How to Remove Fruit, Blood, Coffee, Grease, Gum, and Grass, Stains from Fabrics

REMOVAL FRUITS STAINS: Almost all fresh fruit stains, if worked on when moist, can be removed with water. Never use soap on them as it sets the color. On washed material, soak in cold water, then stretch over a large bowl, fastening on the edge with snap clothes pins to keep in place, and pour boiling water through. For small stains that resists the water treatment, stretch it over an embroidery hoop, dampen, and hold it over the fumes of a burning sulphur match. Peach and watermelon stains can be removed by soaking in pure glycerine and then washing in clear water. For silk or wool, stretch on a pad of blotting paper and sponge them on the wrong side with a piece of the same material dampened with warm water. And one last thing you can try on wools and silk is to use the left over water from boiling potatoes.

REMOVAL GRASS STAINS: For washable materials, rub molasses well into the grass stain and let it lie over night before laundering. If the grass stain is still fresh, wash the stain with alcohol, and rinse in warm water.

REMOVAL GREASE STAINS: If you have a clump of grease scrape it off first before beginning to work on the spot. On non-washable fabrics, a little talcum powder, allowed to remain on several hours before brushing off. Another thing that works, take a white blotting paper and press the spot with a warm iron. Machine or automobile grease requires loosening with lard before washing. With a pad underneath, rub lard will into the spot and sponge with warm water from the outside in.

REMOVAL BLOOD STAINS: Clear warm water will often remove a fresh blood stain. Fabrics that are washable, soak in warm suds of Naptha soap before washing. For old stains use a few drops of peroxide or ammonia in soaking water. Meat and blood juices should be soaked in cold water.

REMOVAL COFFEE STAINS: For coffee stains, rub the spot with the yolk of an egg beaten in very cold water. Rinse it out in cold water.

REMOVAL GUM STAINS: First with gum try to scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife blade. Place the spot between layers of soft paper and press with a warm iron. This absorbs the gum and the spot left can be taken out with gasoline.

Written by: Karen Malzeke-McDonald