■ W D-40 Effectively removes crayon, lipstick,
foundation, grease and oil stains. First, use a clean
cloth or scraping tool to remove as much residue
as possible. Spray WD-40 directly onto the stain
and leave it to absorb for 10-20 minutes. Squeeze
a dollop of undiluted dishwashing liquid on the
stain and rub in well, before laundering as usual.
This solution works well on everything except silk!
■ White vinegar Full-strength white vinegar
cleans grass, deodorant and coffee stains, as well
as grease spots on suede. Soak grass-stained
clothing in white vinegar for 30 minutes. If the
stain remains, make a paste of vinegar and bicarb
soda and, using an old toothbrush, rub into the
stain. Wash as usual. Remove deodorant stains
by rubbing with vinegar. Launder with your other
clothes, adding
Vz
cup vinegar during final rinse
cycle. This will soften the laundry water as well as
remove stains and brighten colours. Rub vinegar
onto coffee stains, then blot again a minute later
with a clean cloth to absorb stain from clothing.
Repeat, if necessary. White vinegar is also a great
spotter for suede. Simply brush the mark lightly
with an old toothbrush and vinegar. Let dry, then
brush with a suede brush. Repeat, if necessary.
■ Salt Use salt to remove perspiration, blood and
mildew stains. For perspiration stains on white
shirts, dissolve 4 Tbsp salt in 1L very hot water.
Sponge solution onto stain until stain disappears.
Treat a fresh blood stain by covering it with salt.
Use a clean cloth and dab cold water onto salt
until a clump forms. Work into stain and continue
until stain disappears. Remove mildew stains with
a paste of lemon juice and salt. Spread paste over
mildew and put garment in sun to dry. Salt is also
a dye fixative. Wash new towels in salt water and
add a cup of salt to the first few washes to set
the colours so they will stay brighter for longer.
■ Dishwashing liquid Full-strength dishwashing
liquid can be applied directly to tough-to-shift
grease and oil stains on fabric, which commonly
occur during cooking. Rub vigorously and leave
for 5-10 minutes before washing as usual.
■ Lemon juice Treat baby formula stains and
age spots on white fabric. Apply lemon juice
to stains or spots and lay outside in the sun.
Apply a little more juice or spray
with pre-wash cleaner and wash.
■ Tea-tree oil Removes chewing gum
from fabric. Simply dab the spot
with a little tea-tree oil, then wash.
■ Bicarbonate of soda Banish
sweat stains and odours. Make a
paste of 6 Tbsp bicarb and
'h
cup
warm water. Rub paste onto stain
before washing.
Tip: Before treating stains,
always test fabric in an
inconspicuous spot.
Freshen up a small laundry with a coat
of paint, a standard shop-bought blind
and smart storage options. Dulux Hog
Bristle
'A
is an excellent, space-enhancing
neutral colour for laundry walls. It also
happens to work well with these neutral
floor tiles. And for a pop of cheerful
colour, you can’t beat red accessories.
I
L k C r 'f l U
iT t -W u C -K ,
CKA^j )
L u t e
Stain Removal Kit
124
