During the Lunar New Year and other festive celebrations, it’s common for people to gather with family and friends to indulge in feasting and celebration. However, while enjoying delicious food, there is a risk of accidentally getting various sauces, drinks, or food stains on clothing, leading to unsightly messes. Experts advise against making a common mistake that many people often do, as it can make stains harder to remove.
According to a report by the UK’s Daily Express, Salah Sun, the Product Management Director of Beko’s UK division, emphasized the importance of not immediately rinsing stains with hot water. Sun explained that hot water can make protein-based stains, such as meat juices or cream, more challenging to remove.
Sun reminded people to first rinse stains with cold water and then choose the appropriate washing program based on the fabric and stain type. While the treatment may vary depending on the type of stain, the use of hot water should be strictly avoided.
For instance, if red wine accidentally spills on clothing, it’s recommended to blot the stain with a clean cloth instead of rubbing it, as rubbing can spread the stain. Sun suggested sprinkling some salt or baking soda to absorb the liquid, followed by rinsing with cold water. Keeping the fabric damp until thorough cleaning is possible is essential, as dried stains are harder to remove.
When dealing with meat juice stains, cornstarch can be beneficial. Sun advised covering the stain with baking soda or cornstarch to absorb the grease, gently brushing it off, and then patting with cold water. Promptly addressing stains can prevent oil residue from settling into the fabric fibers.
Improper handling of chocolate stains can result in brown oily marks on clothes. Sun recommended scraping off excess chocolate with a spoon and rinsing the fabric from the back with cold water to help remove the stain. Pre-treating with a small amount of detergent can aid in breaking down the fats in chocolate before regular washing.
It’s crucial to avoid rubbing any stain, as it can penetrate deeper into the fabric fibers, making it difficult to remove. The correct method is gentle pressing to absorb the stain.
When it comes to washing, Sun emphasized not skipping the pre-treatment step, as directly placing stained garments in the washing machine often leaves residues. Avoid overloading the washing machine to ensure proper circulation of water and detergent during the wash cycle.
In addition to sauce, drinks, and food stains, festive occasions may involve lighting candles to create a cozy atmosphere, which can accidentally lead to wax stains on clothing. The proper handling of wax stains requires a different approach.
As suggested by Allen Civlak, the owner of Mary’s Kitchen Flour Sack Towels, it’s advised to let the candle wax harden and then carefully scrape off excess wax with a dull knife. Place brown paper bags or paper towels on the stain and iron them to melt the wax onto the paper. Finally, wash as usual.
For various stains like Christmas tree sap or ink, Civlak also shared cleaning methods, as mentioned in the article “Experts Teach You How to Easily Clean Red Wine and Sauce Stains on Fabric.”