Summer is the season of pool parties and barbeques but with all that food and fun comes some really difficult stains.
There is nothing worse than taking a big bite of a hotdog and feeling the quick glop of ketchup slide off the other end and onto your favorite shirt. If you act fast you might be able to fade the stain quickly but that’s not always an option when you are on vacation or hanging out with friends.
Each stain and each fabric is unique so be sure to check the tag of your garment before you begin any cleaning process. Here are a few tips to handle some common barbeque stains.
Barbeque Sauce:
If you drop barbeque sauce on your clothing, carefully remove as much of the sauce as you can. It’s a good idea to use a spoon or the dull side of a butter knife to scoop up any sauce as a paper towel or napkin may push it deeper into the fibers.
Turn your garment inside out and rush cold water over the backside to push the sauce to the surface. Once you have removed as much of the sauce as possible, put some liquid detergent on the stain. Gently work it into the stain and allow it to sit for ten minutes.
When time is up wash the garment like usual. Before drying, check to make sure the stain is gone. If not, treat with a stain remover and wash again.
Ketchup:
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda make a powerful cleaning solution to help get rid of ketchup stains. Remove as much of the ketchup as you can and then mix equal parts of both into a paste. Place the paste into the stain and allow it to sit for up to twenty minutes.
Be aware that some fabrics do not respond well to hydrogen peroxide. It’s a good idea to test the fabric in a small space before applying to a stain in an obvious place.
You can also apply the same steps listed above for barbeque sauce to ketchup.
Mustard:
Mustard can be treated with a little bit of water and vinegar. Mix two parts water to one part white vinegar and spray it onto the stain. Allow it to sit for ten minutes before washing the garment like usual.
If the stain persists, give some liquid detergent a try.
Grease Stains:
Some simple dish soap is the best for fighting grease stains. Mix a few drops of soap in some water and apply it to the stain. Gently work it into the fabric and rinse with warm water.
No matter what stain you encounter, the experts at Legend Cleaners know just how to treat it. Bring all your toughest jobs to us and we will do our best to make it look brand new!
