How to Remove Stains
General Directions
Each stain demands individual attention. Patience is essential. Do not use strong chemicals. If the stain disappears instantly it is likely…
Acid Stains
To restore color, hold spot over ammonia fumes. To remove acid, sponge material with water containing a few drops of ammonia. If this…
Albumen Stains
Wash in cold water.
Alkali Stains
Wash in solution of warm water and lemon juice, vinegar, or cream of tartar.
Blood Stains
Wash in solution of warm water and ammonia, using a few drops to a quart of water. If stains are persistent in cotton or linen, bleach with…
Recipe for Javelle Water
Put one pound of washing crystals into an enameled utensil and pour one quart of boiling water over them. In another utensil or earthenware…
Bluing Stains
Wash in boiling water, using a little vinegar if necessary. If this is unsuccessful, Javelle Water may be used on white cotton or linen. A…
Candle Wax Stains
Scrape off excess wax with a dull blade. Place blotting paper on both sides of the stain and press with a hot iron. To remove remaining…
Chewing Gum Stains
Scrape off excess gum with a dull blade. Wash with gasoline, chloroform, ether, or alcohol, remembering that the first three are…
Chocolate or Cocoa Stains
Wash in cold water and soap. A second method is to cover with borax and wash in cold water, following if necessary with boiling water. Old…
Coffee Stains
Pour boiling water on stain from a height of two feet. Another remover is Javelle Water for white cotton or linen; and potassium…
Dye Stains
If the dye is still wet, sponge with warm water. Otherwise use Javelle Water for white cotton and linen; hydrogen peroxide with a little…
Egg Stains
Wash in cold water.
Fruit Stains
Pour boiling water on the stain from a height of two feet. For old stains in white cotton or linen, use Javelle Water; for woolens and…
Grass Stains
Rub washable materials with a cloth dipped in kerosene, following with soap and water. Sponge non-washable materials with a cloth dipped in…
Grease Stains
Use warm water and soap on washable fabrics. Sponge non-washable materials with carbon tetrachloride.
Ink Stains
For white materials, use salt and lemon juice and leave in the sun. For colored materials, remove a blue or black ink stain with ammonia…
Iron Rust Stains
Place stained material over a bowl of hot water, moisten, and apply oxalic acid crystals. Moisten repeatedly for five or ten minutes. Wash…
Machine Oil Stains
Use soap and water on washable fabrics, or rub with turpentine and then launder. If the stain is old, it can be removed from white cotton…
Meat Juice Stains
If material is washable, use lukewarm water to remove blood, then follow with soap, or boil with soap, water and washing soda. If stain is…
Medicine Stains
Wash in warm water or soak in alcohol.
Mildew Stains
Remove fresh mildew with cold water. For old stains on white cotton or linen, use potassium permanganate alternated with oxalic acid; where…
Milk Stains
Wash in cold water and follow with warm soapsuds.
Paint Stains
Remove fresh paint stains from washable material with yellow soap and water. Paint may be removed from other fabrics with gasoline…
Perspiration Stains
Launder white, washable fabrics in warm water and soap, placing in the sun to dry. If color has been removed from colored materials, there…
Tobacco Stains
Apply dilute hydrochloric acid, followed by dilute ammonia. Sponge with soap and water.
Water Spots
Shake material in steam escaping from boiling teakettle, keeping hands away from steam. Remove from steam, and shake until dry. Iron…