FABRIC FIRST AID

Stain: For Washables: For "Dry Clean Only":

grease Start with a combination solvent.
(butter, Follow up with mineral spirits or oil Use an oil solvent, then dab with cool water; dry flat.
oil, mayo) solvent if necessary.

Soak blood stains in cold saltwater first

(about 4 tablespoons of salt to one
proteins gallon of water.) Use digestant. If
(blood, Use dishwashing detergent, dab with cool water, and
necessary to remove color, flush
egg, blot out excess moisture; dry flat.
with vinegar or hydrogen
grass)
peroxide solutions, using an
eyedropper to apply it.
Treat the same as for washables, using water
sparingly. Even if you can't see the stain, point out the
fruits & Start with denatured alcohol. Using an area to your friendly dry cleaner, since any sugar that
eyedropper, slush with vinegar to remains can caramelize when dry-cleaned.
vegetables
(including remove remaining color,
juices & then dishwashing detergent to remove Note: If you haven't already, build a rapport with a
jams) residue. particular dry cleaner owner/staff member -- you can't
imagine how many more stains will come out of your clothes
when you are nice to your dry cleaner. <wink>

Use a combination solvent to remove

Use an oil solvent to remove grease. Dab
grease. Using an eyedropper, flush with
lipstick with vinegar to remove remaining color. Dab with cold
vinegar or a mild bleach to remove
water. Dry flat.
remaining color.
Use denatured alcohol, then with an
eyedropper, flush with vinegar for
remaining color. For sturdy fabric, coat Use denatured alcohol. Dab with vinegar to remove
red wine area with salt, hold over a bowl or the any remaining color. Dab with cold water. Dry flat.
sink, and pour very hot water through
the fabric from above.
Dab with cold water. Dry flat. Even if you can't see the
Flush with cold water, and wash as you stain after it is dry, point out the area to your friendly
white wine
normally would. dry cleaner, since any sugar that may remain will
caramelize when dry-cleaned.
Using an eyedropper, flush with lemon
juice to remove color, then a
Dab with lemon juice to remove color. For sugar, dab
tea stronger bleach if necessary. For sugar,
with water. For milk, follow up with an oil solvent.
flush with water. For milk, follow up
with a combination solvent.

Using an eyedropper, flush

with vinegar to remove color. For sugar Dab with vinegar to remove color. For sugar or syrups,
coffee or syrups, flush with water. For milk flush with water. For milk and/or cream, follow up
and/or cream, follow up with with oil solvent.
a combination solvent.
Use ice to freeze wax or gum, or better
wax or yet, place the item in your freezer.
Same as for washables
gum Scrape or crack off as much as you
can, then use oil solvent or mineral
 spirits to remove residue.
Start with a combination solvent for Start with an oil solvent for grease. Dab
chocolate grease, then follow up with with vinegar to remove color if necessary. Dab with
a digestant for protein, if necessary. cold water. Dry flat.

sauces Scoop off excess. Use a combination

(tomato, Scrape off excess if necessary. Use an oil solvent for
solvent for grease. Then, using an
ketchup, grease, then dab with vinegar for color removal if
eyedropper, flush with vinegar to
barbecue, necessary. Dab with cold water. Dry flat.
remove color if necessary.
etc)
Flush with ammonia solution, then Try dabbing with vinegar. You may need the dry
mustards wash with dishwashing detergent. cleaner for this one.

vinaigrette Use a combination solvent for grease,

(liquidy Use an oil solvent for grease, then dab with vinegar for
then, using an eyedropper, flush
salad color. Dab with cold water. Dry flat.
with vinegar for color.
dressing)
Start with cold water and dishwashing
soy sauce Use cold water and dishwashing detergent sparingly,
detergent. Using an eye dropper, flush
or tamari then dab with vinegar to remove any remaining color.
with hydrogen peroxide to remove any
sauce Dab with cold water. Dry flat.
remaining color.
Shake or scrape off residue. For large
areas, presoak in a solution of warm
Carefully shake or scrape off residue. use dishwashing
water and laundry detergent. For small
mud detergent and water sparingly. Dab with vinegar to
areas, use combination solvent. Follow
remove any remaining color if necessary.
up with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide if
necessary.
Rub glycerine into area. Let stand 15-
20 minutes. Wash with dishwashing Rub glycerine into area. Let stand 15-20 minutes.
ballpoint
detergent or else spray with an Use detergent and water sparingly. Dab with cold
ink inexpensive hair spray. Flush with water. Dry flat.
water.
Flush with denatured alcohol using an Rub glycerin into area. Let stand 15-20 minutes. Then,
felt-tip ink eyedropper. Wash with dishwashing using an eyedropper, apply denatured alcohol. Dab
detergent. with cold water. Dry flat.