THINGS YOUR LAUNDRYMAN WILL NEVER TELL YOU 4

HOW DO I REMOVE PAINT STAINS FROM FABRIC

The method for paint stains removal depends on the type of paint that got on the clothing. Paint stains can be water-based paint (latex) or oil-based paint. With either type of paint, it is best to remove the stains before it dries on the clothing. If you can't treat it right away, keep the area wet until you can. These techniques are for washable fabrics. For dry-clean only garments or home accessories take to a reputable cleaner immediately.

Water-based paints

Water-based paint stains are much easier to remove, especially when not dried.

1.     First, flush the fabric from the wrong side with a stream of warm water. Soak the cloth in a washing detergent-water solution for some time before scrubbing gently with a brush till the paint is gone.

2.     If the stain persists, try kerosene. I have personally used kerosene on paint-stained clothes before and it worked well. Apply some drops kerosene on the stains. Then rub vigorously with the fingers or scrub lightly with brush. Thereafter, wash off with detergent, rinse and dry. Repeat the steps if stain persists before drying.

3.     Use alcohol. In most cases, if you are allergic or uncomfortable with the use of kerosene, try alcohol. Pour some quantity of rubbing alcohol on the affected part(s) of the clothing. Scrub gently and launder as usual.

4.     If the paint has dried, Use a dull knife or the edge of a credit card to gently scrape away the paint the dried paint. Thereafter, try any of the above methods. 

Oil-Based Paint

1.     First, wipe off any paint as you can from the fabric (if the paint has not dried).

2.     Place the fabric on a towel to help absorb any paint that would seep through the back of the fabric.

3.     Pour some quantity of paint thinner or turpentine on the stains.

4.     Scrub off the paint with brush or with another cloth folded into a pad.

5.     Repeat the process till much of the paint is gone.

6.     Thereafter, soak the fabric overnight in a solution of washing detergent and water before washing off. By then the paint must have gone.

Feel free to leave a comment behind. And do not hesitate to share the information.

UP NEXT: HOW TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS FROM CLOTHING

THINGS YOUR LAUNDRYMAN WOULD NEVER TELL YOU 3

HOW TO REMOVE PLANTAIN SAP STAINS 

FROM CLOTHES 

Plantain stains? Does that sound familiar? At some time you must have had some nasty experience with plantains/unripe bananas, unless you never had anything to do with the kitchen. During peeling, plantains and unripe bananas ooze a white sap that turns brown on exposure to air. This can wreak serious havoc on cloth and cooking utensils. On cooking utensils, rubbing oil on the utensil before washing off with liquid soap can help. But on clothes, plantain stains are usually permanent and cannot be removed by common washing detergent. But there is hope. Below are 4 different ways on how to remove them easily by yourself.

1. Alcohol: According to an article by LifeTips.com, alcohol is known to remove chlorophyll and other botanical stains. Depending on the type of fabric, alcohol may not completely remove the plantain/banana stain, but it may fade it so it appears less conspicuous. Soak the stained cloth in a bowl filled with rubbing alcohol for half an hour. Then wash the garment as usual on the warmest setting recommended for the fabric. If the plantain stained a small spot on the fabric, dab the spot with rubbing alcohol several times before washing.
2. Lemon Juice: According to Useful Cooking Tips, remove plantain stains can be removed from the hands by applying lemon juice. Likewise for clothing, apply lemon juice to the affected area(s), allow the lemon juice to dry on the clothing before washing off in warm water.

NB: Lemon juice can bleach some coloured garments, as such, you may want to test a small area before dousing your garment.

3. Vinegar: Here we come again with vinegar. Because of its high acidity, vinegar is effective in removing most difficult stains from fabrics. Soak the stain in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. After soaking the fabric, apply the vinegar directly to the stain. Then wash the garment as you normally would use your preferred laundry soap and warm water.
4. Salt: According to the Indian Beauty Blog, plantain or raw banana sap stains can be removed by immersing the stained fabric in concentrated salt solution. Allow the garment to soak for two to four hours, and then wash it in warm water.

Do not hesitate to comment if you got any other home tips to add on removing plantain/banana sap stains from clothing. 

Up next: How to remove paint stains from clothing.

THINGS YOUR LAUNDRYMAN WILL NEVER TELL YOU 2

10 WAYS TO REMOVE SWEAT STAINS FROM CLOTHES

Sweat, especially when it combines with chemicals in antiperspirants and deodorants, can cause stains under the armpits of shirts. This can cause a nice shirt to look untidy. To remove this type of stain, there are various methods that can be used. It would be rather surprising to know that each of these methods would probably require the use of something in your kitchen or medicine cabinet. They are: 

1.        WASHING DETERGENT: Before you use any of these alternative methods, try soaking the clothing in warm water containing laundry detergent. Allow to sit for 3-4 hours before rinsing off. If the sweat stain persists, as it most times happen on white fabrics, try the following.

NB: This method is not recommended for coloured clothing as some laundry detergents tend to decolorize clothing.

2.        ASPIRIN: Crush 2 tablets of aspirin and mix with ½ cup of warm water. Soak the clothing in it for 2-3 hours before washing. OR

3.        TABLE SALT: Sponge affected part of fabric with a solution of hot water and table salt before laundering. OR

4.        LEMON JUICE: Douse sweat stains with equal parts lemon juice and water. Allow to sit for some time. Thereafter, rub the stains with your fingers until the stain lifts. Rinse with clean water and allow to dry. OR

5.        WHITE VINEGAR: Turn the shirt inside out and douse the underarm area with full-strength white vinegar.  Completely soak the area and let it set a few minutes up to an hour.  Using an old toothbrush, slightly brush the area and gently rub the vinegar into the stain. Wash off thereafter with warm water and dry. OR

6.        BAKING SODA: Add water to baking soda and make a paste of it. Then apply the paste to the stain. Allow it to sit for an hour to a few before washing. OR

7.        HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water. Add the resulting solution to sweat stain and let sit for a 30 mins before washing off.

8.        MEAT TENDERIZER: Meat tenderizer contains enzymes that help to dissolve the sweat stain. Moisten the sweat/deodorant stain with warm water. Sprinkle the stain liberally with meat tenderizer. Work the meat tenderizer in the stain with your fingers. Allow the stained garment to sit for 30-60 minutes. Launder as usual. Repeat the process if need be. 

9.        BORAX: Run warm water through the stain. Sprinkle on a generous amount of Borax - don’t go crazy, but use enough so that you can see it like a good shake of salt on the stain. Rub it together with your fingers. Launder as usual.

10.    SALT AND VINEGAR: Salt and vinegar is a miraculous ingredient in removing stains too. Mix 1 cup salt, 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups hot water, 1 Tbs. dish washing liquid together. Soak your stained garments for 1-2 hours then launder as usual.