If you look after your clothes and shoes, they’ll last longer—a smart move if you spend a small fortune on both. Most garments have care labels with information about the type of fabric and how to best clean it, which is worth checking and following. What the labels don’t include, however, is what to do when accidents happen. Whether it’s finding melted choc-top on your jeans after the movies, spilling soy sauce on your jacket when eating sushi or dropping a blob of tomato sauce from your meat pie on your footy shirt, it’s best to tackle stains as soon as you can. The longer you leave them, the harder they are to remove.
INCIDENT:‘My girlfriend went away and left me to do the washing. But I didn’t get to it for a few days and when I did, there were mould spots on her lightly coloured lingerie. Please help me!’
SOLUTION: Wipe the mouldy areas with a cloth dampened with methylated spirits. Add 1 cup of non-iodised salt to a 9 litre bucket of warm water, immerse the garments and soak overnight (salt water won’t damage delicates). Gently wring but don’t rinse the items, hang on the clothesline to dry and a salty crust will form. Brush the crust off with a soft brush and the mould will come away with it. Wash the lingerie in cheap shampoo and blood-heat water, rinse and dry on the clothesline.
To help you find your solution as quickly as possible, we’ve listed problems alphabetically. If you don’t know what’s caused a stain, do a stain diagnosis first (see page 362). Also, when removing stains from synthetic material, such as rayon, Lycra, nylon, elastane, spandex, etc, wipe with methylated spirits on a cloth before washing. Stains often become trapped in synthetic fibres and methylated spirits opens them up and allows them to be released.
Q: ‘I spilt a jar of anchovies and olive oil on my blue denim jeans which are 98 per cent cotton and 2 per cent elastane’, says Marike. ‘How do I get the oily marks off?’
| Problem: | Anchovy on denim. |
| What to use: | Cloth, methylated spirits, cake of bathroom soap, cold water, dishwashing liquid, bicarb. |
| How to apply: | The jeans contain elastane, so wipe the stain with a little methylated spirits on a cloth first. Remove the anchovy by scribbling with a cake of bathroom soap that’s been run under cold water. Then remove the oil by massaging a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid into the stain with your fingers until it feels like jelly. Rinse the jeans in cold water. Wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘My daughter loves drinking apple juice’, reports Uriah. ‘And I’ve got several marks on my shirt. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Apple juice on cotton. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Rb the stain with a little glycerine on a cloth, leave for 20 minutes and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I’ve got baby oil splashes over my T-shirt’, reports Sandra. ‘How do you get it out?’
Q: ‘I’ve got berry stains on my clothes’, says June. ‘How can I get them out?’
Q: ‘Is there a way to get bitumen (tar) out of denim jeans?’ asks Robyn. ‘They have been washed in ordinary laundry powder but most of the tar didn’t budge. Is it possible to salvage them?’
Q: ‘I’m having a problem removing a stain caused by splashes of black bean sauce on a pale pink T-shirt’, says Pip. ‘I’d appreciate your help.’
| Problem: | Black bean sauce on cotton. |
| What to use: | White vinegar. |
| How to apply: | Flush the stain with white vinegar. If it proves stubborn, rub in with your fingers. Wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I was at the movies and got chewing gum on my trousers’, says Kevin. ‘How do I get it off?’
Q: ‘I was enjoying some potato wedges dipped in chilli sauce’, says Matthew. ‘But, tragically, not all of the sauce made it into my mouth and went on my T-shirt instead. What can I do?’
Q: ‘I wore my favourite purple silk organza dress to my engagement party’, reports Diana. ‘But I managed to get cream from the cake in a couple of spots. Can you offer any assistance?’
Q: ‘How do I remove yellow curry stains from cotton fabric?’ asks Sunil.
| Problem: | Curry stain (yellow) on cotton. |
| What to use: | Lavender oil, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Place a couple of drops of lavender oil on a cloth and wipe over the stain until removed. Wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I’ve got custard stains on my pants’, admits Ainslee. ‘How can I get them off?’
| Problem: | Custard on cotton. |
| What to use: | NapiSan Plus, water. |
| How to apply: | Make a paste of NapiSan Plus and water and place over the stains. Leave for 20 minutes, then wash and dry normally. If the custard is flavoured, remove that stain first (consult the relevant advice elsewhere in the book eg: chocolate) and then remove the custard stain. |
Q: ‘How do you remove diesel from polyester and cotton clothes?’ asks Jim.
| Problem: | Diesel on polyester and cotton. |
| What to use: | Disposable rubber gloves, baby oil, cloth, dishwashing liquid, warm water (cotton); or methylated spirits, cloth (polyester). |
| How to apply: | You don’t want diesel all over your hands so put on rubber gloves and wipe with a little baby oil on a cloth. Put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage over the baby oil. When it feels like jelly, rinse in warm water. With synthetic fibres, first wipe with a dab of methylated spirits on a cloth. |
Q: ‘I practise judo three times a week’, reports Tony. ‘And I’ve got brown marks on my collar from dirt and sweat. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Dirt and sweat on cotton. |
| What to use: | NapiSan OxyAction MAX, warm to hot water. |
| How to apply: | Mix NapiSan OxyAction MAX and warm to hot water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Apply to the stain and leave for 20 minutes before washing and drying normally. |
Q: ‘What’s the best way to get dirt stains out of a cotton sports shirt that has velvety numbers?’ asks Brian. ‘I don’t want to damage the print by soaking it.’
Q: ‘I have a white T-shirt that I think is either cotton or a poly-cotton mix. I’m not sure exactly what stains are on it (I presume they’re food stains). But I applied white spirits to the stains before washing. To my horror, grey patches appeared in the places where I had dabbed the white spirits and my T-shirt smelled terrible. After this, I put the T-shirt in a bucket of water containing NapiSan OxyAction MAX and left it to soak for a week, after which I washed it again. The smell has gone but the grey stains are still there (that said, the stains have faded slightly). What can I do now?’
A: The reason the T-shirt turned grey is because the stain was a combination of oxide and protein. Before attempting any stain removal, do a stain diagnosis (see page 362). If in doubt, try a dab of glycerine or a dab of white vinegar on a cloth first. They’re great cleaners and don’t set stains. In this case, massage a little glycerine into the stains using your fingers. Leave for 20 minutes and scrub with a cake of bathroom soap that’s been run under cold water. Repeat until the stains are removed.
Q: ‘I’ve got fluorescent highlighter pen on my cotton trousers’, says Mark. ‘Can I get it off?’
| Problem: | Fluorescent highlighter pen on cotton. |
| What to use: | Fluorescent highlighter pen, cotton ball, white spirits; or 9 litre bucket, non-iodised salt, plastic bag, freezer. |
| How to apply: | Fluorescent pen contains its own solvent—so, strange as it may seem, you will need to draw on the trousers again using the same pen. While the ink is wet, rub with a little white spirits on a cotton ball. Wash and dry normally. If this doesn’t work, fill a bucket with water and add 1 cup of salt. Dip the stain in the salt solution, remove and place the garment in a plastic bag. Put it in the freezer and leave overnight. Remove from the plastic bag and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘My son purchased a leather jacket in Melbourne last week which was discounted because there’s pink highlighter on both sleeves’, reports Jayne. ‘Can you help?’
Q: ‘I dropped make-up on the front of my favourite white shirt’, says Theresa. ‘It’s synthetic. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Foundation make-up on synthetics. |
| What to use: | Methylated spirits, dishwashing liquid; white spirits, cloth, NapiSan Plus, water. |
| How to apply: | The shirt is synthetic, so wipe with methylated spirits first. Massage a little dishwashing liquid into the stain using your fingers and rinse in just-warm water. Repeat if needed. If there’s a faint shadow, wipe with a little white spirits on a cloth. Wash and dry normally. If the make-up contains colourstay, use the above technique and apply a paste of NapiSan Plus and water to the stain. Leave for 20 minutes and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘How can I remove grass and other greasy stains from the knees of my trousers?’ asks Phil.
| Problem: | Grass and grease on cotton. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cloth, dishwashing liquid. |
| How to apply: | To remove grass, wipe with a dab of white spirits on a cloth. To remove grease, put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Rinse and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘My son regularly gets mechanical grease on his woollen work jacket’, reports Debbie. ‘It has a cotton lining and reflector stripes on the outside over the wool. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Grease on wool. |
| What to use: | Dishwashing liquid, blood-heat water, cheap shampoo, blood-heat water, cheap hair conditioner, towel. |
| How to apply: | Put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain. Rinse in blood-heat water, then wash in a little shampoo and blood-heat water. Rinse in a little hair conditioner and blood-heat water. Then rinse again in blood-heat water, gently wring out and dry flat on a towel in the shade. |
Q: ‘While at the hairdressers, I got hair dye on my shirt’, reports Sherry. ‘How do you get it out?’
| Problem: | Hair dye on cotton. |
| What to use: | Same hair dye, disposable rubber gloves, cheap shampoo, cold water; or hair spray. |
| How to apply: | This sounds odd but it works. Hair dye contains its own solvent, so go back to the hairdresser and get the same brand and colour hair dye. Put on rubber gloves and rub a small amount of hair dye into the stain. When the stain starts to loosen, rub with a little shampoo on your fingers. Rinse in cold water and wash and dry normally. If the stain has just happened, spray with hair spray, allow to dry and brush off with the back of your hand. |
Q: ‘How do you remove hair spray from a woollen jumper?’ asks Deidre.
| Problem: | Hair spray on wool. |
| What to use: | Cheap shampoo, blood-heat water, cheap hair conditioner, towel. |
| How to apply: | Wash the garment in a little shampoo and blood-heat water. Rinse in a little hair conditioner and blood-heat water. Then rinse again in blood-heat water, gently wring out and dry flat on a towel in the shade. To minimise stress on wool fibres, always use blood-heat water. |
Q: ‘I got lip balm on my cotton knit dress’, reports Patricia. ‘How can I get it out?’
| Problem: | Lip balm on cotton. |
| What to use: | Dishwashing liquid, white spirits, cotton ball, blood-heat water. |
| How to apply: | Place a little dishwashing liquid on your fingers and rub into the stains. If the lip balm is coloured, wipe with a little white spirits on a cotton ball. Rinse in blood-heat water and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I’m a celebrant’, says Janice. ‘And there’s always stray lipstick at weddings. Is there something I can carry in my handbag to fix any stains before the photos?’
| Problem: | Lipstick on cotton. |
| What to use: | Small cloth, white spirits, pantyhose, zip-lock bag, damp cloth. |
| How to apply: | Saturate a cloth with white spirits and place in the toe of a pair of pantyhose. Cut the pantyhose, secure the cloth inside and tie off so it fits neatly into a zip-lock bag and store in your handbag ready to use. When needed, remove the cloth from the bag, wipe over the offending lipstick and then wipe with a damp cloth. |
Q: ‘I know this is unusual’, says Julie. ‘But how do you remove lipstick from a resuscitation dummy?’
| Problem: | Lipstick on plastic. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cotton ball, damp cloth. |
| How to apply: | While it’s a good idea to learn resuscitation, consider hygiene as well. Each person should use their own mouthguard on the dummy. To remove the lipstick, wipe with a dab of white spirits on a cotton ball, then wipe with a damp cloth. |
Q: ‘How do I get Liquid Paper correction fluid out of black trousers?’ asks Damien.
| Problem: | Liquid Paper on cotton. |
| What to use: | Liquid Paper Remover/Liquid Paper Thinner. |
| How to apply: | There’s a product called Liquid Paper Remover (or Liquid Paper Thinner) which is available from most shops that sell Liquid Paper. It comes with a sponge brush, which is ideal to remove the mark. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. |
Q: ‘I had an ink stain on my shirt that I removed with rotten milk’, reports Jo. ‘It’s left a faint greaselike stain. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Mark from rotten milk. |
| What to use: | Methylated spirits, cloth. |
| How to apply: | The greasy mark indicates the garment has synthetic fibres in it and the milk has become trapped. Wipe with a little methylated spirits on a cloth and wash and dry normally. |
Sally brought her mother’s silk wedding dress from the 1960s to a Stain Clinic. The dress had become part of the kids’ dress-up box and the silk had mould and dirt all over it. Shannon advised her to use kitty litter to absorb the stains because the fabric was delicate and the staining extensive. Sally was stunned. The technique involves half filling a large lidded box with clean kitty litter. Cover the kitty litter with a piece of plastic wrap, punch small holes in the plastic, then place the dress on top. Put the lid on the box and leave for 3 days. The kitty litter absorbs the moisture that’s causing the mould. To remove mould from silk, put coarse non-iodised salt in the toe of a pair of pantyhose and wipe over the stains. Leave to air in the sun. This technique works for any delicate or antique fabric.
Q: ‘How do I remove mould from leather jackets?’ asks Barbara. ‘They’ve been hanging in a wardrobe and there are white and mouldy looking spots on them.’
| Problem: | Mould on leather. |
| What to use: | Baby oil or leather conditioner, oil of cloves, microwave-safe bowl, cloth, microwave, cloth, zip-lock bag. |
| How to apply: | If the leather doesn’t darken when a drop of water is placed on it, use baby oil rather than leather conditioner, it’s much cheaper. Place 2 tablespoons of good quality leather conditioner or baby oil and ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir thoroughly and place a cloth on top. Place the bowl in the microwave and warm in 10-second bursts until the mixture melts into the cloth. Allow to cool, wipe the cloth over the leather and leave for 24 hours. Use another cloth to remove the mixture. Store the cleaning cloth in a zip-lock bag to use again (simply warm it again in the microwave). |
Q: ‘There’s a big blob of mustard on my work shirt’, reports Tim. ‘What should I do?’
| Problem: | Mustard on cotton. |
| What to use: | Dishwashing liquid, cold water, lavender oil, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Rinse in cold water. If any yellow mark remains, wipe with a little lavender oil on a cloth and wash and dry normally. |
There was confusion in Spotless about removing oil stains. Oils ain’t oils! The higher the carbon content, the more difficult the oil stain is to remove. As a general rule, remove dark oils such as car grease with a dab of baby oil on a cloth followed by dishwashing liquid massaged in with your fingers. To remove light oils, such as olive oil, massage dishwashing liquid into the stain with your fingers. If you accidentally used baby oil on a light oil stain, fix by massaging dishwashing liquid into the stain with your fingers until it feels like jelly, then rinse in blood-heat water.
Q: ‘I’ve got old car grease stains on my overalls’, says Paul. ‘Can I get it out?’
| Problem: | Old car grease/engine oil on fabric. |
| What to use: | Baby oil, dishwashing liquid, water. |
| How to apply: | Car grease has a high carbon content, so rub the stain with a little baby oil. As soon as the stain starts to loosen and spread, massage in dishwashing liquid with your fingers. When it feels like jelly, rinse in water. |
| Problem: | Peanut butter on cotton. |
| What to use: | Dishwashing liquid, cold water. |
| How to apply: | Remove as much peanut butter as possible. To remove the oil, put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Rinse with cold water and wash and dry normally. |
| Problem: | Pear on cotton. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Pear is high in tannins. Wipe with a little glycerine on a cloth and leave for 20 minutes. Wash and dry normally. |
There are different stain removal techniques for the type of pen used. We’ve mentioned how to remove ballpoint pen ink in Spotless (see page 66); here’s how to remove those other pen marks.
Permanent markers—write over the mark using the same pen. Then wipe with white spirits on a cotton bud. Wash and dry normally.
Artline—wipe with methylated spirits on a cotton bud. Wash and dry normally.
Whiteboard marker—wipe with methylated spirits on a cotton bud. Wash and dry normally.
Fluorescent pen—write over the mark using the same pen, then wipe the mark with white spirits on a cotton bud. Alternatively, fill a 9 litre bucket with water and add 1 cup of non-iodised salt, dip the stain in the salt solution, gently wring and place in a plastic bag before putting in the freezer. Wash and dry normally.
Gel pens—soak in methylated spirits for 10 minutes and rub over the pen mark with your fingers. If the mark doesn’t come out, soak again in methylated spirits for a further 10 minutes. You don’t need to rub too vigorously. Repeat until removed. Wash and dry normally.
Q: ‘I spilt some pumpkin soup over my favourite shawl’, says Raquel. ‘What should I do?’
| Problem: | Pumpkin on wool. |
| What to use: | White vinegar, cold water, cloth; or lavender oil, cloth, cheap shampoo, blood-heat water. |
| How to apply: | Pumpkin is high in vegetable dye. Remove as soon as possible with equal parts white vinegar and cold water on a cloth. If the pumpkin has set, wipe with a dab of lavender oil on a cloth and leave for 20 minutes. The shawl is made of wool, so wash in shampoo and blood-heat water. |
Q: ‘I got red wine on my linen suit’, says Max. ‘What can I do?’
| Problem: | Red wine on cotton. |
| What to use: | Cloth, white vinegar, blood-heat water. |
| How to apply: | Wipe with a cloth wrung out in white vinegar until the red colour is removed. Rinse in blood-heat water and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I was drying my clothes in front of the heater’, reports Rebecca. ‘And a cotton shirt was scorched. Can I fix it?’
| Problem: | Scorch mark on cotton. |
| What to use: | 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide, cloth, iron. |
| How to apply: | Wring out a cloth in 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide. Place the cloth over the scorch mark and run a cool iron over the top. The burn mark will transfer to the cloth. If it doesn’t, the cotton has been charred and can’t be fixed. If you love the shirt, sew or appliqué a patch over the top or dye the shirt a darker colour. |
Q: ‘I’ve got seafood stains on my shirt’, says Graham. ‘What can I do?’
| Problem: | Seafood on cotton. |
| What to use: | Cold water, dishwashing liquid. |
| How to apply: | Seafood contains protein and oil. Rinse in cold water first. Put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain. Rinse in cold water and wash and dry normally. |
| Problem: | Soy sauce on cotton. |
| What to use: | White vinegar, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Wipe the stain with a cloth wrung out in white vinegar, then wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I was out for dinner the other night’, says Lisa. ‘And I managed to get squid ink over my pale blue jumper. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Squid ink on wool. |
| What to use: | Rotten milk, spatula, cheap shampoo, blood-heat water. |
| How to apply: | Rot some milk in the sun until it forms lumps. Place the lumps on the ink stain. When the ink has been absorbed by the milk solids, remove the solids with a spatula. Because it’s made of wool, wash in a little shampoo dissolved in blood-heat water. |
Q: ‘How can you make clothes anti-static?’ asks Bill.
| Problem: | Static in clothes. |
| What to use: | Cheap hair conditioner, water, 1 litre spray pack. |
| How to apply: | Add 2 teaspoons of hair conditioner to the rinse cycle when washing your clothes. If you get static when wearing clothes, add ½ teaspoon of hair conditioner to a 1 litre spray pack of water and lightly mist over the clothes. |
Q: ‘I have a gorgeous red pashmina’, says Sally. ‘But the label has fallen off, leaving a sticky residue. How can I fix this?’
| Problem: | Sticky label on wool. |
| What to use: | Tea tree oil, pantyhose, damp cloth, cheap shampoo, blood-heat water. |
| How to apply: | Rub the area with a little tea tree oil on a pair of pantyhose, then wipe with a damp cloth. Because it’s made of wool, wash in a small amount of shampoo dissolved in blood-heat water. |
Q: ‘I have a relatively new denim jacket and the fabric is quite stiff’, reports Rhonda. ‘Is there a way to soften it?’
Q: ‘I got toothpaste on my suit’, reports Hussain. ‘What should I do?’
| Problem: | Toothpaste on wool. |
| What to use: | White vinegar, water, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Wring out a cloth in the mixture and wipe over the stain. Toothpaste contains peroxide and could bleach the wool so don’t leave it for long. |
Q: ‘My clothesline is under a gum tree and I have brown stains on my washing’, complains Craig. ‘The items are mostly made of cotton.’
Q: ‘I was eating a tuna salad for lunch and dropped some tuna on my skirt’, reports Deanna. ‘It’s left an oily mark. Can I get it off?’
| Problem: | Tuna (in oil) on cotton. |
| What to use: | Cold water, dishwashing liquid. |
| How to apply: | This is a protein and oil stain. To remove, rinse in cold water, then put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Rinse in cold water and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I’ve got Vaseline on my trousers’, complains Carol. ‘How do you get it out?’
| Problem: | Vaseline on cotton. |
| What to use: | Dishwashing liquid, warm water. |
| How to apply: | Place a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage over the spots until it feels like jelly. Rinse in warm water and wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I spilled hot wax on a cotton shirt’, says Bill. ‘The wax came off but left a white mark which I can’t remove. What do you suggest?’
| Problem: | Wax on cotton. |
| What to use: | Paper towel, ironing board, iron, tea tree oil, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Place several sheets of paper towel on top of your ironing board and lay the wax-stained garment on top. Put several more sheets of paper towel on top of the stain and apply a warm iron. The wax will melt into the paper towel. Keep changing the paper towel until all the wax is removed. If there’s a greasy mark, wipe with a little tea tree oil on a cloth before washing normally. |
Q: ‘I stored my clothes during winter’, says Amber. ‘They’ve now got yellow marks on them. What can I do?’
Q: ‘I’ve had to throw away four jumpers this year because of moth holes’, complains Marian. ‘And that’s despite hanging mothballs around my woollens. Do you have any suggestions to stop moths in their tracks? I don’t like using chemicals and would prefer natural remedies.’
TIP
If your wardrobe is prone to dampness, tie six sticks of white chalk with a ribbon and hang in your wardrobe to absorb moisture.
Q: ‘How can you stop jumpers from pilling?’ asks Bill.
TIP
To stop angora jumpers from shedding, place them in a plastic bag, remove as much air as possible and put in the freezer for 20 minutes to an hour. Remove from the freezer (brrrr!) and hang them for 10–20 minutes, to come to room temperature, before wearing.
No one likes wearing a scratchy jumper. To restore woollens and blended woollens to their fluffy glory, wash in cheap shampoo and blood-heat water, then rinse in cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water. Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade. The reason for using cheap shampoo and hair conditioner is they have fewer oils and perfumes and are gentler on the wool fibres. It’s also important to have the wash and rinse water at the same temperature to reduce stress on the wool fibres. And to prevent shrinkage or sagging, dry flat in the shade.
It’s a little trickier cleaning structured woollens such as suits, coats and jackets. To clean them, fill a pillowcase with 1 kg of unprocessed wheat bran and place the garment inside. Close the top of the pillowcase and give a vigorous shake. A more passive approach involves sitting on the closed pillowcase for an hour a day over the course of a week. Just make sure you get all the bran out when you remove the garment or it might look as though you’ve got bad dandruff.
Q: ‘I have a white wool (55 per cent wool and 45 per cent polyester) coat that I soaked in NapiSan. This turned it a shade of blotchy yellow/tan. I then soaked it in hydrogen peroxide (6 per cent and 18 per cent) and used a colour run remover but it does not seem to have helped in any way. What do I do?’
A: Chlorine-based bleaches burn wool, which is why the coat turned a yellowy brown colour. In this case, the fibres have been damaged. It may be beyond repair but try this solution. Mix 2 cups of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide, 8 tablespoons of washing soda and 9 litres of blood-heat water in a bucket. Place the coat in the mixture and put a plate over the top so it stays immersed. Leave for 6 hours. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a tub of blood-heat water and rinse the coat thoroughly. Dry flat in the shade. If the fabric is too fragile for this, dye it with a quality cold water wool dye. For an even dye, make sure the tub is large enough for the coat to move around easily.
Use the same dye water to colour other items, such as pillowcases and sheets or tired-looking bras.
To clean velvet, put 1 cup of unprocessed wheat bran in a pillowcase, add the item and seal the top of the pillowcase. Sit on it for an hour a day over the course of a week. Remove and shake away the bran.
TIP
If clothing has sequins, protect them by placing the clothes in a pair of pantyhose or a pillowcase when washing.
To make your suits look snappy, keep dry-cleaning to a minimum. The chemicals used in dry-cleaning weaken the fibres and shorten the life of the suit. Instead, after wearing, give a good brush before hanging on wooden hangers (wire ones don’t offer enough support). And don’t cram your suits into the wardrobe or they’ll become wrinkled. If you’re very particular, remove creases with a steamer rather than an iron because it’s gentler on the fibres.
Q: ‘I’ve got a funky suede jacket’, boasts Brad. ‘But it’s got general dirt markings over it. What do you suggest?
| Problem: | Dirty suede. |
| What to use: | Unprocessed wheat bran, white spirits, pillowcase, cotton ball, talcum powder, brush. |
| How to apply: | Mix 1 cup of unprocessed wheat bran with drops of white spirits until the mixture forms clumps that resemble brown sugar. Place the mixture in a pillowcase, add the suede jacket and then, as the Fonz used to say, sit on it! Do this for an hour a day (while watching TV or eating dinner) over the course of a week. The bran will scour the dirty marks away. Remove the jacket (somewhere outside is best) and shake until it’s free of bran. If there are grubby marks on the collar, wipe with a little white spirits on a cotton ball, then sprinkle with talcum powder and when dry, wipe off with a brush. |
Q: ‘I have one of those puffy jackets with a down filling which I keep in a zipped garment cover’, reports Sue. ‘Recently, I took it out and noticed the white jacket looks slightly yellow in certain parts. What can I do? The fabric is HyVent.’
| Problem: | Stained HyVent fabric (waterproof). |
| What to use: | Lemon juice, cloth, cake of bathroom soap, blood-heat water, damp cloth. |
| How to apply: | Wipe the stains with a little lemon juice on a cloth, then rub with a cake of bathroom soap that’s been dipped in blood-heat water. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry in the shade. |
Q: ‘My husband’s favourite leather jacket has stains on the collar from his neck’, says Carol-Ann. ‘Any ideas?’
| Problem: | Sweat marks on leather. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cloth, talcum powder, brush, saddle soap. |
| How to apply: | Wipe with a little white spirits on a cloth, sprinkle with talcum powder and brush away when dry. If the staining is extensive and has soaked into the leather, clean with saddle soap, following the manufacturer’s instructions. |
Q: ‘I have a Driza-Bone coat which needs to be cleaned’, reports Joanne. ‘It’s about 20 years old and in good condition.’
| Problem: | Dirty Driza-Bone. |
| What to use: | Cake of bathroom soap, cold water, pantyhose, damp cloth, white spirits, cotton ball, cloth, baby oil. |
| How to apply: | Run a cake of bathroom soap under cold water and place in the toe of a pair of pantyhose. Rub over the coat then wipe with a damp cloth. For bad staining, apply a little white spirits to a cotton ball and wipe over any marks. To keep it waterproof, dab baby oil onto a cloth and wipe over the coat in even strokes. |
Q: ‘I’ve spilt oily noodles on an expensive silk tie my wife bought me for Christmas’, says Omar. ‘Any ideas to help save the marriage would be greatly appreciated.’
Q: ‘I’ve got grease stains on a light tan leather bag’, says Amy. ‘The grease has left dark stains on the leather.’
| Problem: | Grease stains on leather. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cloth, talcum powder, brush; or leather conditioner. |
| How to apply: | What to do will depend on the type of leather. For hard-tanned leather (shiny, waxy finish), wipe with a little white spirits on a cloth. Then sprinkle with talcum powder and brush off when dry. If it’s soft-tanned leather (low sheen finish/kid or kangaroo hide), oil the bag with leather conditioner and leave for 2 weeks (it takes that long to dry). The stains will lighten as the bag dries. |
Q: ‘I pulled out my old white Glomesh bag from the cupboard’, reports Evelyn. ‘And it’s covered in brown stains. I have no idea what they are. Can they be removed?’
| Problem: | Brown marks on white Glomesh bag. |
| What to use: | CLR/Ranex, cotton bud (rust); or Colour Run Remover: Whites, cotton bud (dye); or glycerine, cloth (dirt). |
| How to apply: | The brown marks could be from several sources. Do a test first to see which solvent works. For rust, use CLR or Ranex on a cotton bud. For dye, use 1 part Colour Run Remover: Whites to 5 parts water on a cotton bud. For dirt, wipe with a little glycerine on a cloth. If none of these solutions work, see a restorer. |
Q: ‘I’ve got mould on a suede leather handbag’, says Mary. ‘Any ideas?’
| Problem: | Mould on suede. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cotton ball, non-iodised salt, talcum powder, brush. |
| How to apply: | Wipe the mouldy area with white spirits on a cotton ball. Then sprinkle on a mixture of 1 part salt to 3 parts talcum powder. Leave until completely dry and brush off. |
It’s annoying when you buy a new pair of shoes and they’re too tight when you put them on at home. If you can’t return them, try to stretch them. But we warn you—there’s a lot of variation in shoes and many are delicate so we can’t guarantee you won’t damage them using this technique. With that disclaimer in mind, here’s what you can do. If the shoes are made of hardy leather, heat the inside of the shoe with steam and rub the outside with petroleum jelly (Vaseline). Wear thick socks, put on the shoes and walk around until the shoes cool.
Q: ‘My husband has a pair of suede boots with rubber soles’, reports Elsa. ‘Every time he takes a step, they squeak. Is there any way I can quieten them?’
| Problem: | Squeaky shoes. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, cotton bud; or talcum powder. |
| How to apply: | Wipe along the seams with glycerine on a cotton bud. Alternatively, sprinkle talcum powder inside the shoes and that will gradually remove the squeak. |
Q: ‘I’ve got food stains on my suede shoes’, says Elizabeth. ‘What do you suggest?’
Q: ‘I’ve got chamois shoes’, reports Hazel. ‘And have no idea how to clean them.’
| Problem: | Dirty chamois shoes. |
| What to use: | Cake of bathroom soap, pantyhose, damp cloth. |
| How to apply: | Put a cake of bathroom soap into the toe of some pantyhose and rub over the shoes. Wipe with a damp cloth. Dry the shoes in the shade. |
The best way to clean ugg boots or sheepskin shoes is in the washing machine. Put 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo in each boot and place them into a pillowcase. Wash in cold water on the gentle cycle. When drying, stuff newspaper or old towels inside each boot and leave in the shade, so they don’t go stiff.
Q: ‘I’ve spilt fat or oil on my new sheepskin slippers’, says Morag. ‘How can I clean them?’
Q: ‘How can I clean my red leather gloves?’ asks Sammy.
| Problem: | Dirty leather gloves. |
| What to use: | Saddle soap. |
| How to apply: | Put the gloves on and massage your hands with saddle soap, making sure you get the saddle soap over every part of the glove. They’re ready to wear. For kid gloves, use a bran ball (see page 85). |
Q: ‘I am desperate to know how to remove mould from my suede gloves’, states Maxine. ‘What do you suggest?’
| Problem: | Mould on suede. |
| What to use: | Oil of cloves, water, 1 litre spray pack, stiff brush. |
| How to apply: | Mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a spray pack of water. Lightly mist over the gloves (don’t saturate them) and leave in the shade to dry. Brush the mould off with a stiff brush. If any mould remains, repeat. |
Q: ‘My husband owns a dark-coloured Akubra hat’, reports Geraldine. ‘What’s the best way to clean the band on the inside of the hat?’
| Problem: | Dirty Akubra hat. |
| What to use: | White spirits, cotton ball, talcum powder, brush; or fuller’s earth, water, damp cloth. |
| How to apply: | Wipe the stains with a dab of white spirits on a cotton ball, then sprinkle with talcum powder to absorb the white spirits. Leave to dry and brush off. For light-coloured Akubras, make a paste of fuller’s earth and water, leave over the dirt marks for a few minutes, then remove with a damp cloth. |
Q: ‘I’ve got a genuine Panama hat’, reports Wally. ‘But it’s got sweat marks on it. What do you suggest?’
| Problem: | Sweat marks on hat. |
| What to use: | Fuller’s earth, water, damp cloth; or bran ball. |
| How to apply: | Mix fuller’s earth and water to form a paste the consistency of thick cream and place on the marks. Leave for a few minutes and remove with a damp cloth. Alternatively, clean with a bran ball (use the search feature of your ebook reader to search for ‘bran ball’). |
