Summer Stain Guide
Tips for Keeping Your Summer Wardrobe Neat and Clean

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, and not for being inside fretting over laundry. And yet, according to Cotton Incorporated’s Lifestyle Monitor™, the number of consumers doing laundry five or more times a week increased to 21%, with 30% of females doing laundry, daily. If stubborn stains are to blame for the extra wash loads, Ask Norma.

Cotton Incorporated’s stain guru, Norma Keyes offers the following tips to keep your clothes looking fresh as a summer day and free of the most troublesome seasonal stains.

* Barbeque sauce - Try a spot remover or pre-treat with a liquid detergent, followed by the recommended laundering procedure. Air dry and repeat the procedure if necessary.
* Grass - Begin by soaking the garment for 30 minutes in a bucket with a solution of ½ the recommended amount of detergent (powder or concentrated dry detergents work best) mixed with one gallon warm water. Weigh the garment down with a white cotton towel to ensure the whole garment stays in the solution. Then launder in the washing machine according to the detergent manufacturer’s instructions. Air dry and repeat if necessary.
* Sunscreen - Apply a spot remover on the stain. Pre-treat the garment with a liquid detergent, and wash in warm water as you normally would.
* Mud - Remove as much mud as you can with a soft bristle brush. Rinse item in cold water to dilute remaining stain. Next, wash the garment in warm water, using a powder or concentrated detergent. If the stain is not completely removed, rub glycerin or white shortening onto the stain and leave for several hours or overnight. Next, turn the stained item inside out onto a paper towel and pour a cleaning fluid on top. Following with a regular laundering.
* Catsup - Apply a pre-treater to the stain. Use an eyedropper and diluted white vinegar (equal parts water and vinegar) to bleach any remaining color. Finish with a regular wash cycle.
* Perspiration - For new stains, pre-treat with a liquid detergent and wash regularly. If the stain does not come out, sponge the area with a solution of one tablespoon ammonia and ½ cup water. For older stains, sponge area with one tablespoon white vinegar and ½ cup water. Wash shirts with a bleach-free detergent, in the hottest water safe for fabric.

For more stain solutions, check out www.TheFabricofOurLives.com