YELLOWING
On antique fabric
- If the fabric is synthetic, wipe with methylated spirits on a cloth and rinse in cold water before following the instructions below.
- Place a small mountain of uniodised salt over each mark.
- Squeeze drops of fresh lemon juice over each mountain of salt until it’s moist but doesn’t collapse. Stop squeezing before the juice hits the bottom of the salt. Leave in the sun to dry.
- Remove the salt when dry. Repeat, if needed.
- If yellowing is from contact with plastic, mix bicarb and cold water to the consistency of peanut butter.
- Apply to the stain and allow to dry. Then brush off.
- If the fabric is sturdy, wipe with a dab of CLR or Ranex on a cloth. Don’t get CLR or Ranex on your skin because it can cause irritation.
- As soon as the yellow mark bleeds, rinse under cold water.
- Wipe with white vinegar on a cloth.
- If the yellowing is from timber shelving, wipe with 2 drops of glycerine on a cloth. Leave for 90 minutes.
- In all cases, wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.
On ceramic
- Wipe with glycerine, then sprinkle with talcum powder and allow to dry.
- Put on rubber gloves and apply CLR or Ranex to the talcum powder and allow to soak in. Don’t get CLR or Ranex on your skin because it can cause irritation.
- Rinse with water. Dry in sunshine.
- Alternatively, add 4 denture tablets to a sink of hot water, immerse item and leave overnight. Dry in sunshine.
On cotton/fabric (not antique/silk/wool)
- For synthetic fibres, dip in methylated spirits and wring out tightly.
- For natural fibres, soak overnight in ½ lid of Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action and 9 litres of blood-heat (body temperature) to hot water. Don’t use on wool or silk.
- In both cases, wash according to the fabric. Dry in sunshine.
On ivory
- Ivory yellows with age and you can’t make it white again.
- Clean by mixing sweet almond oil and talcum powder to the consistency of runny cream.
- Apply the mixture with a cotton bud.
- Polish off immediately with a damp cotton bud.
On plastic
- Make a paste of glycerine and talcum powder.
- Gently rub the mixture onto the marks with a cloth.
- If the plastic has already perished (looks burnt), it can’t be salvaged.
On silk/wool
- Mix 2 teaspoons of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide in a 9-litre bucket of blood-heat (body temperature) water.
- Immerse the item and put a dinner plate on top to keep it fully in the solution. Leave for 6 hours.
- Remove and hand wash in a bucket of blood-heat water with 1 cup of white vinegar.
- Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo and blood-heat water.
- Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade away from the wind.
YOGHURT
On carpet/upholstery
- Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
- Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
- Wipe with a damp cloth.
- Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.
On cotton/fabric
- Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
- Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water. Rub the fabric against itself using your hands.
- Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.