Summer Days Washed Away

By Lillyan Baker

Summer is filled with the best memories, including eating ice cream, playing outside, snacking on chips and salsa by the pool and eating hot dogs right off the grill. Of course you want to keep those summertime memories, but not on your clothes! What do you do when your favorite seasonal treats and activities, like ice cream, salsa, ketchup, mustard and mud, stain your favorite summer outfit? Try these stain removal tips to wash summer out of your clothes:

Quick, It’s Melting! Lickin’ Up Ice Cream Stains

1. Timing is crucial. Since ice cream is a protein based stain, it is more difficult to eliminate, making it more fun to eat then remove. For dried stains, use a dull knife or credit card to remove as much of the stain as possible.
2. Soak your cares away. Soak your stained clothing in cold water for 5-10 minutes.
3. Rinse and repeat. Every 3-5 minutes, rub the stained area with detergent in room temperature water for 30 minutes.

Rainy Day, Summer Play, Now Let’s Wash the Mud Away!

1. Give it some time. Avoid smearing the mud into your favorite summer shirt by letting it dry. It’s tempting to wipe the mud away, but you will thank yourself later for letting it dry completely.
2. Shake, vacuum and roll the mud-stained area. Use your household tools to remove the dried mud crumbs from the fabric, including a dull knife, a hand-held vacuum or give it a good, old-fashioned shake.
3. Give it a mud bath. Soak the stained area for 15 minutes and continue to loosen the stain by rubbing detergent into the fabric every 3-5 minutes.

Ketchup, Mustard and Salsa Stains, Oh My!

1. Scoop it away. Remove all sauce from the fabric with a spoon or butter knife.
2. Toss and turn it. Turn the piece of clothing inside out and run cold water through the back of the stain. By running water over the front of the stain, you could push the stain more deeply into the fabric.
3. Get your salsa on! In a circular motion, gently rub the stained area with detergent working from the outside in.
4. Take a break. Give your arm a rest and allow the fabric to soak in cold water for 30 minutes.

After you have applied all of your stain fighting tricks, use either a stain remover spray, stick or gel and throw it into your washing machine. Your clothes will come out clean and fresh, so you don’t have to worry about remembering summer 2010 on your favorite shirt for next year!