13 Laundry Tips To Get You Through Summer
From BBQ sauce to sunscreen and everything in between,here’s how to tackle summer’s nastiest stains.
1. BBQ Sauce
Ribs so good, your clothes need to try them too.
Clean it up:
1. Turn garment inside out and run cold water over it.
2. Add liquid detergent and let it sit for 10 minutes; rinse.
3. Gently blot with white vinegar; rinse.
4. Repeat detergent/rinse/vinegar/rinse until most of the stain is gone.
5. Add pretreater stick or spray, then wash as normal.
See the full tip here.
2. Sweat
Scientific fact — pit stains are why sleeveless tops were invented.
Clean it up:
1. Rub with bar of soap before washing.
2. If the area is discolored, soak in mixture of white vinegar and hot water.
3. Wash as normal on the hottest setting the garment allows.
See the full tip here.
3. Salt Water
Your trip to the beach was awesome! But the stains all over your car seats, not so much.
Clean it up:
1. You have to vacuum the area.
2. Alternate between rewetting the area with warm water and blotting it dry.
3. Once the stain is gone, spray with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar.
See the full tip here.
4. Suntan Lotion
Looks like you got a little overzealous with that SPF.
Clean it up:
1. Use pretreater or apply liquid detergent directly to stain and rub in.
2. Wash as normal on the hottest setting the garment allows.
See the full tip here.
5. Foundation
It’s not summer until your entire face melts off when you hug someone.
Clean it up:
1. Add shaving cream to the stain.
2. Let sit for 20–30 minutes.
3. Wash as usual.
See more makeup stain tips here.
6. Iced Tea
Met with some friends for brunch-time gossip and you ~literally~ spilled the tea.
Clean it up:
1. Dab with cold water from the reverse side of the stain.
2. Soak in cold water mixed with detergent for 30 minutes or overnight.
See the full tip here.
7. Grass
You got a front-row seat to the movie in the park…and it shows.
Clean it up:
1. Apply a pretreater and let sit for 15 minutes.
2. Scrub working from center of stain outward.
3. Wash as usual with enzyme detergent.
See the full tip here.
8. Fruit Juice and Kool-Aid
Oh noooooo!
Clean it up:
1. Pretreat with a strong detergent and rinse.
2. If the stain is still there, soak in one part cold water and one part bleach (or color-safe bleach) for 30 minutes.
3. Wash as usual.
See the full tip here.
9. Rosé and Red Wine
Sangria and rosé are summertime staples. So is inevitably splashing wine on your silk blouse.
Clean it up:
1. Blot up stain.
2. While wet, add salt to absorb liquid.
3. Rinse in hot water.
4. Wash as usual.
Still stained? Use vinegar and hot water mixture or oxygen-based detergent product.
See the full tip here.
10. Ice Cream
You scream. I scream. We all scream, “Oh crap! It’s all over my shorts!”
Clean it up:
1. Soak in cold water for 5–10 minutes
2. Add dish detergent and let sit for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse and wash as usual.
See the full tip here.
11. Dirt
You made a ton of friends playing coed soccer and you’ve got the dirty uniform to prove it.
1. Brush off excess.
2. Soak in a mix of warm water, dish detergent, and white vinegar. Rinse.
3. Still stained? Dab it with rubbing alcohol.
4. Rinse and wash as usual.
See the full tip here.
12. Blood
You never forget how to ride a bike. Or fall off one.
Clean it up:
1. If stain is dry, rewet it with cold water.
2. Apply pretreater followed by water and ammonia solution.
3. Wash with cold water and enzyme-based detergent.
See the full tip here.
13. Grease
It’s too hot to wear a jacket to cover that greasy lunchtime stain.
Clean it up:
1. Add dish detergent directly on stain.
2. Gently rub it in.
3. Wash as usual.
See the full tip here.
For more on pretreating, there’s this quick video guide:
And remember, If a stain is still there after washing, DO NOT PUT IT IN THE DRYER! It will set the stain and make it much harder to get out. Instead, soak the garment in a mixture of equal parts peroxide and water, then wash again.
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