Quick and Easy Stain Removal
Quick and
cautious stain removal keeps clothes in wearable condition for a longer time
and thus helps reduce clothing costs. This handout explains how to remove many
stains from washable fabrics using easily available laundry supplies.
‘Clothing Care’ and ‘Fibre Content’ Labels
You know if
a fabric is washable by reading the care label. If the label has warnings such
as "do not use chlorine bleach," then you cannot safely use liquid
chlorine bleach in stain removal.
Clothing
manufacturers are required to specify the recommended care procedure on a
"permanent care label." These labels often appear at the neckline of
garments, but sometimes they are in a side seam. These labels tell if the
manufacturer recommends home laundering or dry-cleaning for routine care of the
clothing. A recommendation for dry-cleaning may relate to the component parts
of the garment such as interfacings and trim, rather than to the basic fibre
content of the garment. Tailored clothes of wool are often "dry-clean
only" while wool sweaters are often "hand washable."
Hangtags or
other labels on clothing tell the fibre content. If you understand fibre
characteristics, this information can help you decide about the best stain
removal procedure. For example, wool or silk can be severely damaged by liquid
chlorine bleach, so this bleach should be avoided. Hang tags may also tell
about fibre finishes such as soil release or durable press that are not visible
on clothing but can make stain removal easier or more difficult. For example,
oily stains bond more firmly with durable press fabrics than with untreated
fabrics, making removal more difficult.
Note about Modern Fabrics
Synthetic
fibres such as acrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester, and blends of these fibres or
cottons with permanent-press finishes are tough and durable, but have a special
attraction for oil stains. Oil stains should be removed promptly. If oil stains
get tumble dried or ironed into fabrics containing these fibres or finishes,
removal may be extremely difficult, if not impossible. These oil stains are
most visible on plain- medium colours such as light blue or khaki. On the other
hand, if treated quickly, oil stains usually can be easily removed.
Synthetic
fabrics are also heat sensitive. These fabrics shrink and melt in high
temperatures. They can get more-or-less "permanent" wrinkles in the
spin-cycle of a washing machine set for a hot-water wash, or from an
over-crowded dryer that has run too long. Steam pressing can sometimes remove
heat-set wrinkles, but the melting temperature of the fibres is so close to the
temperature needed to iron out wrinkles that pressing is tedious and must be
done carefully to avoid melting and creating holes. The restored garment may
fit differently because of the heat shrinkage.
It is easy
to prevent wrinkling in washable blends and permanent press clothes:
- Avoid
overloading the washer; clothes should move freely.
- Be
sure the washer is set for "warm" not "hot" water
temperature or for the "permanent press" cycle.
- Remove
from dryer at end of cycle; do not over dry.
- Hang
on hanger; temporary wrinkles generally "relax" or fall out in a
few hours.
Fabrics
containing -vinyl or natural rubber will be damaged by most oil solvents. Oil
solvents tend to remove the plasticizer in vinyl film fabrics, making them
stiff.
Olefins may
be damaged by perchloroethylene solvent, but are resistant to trichloroethylene
and fluorocarbon dry-cleaning solvents.
Acetate
fabrics will dissolve in fingernail polish remover (acetone). Triacetate and
modacrylic fabrics can be damaged by acetone or paint thinners.
Silk, wool,
and other hair fibres, such as camel or cashmere, will dissolve in fresh liquid
chlorine bleach. Dilute solutions of liquid chlorine bleach will cause
permanent yellowing and stiffening of wool fibres and usually cause weakening
and colour loss in silk.
Cellulosic
fibres, such as cotton, linen, rayon, and ramie, will be weakened by repeated
exposure to dilute solutions of liquid chlorine bleach, but bleaches can be
safely used on cellulosic fibres for purposes of stain removal. Undiluted
bleach can weaken fabrics so that they tear or wear out more quickly.
Garments with Contrasting Colours or Trim
Many
garments are designed with dark fabrics and white trim or white fabrics and
bright colored trim such as red piping. When these fabrics are labelled
washable, people often complain that the colours have "run." The
white shirt becomes streaked with pink from the red trim.
Sometimes
this problem can be resolved by rewashing the garment in a heavy-duty detergent
with warm or hot water. The excess dye that was not permanently in the trim is
not likely to be very firmly deposited in its new location either, and
sometimes a simple repeat washing will rinse it away. Sometimes bleaching will
help, but often the bleach will change the colour of the trim and further
change the appearance of the garment.
Since there
are no regulations about fastness labelling, there is little that consumers can
do when they have problems with fastness except complain to the manufacturer or
retailer who sold the goods. As long as care labelling procedures have been
carefully followed, there is very little chance for the laundering process to
go wrong.
Removing Stains from Washable Fabrics:
General Procedures
The
following general procedures apply to nearly all stains. Fresh stains are much
easier to remove than old ones, so take care of stains promptly.
- Blot
up any excess liquid with a clean white cloth, paper, or other towels.
Remove excess solids by gentle scraping or chipping with a dull knife or
metal spatula. With some solids such as heavy amounts of surface mud
removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Excess can be brushed off
before the clothing is submerged for washing.
- Avoid
rubbing the stained area with a linty terry towel or a dark-colored cloth.
You may complicate the problem.
- Never
rub a fresh stain with bar soap. Soap sets many stains.
- Decide
if the fabric is washable or dry cleanable.
- Do
not try to treat suede, leather, or fur until or unless you are
professionally capable of doing so.
- Avoid
using hot water on stains of unknown origin. Hot water can set protein
stains such as milk, egg, or blood.
- Test
stain removal agents on a seam or hidden area of the garment to be sure it
does not affect the colour or finish of the fabric before starting on the
stain.
- Avoid
excessive rubbing unless fabric is tough and durable. Rubbing can spread
the stain and damage the fibre, finish, or colour.
- Do
not iron or press stained fabrics. Heat will set most stains.
- Check
laundry for stains before washing. Many stains need pre-treatment.
- Inspect
wet laundry before drying to be sure stain has been removed. If a stain is
still evident, do not tumble dry. The heat of drying will tend to make the
stain more permanent.
- Wash heavily soiled items separately. During laundering,
soil is broken into smaller particles and can be re-deposited on cleaner
clothing if insufficient detergent is used, water temperature is too low,
and washing time too long, or washer is overloaded with too many clothes.
Spot Treatment Technique (Sponging) for
Apparel Fabrics
A spot
treatment confines the stain to a small area and keeps it from spreading. This
method is sometimes called "sponging." For spot treatment you need a
supply of absorbent material such as, clean rags or paper towels, and a
dry-cleaning solvent, spot remover, or aerosol pre-treatment spray.
Follow these
steps:
- Pad
the working surface with clean rags or paper towels that can be stained as
you work.
- Place
the stained area or spot on the garment facedown over the padded surface.
- Dampen
a small white cloth with solvent.
- Use
the dampened cloth to pat the stain from the wrong side. Feather the edges
of the stain working from the outside toward the centre to keep the
stained area from getting larger.
- As
the stain transfers to the absorbent material beneath, move it to a
different place on the absorbent material so the stain has a clean place
to exit into.
- Repeat
this procedure until all traces of stain are gone. Launder to remove any
ring that might be left by the solvent.
Chemical Solvents and Supplies
Bleaches
- Hydrogen
peroxide
- Powdered
all-fabric bleaches (sodium perborate)
- Liquid
all-fabric bleaches
- Liquid
chlorine bleach
Liquid chlorine bleaches have a
limited shelf life. If the bleach is more than six months old and has no effect
on stains, it may need to be replaced with fresh bleach.
To test for colourfastness to liquid
chlorine bleaches, mix one tablespoon of bleach with 1/4 cup of water. Use an
eyedropper to put a drop of this solution on a hidden seam or pocket edge
inside the garment. Let it stand two minutes, then blot dry. If there is no
colour change it is safe to use the product. Powdered bleach packages have
directions for doing colourfastness tests.
Pre-treatment products
- Aerosol
sprays-petroleum-based solvent
- Pump-type
sprays-- detergent based
Absorbent materials
- Clean
white cloths
- Paper
towels (white)
- Sponges
(white or neutral colored)
- Caution:
Colored sponges or paper towels can bleed dyes onto fabrics, making dye
stains that may be difficult to remove.
Odour-reducing agents
- Activated
charcoal
- Calcium
carbonate
- Soda
Stain
Removal Chemicals
|
Common
name
|
Chemical
|
|
Alcohol (rubbing)
|
Isopropyl
|
|
Ammonia
|
Ammonium hydroxide
|
|
Colour remover
|
Sodium hydrosulphite
|
|
Commercial stain removers*
|
Isopropyl alcohol or other
unspecified ingredients
|
|
Dry-cleaning fluid or
petroleum-based pre-treatment solvent
|
Perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene
petroleum distillates
|
|
Enzyme pre-soak products**
|
Amylase, protease, lipase
|
|
Lemon juice and salt
|
Citric acid and sodium chloride
|
|
Nail polish remover
|
Acetone
|
|
Rust removers***
|
Hydrofluoric acid, oxalic acid
|
|
Photo supply acid fixer
|
Sodium thiosulfate
|
|
Turpentine
|
Terpene
|
|
White vinegar
|
Acetic acid
|
* Limited
testing on these products has shown them to be less effective than advertised.
**These must
be used at body temperature for enzyme action to occur. Chlorine bleach and hot
water inactivate enzymes.
***Do not
use these products with chlorine or oxygen type bleaches.
Follow These Safety Precautions
Here are
some rules to keep in mind regarding their use:
- Read
all label directions and warnings. Store chemicals in their original
containers so label directions are available in case of an accident.
- Use
all chemicals and commercial stain removal product according to label
recommendations.
- Avoid
getting the chemicals on your skin. Some are easily absorbed.
- Use
dry-cleaning solvents and other chemicals in a well-ventilated room. Toxic
fumes can cause illness.
- Do
not use solvents near an open flame or electrical outlet.
- Seal
containers so that fumes can't escape.
- Never
mix stain removal materials together (bleach and ammonia together form
toxic fumes).
Classification of Stains
The system
used here in classifying stains for removal from washable fabrics is not the
only one that has been used. The purpose here is to describe at least one
method that should give good results using readily available products or
supplies if used correctly.
This stain
classification system starts with stains that require similar treatment and are
easiest to remove if treated promptly and correctly. Stains that require
two-step or special treatment are listed last.
Protein Stains
Soak in cold
water and then launder.
- Baby
food; Milk; Baby formula; Mucous; Blood; Cheese sauce; Mud; Cream;
Pudding; Egg; Urine; Faeces; Vomit; Gelatine; White glue; Ice cream
Fresh
protein stains can be removed by soaking and agitating in cold water before
washing. These stains contain other ingredients besides protein, but it needs
treatment first. If hot water is used first, it cooks the protein, causing
coagulation between the fibres in the yarns of the fabric, making the stains
more difficult to remove. If protein stains are dried or old, scrape or brush
off crusted matter (if any), then soak in cold water using a detergent or an
‘enzyme pre-soak’ product.
After
treating the stain, launder in warm (not hot) water, rinse, and inspect. If
stain remains, soak an additional half-hour, and then rewash. Bleach may be
necessary if the stain was colored, such as baby food beets, strawberry
gelatine, or ice cream.
Tannin Stains
Do not use
soap (either bar or flake). Use detergents.
- Alcoholic
beverages; Beer; Berries (cranberries, raspberries, strawberries); Coffee;
Cologne; Felt-tip water colour pen or washable ink; Fruit juice (apple,
grape, orange); Soft drinks; Tea; Tomato juice
Fresh tannin
stains are usually removed by detergent (not soap) washing in hot water (as
safe for fabric) during laundering without any treatment. Use of soap (bar
soap, soap flakes, or detergents containing natural soap) will make tannin
stain permanent or at least more difficult to remove. Be sure to check the
ingredients list of your detergent for soap. More brands now include it for
economic reasons. Old tannin stains may need bleaching for more complete
removal.
Oil-based Stains
Use
heavy-duty detergent with hot water.
- Automotive
oil; Hair oil; Bacon fat; Hand lotion; Butter/margarine; Lard; Car door
grease; Mayonnaise; Collar/ cuff greasy rings; Salad dressing; Cooking
fats and oils; Suntan oil or lotion; Face creams
Oil stains
can be removed by pre-treatment with a heavy-duty liquid detergent; an aerosol
petroleum-based solvent pre-treatment spray, or a pump-type detergent-based
pre-treatment spray. If these products are unavailable, you can use a powdered
detergent that is mixed with water to make a runny paste and apply that to the
stain.
The
heavy-duty liquid detergents or aerosol sprays are more convenient and
effective. Work the full-strength heavy-duty liquid detergent into the stain or
spray with the pre-treatment product, then wash the garment using hot water (if
safe for fabric), the recommended amount of detergent for a regular laundry
load, rinse, and inspect before drying. Repeat this treatment if removal is
incomplete the first time.
Dye Stains
Use a
detergent wash and bleach as safe, for fabric.
- Cherry,
blueberry; Colour bleeding in wash (dye transfer); Felt-tip pen (permanent
ink-may not come out); Grass; India ink; Mercurochrome; Mustard; Tempera
paint
Dye stains
are very difficult to remove. First, pre-treat the stain with a heavy-duty
liquid detergent, then rinse thoroughly. Soak the stained garment in a dilute
solution of all-fabric powdered bleach.
If the stain
persists, and the garment is white or colourfast, soak in a dilute solution of
liquid chlorine bleach and water. Damage caused to colored garments by bleaching
is irreversible.
To decide if
a fabric can be bleached safely, use the test described previously. If the
stain is not removed in fifteen minutes, it cannot be removed by bleaching and
further bleaching will only weaken the fabric.
Caution:
Since bleaches can alter the colour of a fabric as well as the stain, bleach
the whole garment and do not try to bleach just a spot.
Combination Stains
Two step
treatment: (1) Remove oily/ waxy portion, (2) Remove dye portion using bleach
as safe for fabric.
Combination
stains contain a variety of ingredients, but these stains usually have an oily/
waxy component and a dye or pigment component. Use the procedures recommended
for removing oil stains first.
Step
1: Depends on whether stain is in Group A or B
as follows:
Group
A. Spray or sponge with dry-cleaning solvent
(perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene) then rub with heavy-duty liquid
detergent before washing.
- Ball-point
ink; Candle wax; Carbon paper; Carbon typewriter ribbon; Crayon; Eye
make-up (mascara, pencil, liner, shadow); Floor wax; Furniture polish;
Lipstick; Livestock paint; Pine resin; Shoe polish; Tar
Group
B. Rub heavy-duty liquid detergent into stain
before washing.
- Barbecue
sauce; Calamine lotion; Catsup or tomato sauce; Cocoa or chocolate; Face make-up
(powder, rouge, foundation); Gravy; Hair spray
Step
2: Remove dye stains. Start with an all-fabric
bleach because it is less damaging to colours and fabrics. Use liquid chlorine
bleaches for tough dye stains, if fabrics are colourfast to bleach.
What to do if you don't know what the stain
is:
If you don't
know what the stain is, its odour, location, and colour may give you a
clue. Old oil stains may smell rancid, but appear dry. Food stains are often on
the front of garments; perspiration stains around collars and underarms; black
grease is often on pants or skirts at car-door latch levels.
Stain colour
may be a misleading clue. For example, rust-colored stains may be coffee, tea,
old lemonade stains (caramelised sugar), cosmetics containing benzoil peroxide
(which can bleach many colours to look rusty), felt marker, crayon, aged baby
formula, or a number of other things. If a heavy waxy or gummy residue is
present, you may be dealing with a stain that will respond best to spot
treatment with a dry-cleaning fluid.
Since the
appropriate removal method varies with the stain, start by using the least
destructive stain removal methods first. If the whole garment can be submerged,
start by soaking the garment in cold water (as for protein stains). If not, use
warm water and spot treatment technique. Next, use liquid detergent and
lukewarm or hot water, rinse and let air dry (as for oil stains). If you
suspect the stain is iron rust, treat with rust remover before bleach. If stain
persists, use a pre-treatment spray or solvent (as for combination stain) and
all-fabric bleach. If the all-fabric bleach is ineffective on the stain and the
garment is colourfast or white, finally try a dilute solution of liquid
chlorine bleach.
Stains Needing Unique Treatment Methods
Chewing
gum: Apply ice to harden gum. Crack or
scrape off excess. Spray with pre-treatment aerosol product. Rub with
heavy-duty liquid detergent. Rinse with hot water. Repeat if necessary and then
launder.
Deodorants:
Apply liquid detergent, wash in warm water. Build-up of aluminium or zinc salts
may be impossible to remove.
Finger
nail polish: Do not use nail polish remover (or
acetone) on acetate, triacetate, or modacrylic fabrics, as they will dissolve.
Take these fabrics to professional drycleaners and identify the stain. For
other fabrics, use nail polish remover, acetone and spot treatment method.
Iodine:
Iodine is quickly removed with sodium thiosulfate, which is sold in photo
supply stores as "acid fixer." If the photo supply fixer solution
contains other chemicals in addition to sodium thiosulfate, it should not be
used. Iodine may also be removed by some commercial stain removers.
Lead
pencil: Use art gum eraser to lift off
excess; avoid hard rubbing. For delicate fabrics use spot treatment methods.
For most durable, washable fabrics, spray with pre-treatment aerosol product.
Rub in heavy-duty liquid detergent. Rinse in warm water. Launder.
Mildew:
Mildew is a growing organism that must have warmth, darkness, and moisture to
survive. Mildew eats cellulosic fibres, causing permanent damage and weakening
of fibres and fabrics. To remove mildew: Shake or brush item outdoors. Pre
treat darkest stains with heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder in hot water
with a heavy-duty detergent. Bleach as safe for fabric.
Odour:
Most odours are removed by laundering. For persistent odour problems, place
calcium carbonate crystals, activated charcoal, or soda in an open container
and store with clothes in closet or sprinkle soda directly on fabric and let
stand; then shake or vacuum.
Paint-latex:
Treat while wet. Soak in cold water; wash in cool water with heavy-duty
detergent. After paint has dried for six to eight hours, removal is very
difficult. Treat as combination stain. Wash in hot water, rinse. Repeat
treatment.
Paint-oil-based:
Treat while wet. Use thinner recommended for paint. Use spot treatment
technique and thinner on spots until paint is softened and can be flushed away
in heavy-duty detergent wash. Usually turpentine or alcohol will work as
solvents.
Perspiration:
Apply liquid detergent or soak in warm water with pre-soak product fifteen to
thirty minutes. Launder.
Pesticide:
If full-strength liquid concentrate spills on clothes, handle only with rubber
gloves. Discard clothing immediately. Laundering does not remove concentrate to
a safe level for reuse of clothing. Launder other pesticide- contaminated
clothing separate from general family laundry. If visible staining from diluted
spray of pesticide residues remains after laundering, rewash using hot water,
heavy-duty detergent, and a full water level. Then line dry.
Rust:
Rust stains cannot be removed in normal laundering. Use of chlorine bleach
makes them permanent. Rust removers that contain hydrofluoric acid are extremely
toxic, can burn the skin, and can damage the finish on appliances. A solution
of oxalic acid crystals in water will also remove rust stains, but it is often
difficult to obtain the crystals.
Lemon juice
and salt are more readily available and are helpful sometimes. Sprinkle the
salt on the stain, squeeze lemon juice on it and spread the garment in the sun
to dry. A word of caution: Lemon juice can bleach some colours and many
washable garments are not manufactured to be colourfast to sunlight.
Scorch:
Excess heat on cellulosic (cotton, linen, ramie, rayon), wool, or synthetic
fibres can cause permanent damage. If fabric is thick and fuzzy, brush to
remove charring. Rub liquid detergent into scorched area. Launder. If stain
remains, bleach using, all-fabric bleach. Fabric will be permanently weakened
in scorched area. Synthetic blends that are melted or glazed cannot be fully
restored.
Smoke,
soot: Shake off excess soot outdoors.
Launder in washing machine using heavy-duty phosphate-based detergent or
heavy-duty liquid as recommended by manufacturer, one cup of water conditioner,
and 1/2 cup of all-fabric bleach. Use water temperature appropriate for fabric.
Air dry. Inspect for smoke odour. Repeat as necessary. Three or four washes may
be needed for cottons and cotton blends.
Urine:
Rinse in cold water and launder. For stains on mattresses: (1) sponge with
cloth using detergent solution, (2) rinse with cloth using vinegar solution,
(3) let air dry, and (4) if odour remains, sprinkle with soda or calcium
carbonate; wait one day, then vacuum.
Water
Spots: Launder. Watermarks on drapes are
water soluble and not removable by dry-cleaning solvents.
COMMON REMEDIES TO AVOID
Dishwasher
detergent: Although sometimes suggested for food
stains, these detergents are intended for use in closed dishwashers with very
hot water. They are so highly alkaline they can irritate your skin if you use
them in stain removal. They also may fade colours or damage wool, silk, or
nylon fibres.
Hair
spray on ball-point ink: Certain hair
sprays are effective on ballpoint stains, but they may deposit a gummy residue
and perfume that then have to be removed along with the ink. Hair spray also
may affect colour in some fabrics. Alcohol is a hair spray ingredient that is
useful for removal of the oily part of the ballpoint stain.
Ironing
candle wax: Ironing candle wax between blotting
paper will only drive the stain deeper into the fabric. This process is widely
used, but it's not recommended because it will make any colour from the dye of
the candle more permanently set and the wax more inaccessible for the detergent
or solvent to reach to carry the stain away.
Milk
on washable ink: This doesn't remove the ink and gives
you an additional protein stain.
Salt
to make dyes colourfast: Today's dyes
cannot be increased in colourfastness by soaking in salt water. If bleeding of
a particular dye in cotton, rayon, or ramie fabric is decreased with a
salt-water soak, the effect will not be permanent. When the fabric is wet
again, unless there is salt in the solution, the dye will be free to leave the
fabric. Salt cannot affect colourfastness of synthetic fabrics or their blends
because they are dyed with dyes that have chemical structures not affected by
salt.
Shampoo:
Clear gel-like shampoos are sometimes suggested for stain removal. While they
are usually not harmful to fabrics and may work on light oil stains, laundry
detergents are just as effective and less expensive to use. Additionally,
colored, opaque; or milky-looking shampoos may contain ingredients that will
stain fabrics or foam so much that they are difficult to rinse out.
White
vinegar: Vinegar (acetic acid) may weaken
cotton, rayon, acetate, triacetate, or silk fibres and may cause colour change.
If used as a stain removal agent, test on a hidden seam allowance for
colourfastness. Vinegar will not help remove or set creases in today's
synthetic or permanent press fabrics, although this is a common belief.
How to Identify and Prevent Some Common
Staining Problems
Greasy-looking
fabric softener splotches: Use of fabric
softener sheets in the dryer can deposit softener unevenly, causing
greasy-looking splotchy stains on silk-like polyester and blends of cotton/
polyester broadcloth. This problem is especially noticeable on medium-colored
fabrics such as khaki and medium blue. Avoid this problem and control static by
using a fabric softener that is added to the final rinse.
Odd
colored or rusty looking stains on collars, bed linen, bath linen and
washcloths: These stains are often caused by the
benzoil peroxide used in cosmetic products (including acne medicine). This
chemical acts as a bleach, is very insoluble and hard to rinse off the body. It
can permanently change colours of some dyes. The damage cannot be remedied, so
it should be prevented. When products containing this chemical must be used,
white collars and household textiles may be a good choice.
Stiff,
coarse textures and/ or dull colours in freshly laundered fabrics: Nonphosphate
granular detergents can combine with hard water to leave behind a residue that
can cause fabrics to become stiff and feel harsh. Avoid the problem by using a
phosphate-based detergent, a heavy-duty liquid detergent or a nonprecipitating
water conditioner with the nonphosphate granular detergent. Soaking stiffened
clothing in a solution of white vinegar and water (1 cup vinegar per gallon of
water) may help restore them, however you should first test clothing for
colourfastness to vinegar on a hidden seam allowance. Another way to restore
this clothing is to treat as for yellow, grey, or general discoloration.
White
powdery streaks on dark clothes: Powdery
streaks on dark clothes are probably caused by undissolved detergent being
incompletely rinsed out. Some nonphosphate detergents can deposit mineral
hardness residue that shows as streaks. Avoid this problem by changing
detergents or by adding detergent to the wash water first, then adding clothes
and starting washer. Usually a repeat rinse and spin cycle with clear water
will remove these streaks.
White
streaks on blue jeans: White streaks on
blue jeans are probably not caused by un- dissolved detergent. Blue jeans are
often dyed with indigo dye, which is a fugitive dye that bleeds in a water
solution. As the washer spins, the edges where the fabric is folded get more
abrasion and rougher treatment, causing the colour to escape. Turning jeans
wrong side out before laundering will reduce these white streaks and give more
even fading. To avoid the natural fading that accompanies use of indigo, look
for polyester/ cotton jeans that are labelled colourfast. They will retain
their dark blue.
Yellowing,
greying, or general discoloration: This
condition occurs when insufficient detergent is sued for proper cleaning, wash
water temperature is too low (especially for oil stains), too much detergent is
used and insufficiently rinsed out, synthetics are washed with a light-duty
detergent in cold water, or colour is transferred from other non-colourfast
items in the wash. To refurbish clothing with this discoloration, wash in a
permanent press cycle with hot wash water, a cool-down rinse, and a cup of
water conditioner instead of detergent. If discoloration persists, repeat this
procedure or wash again using the correct amount of detergent, an all- fabric
bleach, or diluted liquid chlorine bleach if safe for fabric.
The
treatment of last resort for white items is treatment with a commercial colour
remover. This reducing bleach must be used very carefully, as it will easily
fade colours in any fabric it touches.
If the
yellow colour is on silk, wool, or spandex it may be a result of fibre
alteration due to improper use of chlorine bleach and is not removable.
Tea, coffee, turmeric- bleach