Removing Ink, Dye and Polish
If you ever spilled ink, dye, or nail polish on your clothing then you’re familiar with the ‘this is ruined’ feeling that sets in along with the new stain. But, believe it or not, your clothes are far from ruined. The advice below will help you remove those seemingly permanent stains caused by dye, polish, iodine, ink and rust.
Note: Always test an inconspicuous area for colourfastness, etc. before treating the exposed area. Also note that certain stains are permanent.
Marker Pen
Remove marker stains such as from a Sharpie pen, can be accomplished in the same way ink stains are removed. Always make every attempt to flush the stain as soon as it happens. After a garment has been laundered and dried, then ironed, the stain will be next to impossible to remove.
Crayon
Crayon stains can be removed by removed by placing the stained clothing on white cloth or paper towels. Spray well with WD-40, or a commercial product such as Goo Gone. Allow to stand for a few minutes. Turn the garment over and apply WD-40 to the back of the stain, once again allowing to stand for a few minutes. Use a good liquid laundry detergent and work into both sides of the stain, beginning with the back side. Wash in hot water with a colour safe bleach, and check clothing closely at the end of the wash cycle to determine if the stain has been removed. If not, repeat process.
Shoe Polish
To remove liquid shoe polish from clothing, use one part isopropyl alcohol to two parts cool water for coloured fabrics, and pure isopropyl alcohol for whites. Blot the stain to remove excess. Pre-treat with a good pre wash stain remover, such as Shout, and launder per care label instructions. With paste shoe polish, scrape the excess from the garment with a dull butter knife. Pre treat with a pre wash stain remover, let stand for a few minutes, and rinse in cool water. Rub liquid detergent into the stain and launder garment with a bleach safe for fabrics. Always follow care label instructions when laundering. To remove from carpeting, sponge the area with a small amount of dry cleaning fluid. Do not rub. Blot the stain to remove excess. Mix one teaspoon of a mild non-bleaching detergent with a cup of lukewarm water, and blot the stain. Sponge with clean water to remove excess and cleaning agent. Blot to dry.
Furniture Polish Oil
To remove furniture polish from clothing. Blot the stain with the cleaning fluid to remove. Do not rub the stain, as this will drive it further into the fabric. Blot the stain with an absorbent white pad until all traces of colour vanish. Mix a teaspoon of colour safe laundry detergent with one cup of warm water. Blot the stain to remove any residue from the cleaning process. Then, sponge with cool water to remove the detergent solution, and launder per care label instructions. To remove from carpeting, carefully blot up any excess. Apply an absorbent, such as cornmeal, to the carpeting. Let stand to absorb the polish, and then vacuum the area. Blot until all traces of furniture polish are removed. Sponge the area with lukewarm water and allow to dry. Repeat as necessary to remove all traces. Car mechanic waterless hand cleaner is also reported to work well on removing furniture polish stains from carpeting. Apply with a clean white cloth, let stand for about 20 minutes, and blot with warm water and an absorbent pad to remove stain and excess residue.
Oil Paint
Oil paint can be removed from clothing by using distillates such as acetone, lighter fluid, or turpentine. Because these chemicals can be harsh, first try using lamp oil or kerosene to remove. Dab the distillate on the stain with a clean white cloth until all traces are removed from the garment. Rinse the garment well with cool running water. Pre-soak the garment with a stain remover such as Shout for approximately 15 minutes, and launder per label care instructions.
Vaseline
Petroleum jelly, or Vaseline as it is commonly called, is an oil-based product that can be removed from clothing using this procedure. First, scrape away any excess with a spoon or dull butter knife, being careful to not damage the fabric. Next, wet the stain with isopropyl alcohol and blot the area with a clean white absorbent pad. You will notice the rubbing alcohol breaking down the oil in petroleum jelly. Continue this process until no more residue is visible. Mix a solution of one tablespoon dish washing liquid to one cup warm water, and apply to the stain with a spray bottle. Blot the stain with paper towel to lift the remaining petroleum jelly. If the stain persists, spray the area with hydrogen peroxide, and allow to dry. This will break the stain up even further. Use a pre-soak treatment on the garment, and allow to stand at least 15 minutes, then launder per care label instructions. Dry clean only is best handled by a professional. For carpeting, use a spoon to pick up the excess, working from the edge of the stain to the centre. Blot up any excess with paper towel. Using a clean white absorbent pad, apply isopropyl alcohol or a good citrus based solvent to the area. Blot up as much of the stain as possible, insuring that you do not over saturate the carpet with the cleaning agent. Rinse with warm water and blot up the excess moisture. If the stain persists, mix a solution of one tablespoon washing up liquid with one quart of water. Spray this solution on the area, being sure not to over soak. Allow to stand at least five minutes, and blot up with paper towel. Rinse with warm water and blot dry. To remove oil stains from clothing, apply an absorbent compound such as baby powder or cornstarch to the area. allow to stand for at least fifteen minutes, and brush away the powder. Place the garment on paper towel with stain side down. Apply a dry cleaning solvent to the stain, and change paper towels frequently as they pick up the oil stain. Spray the stain with a pre-soak cleanser such as Shout, and let stand for at least a half hour. Launder as usual following care label instructions. For carpeting, pick up any excess with a spoon. Blot with an absorbent pad to remove remaining residue. Apply a carpet spot remover, following all directions and precautions, with an absorbent pad. Be careful to not soak the carpeting. Blot the stain until all traces of the oil are gone. Mix one tablespoon of a grease cutting liquid dish soap to one quart of water. With a spray bottle, apply this solution to the carpet, and blot until all residue is gone. Rinse with warm water and blot up all excess with paper towels. Make a pad of paper towel, and place over the stain, Weight the paper towel with a heavy object that is non-absorbent, and leave overnight to dry. Vacuum the carpet to restore pile.
Ink
Removing ink stains can be difficult. The most important thing to do is to try to remove the stain as quickly as possible before it sets. Try this method to remove ink - first dab with a clean wet sponge until no more ink is lifted. Allow the stain to air dry. Spray the stain with hairspray, and then place the stain between sheets of paper towel - one in back, one in front. Working from the back side of the stain, blot into the other sheet of paper towel until the stain is lifted. Use a good laundry pre-treatment on the stain, and launder per care label instructions. Allow the garment to air dry, as placing it in a hot dryer can set the stain if not fully removed. Repeat the process as necessary.
Removing ink stains from carpeting is best accomplished through the use of 90% isopropyl alcohol. Always try to treat the stain as quickly as possible. Using a clean white cloth, dab the alcohol onto the stain, being careful not to spread the stain further. Never pour the alcohol onto the carpeting. Blot the stain for removal - never rub! Repeat this process until all traces of the stain are gone.