power Punch
When it comes to versatile cleaners, you can't get more versatile than vinegar. The slight acid in vinegar is a stain treating master on even the toughest of stains. This method is very effect on most non-grease stains, working about 75-90% of the time.
The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed. First, a spill will stay on the surface of the fabric, but when allowed to sit, it will start to react with the fabric and change its color. Treating stains fast is important if you want to prevent them from becoming permanent.
Certain types of fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, and some nylons are particularly susceptible to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine, etc. Be aware of hot liquids, especially. Of course, bleach and household chemicals (see below) can cause permanent staining as well.
Sponge the stained area with a dry-cleaning solvent; let it air-dry. Soak the stain in a solution of one cup of liquid laundry detergent and a few drops of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) for at least 30 minutes. Launder using liquid laundry detergent.
Often this means going through the various stain treatment cycles (see graphic) more than once (and not simply flinging a garment in the laundry basket in defeat). "The good news is that almost any stain will come out eventually," says Mr. Macpherson.
Care labels will tell you what clothes are made of, so you know which product to use. Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex.
Yes! Vanish is capable of removing old stains as well as new stains.
Let me answer your first question: Yes, you have to remove wood stain that didn't dry. You cannot just leave it on the piece. The reason for this is that excess wood stain will never fully dry. Applying wood finish on top of tacky wood stain can result in a murky finish that obscures the wood of the piece.
This can be caused by using more than the recommended portion of detergent, washing your clothes in cold water with powdered detergent or using the wrong type of detergent for the dispenser (powdered detergent in a dispenser meant for liquid detergent and vice versa).
Oil-based stain can be kept for 1 year if the cans have been opened, but unopened cans will last 2 - 3 yrs. Water-based stain will last 1 year, if opened, and 2 years, if unopened. Oil-based varnishes will be good for 1 year, opened or unopened.
If the stain stays on too long, the wood will absorb too much stain. As a result, you may have a darker shade than you anticipated—or uneven coloring. Likewise, the stain can start to peel and flake off. The wood may also discolor or become blotchy.
If you find a stain on an item that has been through a hot dryer, it doesn't have to be permanent. By using the right laundry products and the right technique, stains that have been dried do come out.
Old Stains There is often the effect of time upon a stain: the older the stain, the harder it is to remove. Drycleaners who are trained in stain removal prefer to work on fresh stains which have not had time to "set" or react with the fabric, dyes, finish, or atmosphere.
Microfiber. Microfiber is not technically a performance fabric, but it has such a reputation for being stain-resistant and durable that we wanted to include it here. Microfiber refers to the thickness of a fiber, not to a type, like acrylic or cotton.
According to The Company Store, grays and dark tones are excellent color choices for hiding stains, especially if you frequently sweat. Alternatively, Thompson Tee suggests giving blue sheets a go, as they are well known for hiding sweat stains (dark blue is your best bet).
Oil-based stains are not easily penetrated by the elements and are much more durable than water-based stains. These types of stains require less long-term maintenance. While oil-based stains dry more slowly, they maintain a more even finish, making the stain look nicer in the long run.
“Use a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water on the stain. Apply liberally and then treat with laundry soap and water. “DO NOT put the garment in the dryer until you have seen that the stain is gone,” he warns.