Prevent laundry stains from getting worse by knowing when to scrub, not how. Dub

Laundry stains are frustrating, but what’s even more frustrating is that you unintentionally make things worse by rubbing them in while desperately trying to clean up the mess. You’re not alone in this: One of the most common laundry mistakes that makes stains worse is rubbing instead of wiping. It’s best not to rub laundry stains as friction can damage the fabric, which can cause the stain to further penetrate the material. One of the few times it is acceptable to rub rather than blot is when you are rubbing something to remove a stain, such as baking soda paste..

In addition to considering when to rub versus daub, using the wrong water temperature when tackling laundry stains can also make them worse. Depending on the type of stain and the material of the fabric you are trying to wash, the temperature of water you should use to combat stains will vary. For example, to remove blood stains you should use cold water, and for berry stains you should use cold water first and then hot water. And no matter what type of laundry stain you’re dealing with or what your cleaning approach is, you should always remove it as quickly as possible. The longer the stain remains, the more difficult it will be to remove.

Read more: Tips for washing these 8 items that are too big to fit in the washing machine

When to wipe up laundry stains (and how to do it correctly)

Depending on the type of stain you’re dealing with, you may want to wet the rag you’re using before you start wiping. For example, if you’re working on a stain that works best with cold water, you might want to soak a rag in cold water first before wiping it off. Some of the most stubborn laundry stains that should be treated with cold water come from grass stains, water-based paint, and eggs. For stains that can be treated with hot water, proceed as if you were using cold water. You can also soak the fabric in hot water if the material can handle it. Stains that can be treated with hot water include oil, grease, lotion and foundation. The material of the fabric you are dealing with will also affect the temperature of water you should use. Cold water is generally better for delicates and natural fabrics, while hot water is better for synthetic fabrics.

Now that we’ve figured out when to wipe up stains, let’s talk about how to do it correctly. The main thing is not to wipe the stain too aggressively. Instead, you should gently blot the stain with a clean towel. This will help absorb spills and prevent them from spreading. Try to absorb as much of the spill as possible, but take your time and do it carefully so as not to damage the fabric. You should also blot the stain from the outside in and make sure you use all the cloth so you don’t accidentally spread the stain.

When can you rub a laundry stain?

There are really only two scenarios in which you would scrub a laundry stain.. The first is when you spill or drop something, such as oil or dirt, on your laundry. In this case, you’ll definitely want to wipe off as much of the residue as possible. To be clear, you should wipe off the residue rather than rub it in, so be extra careful in this process.

Another time to scrub a laundry stain is to pre-treat it.. This could be a baking soda paste or an enzyme stain remover from Amazon for $3.48. For example, baking soda paste will help you remove paint stains and grass marks from your laundry, and the best way to use it is to massage the paste directly onto the affected area of ​​the fabric. The process is the same as when using enzymatic stain removers to remove stains such as oil and grease: you can help remove stains from fabric by rubbing enzyme stain removers or detergent directly into the stain. Make sure this process occurs after the initial soaking or blotting to avoid accidentally setting the stain.

Read the original article on House Digest.