All you need to know
- Treat stains ASAP. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get rid of. Avoid tumble-drying or ironing before cleaning as the heat sets the stains.
- Choose the right water temperature. Choosing the wrong one can actually set stains. Use warm water for oily/fatty stains; cold water for all other stains ex. coffee, blood, chocolate, ketchup, red wine.
- Use gentle stain removers. NO bleach & brighteners, which only fade natural dyes, strip and damage the fibers. Spot test if unsure.
- Gently scrub or dab, never scrub vigorously.
- General stain remover using baking soda and vinegar:
- The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a disinfectant and reacts with the baking soda to lift stains. This combination is also great for brightening whites.
- Step 1 | Sprinkle baking soda and pour some vinegar onto stain. Let sit for 30 minutes. Gently scrub the paste to help lift the stain.
- Step 2 | If there's residual stain, soak in 1 part vinegar + 4 parts warm water for 30 minutes (better if overnight). For deep stains, you may need to repeat this 2-4 times.
- Step 3 | Launder as usual.
- Oxy bleach: You can also use oxy bleach instead of vinegar. Mix a few scoops with warm water and soak overnight. Oxy bleach is color-safe, chlorine-free, and free of harsh chemical smells. It safely and effectively brightens, disinfects, and removes dirt, stains, and odors. Search for 'oxygen bleach' on Lazada/Shopee.
Common stains
- Oils (natural body oils, lotions, food). Spot clean with mild dishwashing liquid, a natural de-greaser. Wet stain with lukewarm/warm water, gently rub with dish soap and launder as usual. The soap attaches to the oils and helps you rinse them off, similar to cleaning oily dishes.
- Blood. Fresh/wet blood: rinse immediately with a blast of cold water so it doesn't set. Gently rub with soap and rinse with cold water. Dried blood: apply a thick paste of salt + cold water onto stain and let soak 20 minutes. Gently rub and rinse with cold water.
