Practical Info

Always treat these as soon as possible. Often stains are almost colourless at first, but turn brown on standing, washing and ironing.
Fresh stains can be removed by sponging several times with warm water. If there is any mark left, pour glycerine on the stain, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water.
Harder stains -- sponge on dry fabric with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia (test on colours first) or laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). Rinse well in warm water.

Rub some dishwash liquid into the stain, leave for 10-15 minutes, then hot wash (60-65°C) using your normal laundry detergent. If any stain remains, repeat the process.

If fresh, sponge with cool salted water (1tsp : 600 ml water) and rinse with clear water.
Should stain persist, soak in a diaper wash/sanitiser that contains sodium percarbonate.

Or you can try any of the following suggestions:

• Dilute hydrogen peroxide (1 part : 9 parts water). Purchase the strongest solution available from a pharmacy. Rinse well.
• Sponge with a 10% solution of Oxalic Acid, warmed to about 45°C. Rinse well.
• Sponge with dilute ammonia (1 Tsp. : 600 ml). Rinse well.

Wash in warm water if a washable fabric. If not, sponge dry fabric with a grease solvent, e.g. laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or dry cleaning fluid.
Do not use grease solvents, e.g. dry cleaning fluid, on carpets or fabrics with rubberised backing.

Can be effectively removed by placing the object into a freezer until the stain is quite hard, then scrap it off.
Place stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and to avoid transferring stains. Then sponge with dry cleaning fluid or a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover).
In the case of coloured wax there may still be a colour stain. Sponge with a liquid made by adding ½ c of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) to ½ c water.

Scrape away as much as possible first. Rubb the stain with ice or place the object into a freezer until the stain is quite hard, then scrap it off. Place stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and to avoid transferring stains.
If the material is washable, soak in kerosene and wash in hot soapy water. For unwashable articles, use dry cleaning fluid. Several applications may be necessary.

First scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife. Hot soapy water will then remove fresh stains from washable articles. If a brown stain remains, soak in a solution of a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate followed by a good rinse in warm water.
For unwashable materials, sponge with dry cleaning fluid. Allow to dry. Repeat as necessary with a clean portion of pad beneath.

Remove fresh stains from cotton and linen materials by first rinsing in warm water then pouring boiling water from a height of 125-20 cm onto the stain. Follow by washing in soapy water.
If a trace remains, bleach in the sun, or with a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.
Stains on wool and silk or any fabric may be sponged with slifgtly water, then apply glycerine, rubbing lightly between the hands. Let stand for half an hour. Rinse with warm water.
If a grease spot remains from cream, sponge with dry cleaning fluid.

Sponge dry fabric stain thoroughly with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) and warm water. Rinse. If some stain remains, use a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate. Antiperspirants may cause fabric damage and colour damage in some dyes. Colour may be restored by sponging with ammonia. Dilute ammonia with an equal volume of water for use on wool or silk. Rinse well.

Scrape away as much as possible. Sponge with slightly water. Never use hot water, as heat hardens the stain. If this does not succeed, spread the stain with a paste of cream of tartar and water, adding a crushed aspirin to the paste. Leave for 20 - 30 minutes. Rinse well in warm water. OR use a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.

Fresh stains are easy to remove, but once dry, they are very obstinate. Treat with cool water first and follow up, if necessary, by soaking in a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate. Rinse.

For washable materials, first sponge with slightly water, then wash as usual. If the material is not washable, sponge with dry cleaning fluid then with cold water.

Washing with your usual laundry product may remove these stains. Pre treat the dry fabric stain with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). On an unwashable fabric, first try dry cleaning fluid.
If stains are stubborn, sponge with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and household ammonia. (Test on coloured fabrics first).

Scrape away as much as possible. For washable materials, rub lard or Vaseline into stain or treat dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover). Wash in a quality laundry powder or liquid. On unwashable materials, such stains are difficult. Treat repeatedly with dry cleaning fluid, continuously changing the pad and the sponging cloth. Finish with a sponging of slightly water and synthetic detergent, then warm water to rinse

Apply acetone or amyl acetate (polish removers), but take care with synthetic fibres, as both of these dissolve some type of rayons. Wash or sponge with your usual laundry product after treatment.
Remove any remaining colour with a bleach, using a chlorinated laundry bleach for white cottons and linens. A diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate for colours, and hydrogen peroxide for wool and silks.

Wet area, apply glycerine and rinse out well, or sponge with equal parts of full-strength hydrogen peroxide and water. If the colour has already been removed from the fabric by the alcohol in the perfume, it may be helpful to add a few drops of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) to a pad and sponge fabric lightly, working towards the centre of the stain, thus distributing remaining colour evenly.

New perspiration stains are normally acid and may be removed by washing. If the dye is affected, hold the mark in fumes from an open ammonia bottle.
Older perspiration stains turn alkaline and sponging with 1 Tbsp. vinegar in ½ c water will often restore the colour. This treatment also helps to remove perspiration odours.

Scrape off any excess with a dull knife. Shoe creams can frequently be removed from washable materials by washing with your usual laundry product.
If this is not successful, treat washable fabrics with glycerine. Pour on to the stain, rub lightly between the hands, leave for half an hour, then wash or rinse in warm water.

Pre-treat dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) prior to washing with a quality laundry product. Alternative treatment: sponge with equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and water. Old or obstinate stains may be softened in glycerine before treatment as above.

Sponge thoroughly with cold water first. Pour glycerine over, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Or, pre-treat the dry fabric with a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover), leave for half an hour then wash in the usual way. Rinse in warm water. Remove any remaining stain with a chlorinated laundry bleach or a diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.

If a stain cannot be identified, treat with cool water first, then sponge with a good quality laundry liquid. Rinse well and if stain persists try equal quantities of methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and ammonia, testing first to note effect on colour and fabric. If colour is affected, omit ammonia. As a last resort, try a mild bleach, e.g. A diaper wash/sanitiser container sodium percarbonate.

Red Wine:
Straight away pour White Wine on the affected area and soak up. Then wash in cold water and ammonia.

White Wine:
Wash in cold water and ammonia. If unsuccessful, try sponging several times with warm water. If there is any mark left, pour glycerine on the stain, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water.