Chester's Clean House: Detergent

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Chester's Laundry Stain Removal Guide

If anyone tells you that they enjoy doing the laundry, you have to question their sanity. Laundry is just a fact of life, it has to be done. I don’t mind doing the laundry, but I do hate stains! Especially the set-in ones! Here are some of our best tips for removing laundry stains.

Blood Stain Removal

Hopefully you don’t have to use this great tip too often! The best way to remove blood stains, even dried-on blood stains is to make a paste out of meat tenderizer and water and apply to the stain. Let it stand for about an hour and rinse off with water. If the stain still exists, repeat and this time work the paste into the stain. Rinse off and launder as usual.

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Coffee Stain Removal

Coffee stains happen, luckily making your own coffee stain removal solution is easy. The first thing you should do with a coffee stain is rinse out as much of the stain with water as possible. The best way to do this is to turn the garment inside out and place it under a running faucet. Next mix 1 cup hot water with about 1 tsp of dish soap. Blot with a sponge and dry with a white terry cloth. If the stain is still there, try mixing 1 part distilled vinegar and 2 parts warm water. Again blot the area with a sponge and dry with a terry cloth towel. Do not rub, that will only spread the stain. Wash regularly and verify that the stain is completely removed before you dry it. You can repeat each of the coffee stain removal methods as needed. As always test for color fastness.

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Deodorant Stains Removal

Deodorant stains can ruin any dress or shirt. I have two different tricks for dealing with these stains, however, you must test each one first in a inconspicuous place to make sure that they do not cause the color to fade or damage the fabric. The first trick is to wipe the stain with white vinegar as a pre-treatment for the stain. Launder as usual and the stain should be gone. The second trick is to soak the deodorant stain with denatured alcohol. Once you have soaked the stain, wash with the highest temperature setting that you safely can use.

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Grass Stain Removal

Grass stains are horrible. If you can get to them before they completely set, then just use a pre-wash stain remover such as the Spray and Wash Stick. It will keep the stain from setting even if you pre-treat and ignore until your normal laundry day. However, if the grass stain has set completely, you have to take more drastic measures. Mix two parts of ammonia with one part vinegar. Work the mixture into the stain and then launder as usual.

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Homemade Laundry Detergent

Diane T. sent in her homemade laundry detergent:

Here’s a recipe for laundry detergent which makes no suds, leaves no residue, and leaves your clothes soft. I dry my clothes on a clothesline and since I started using this detergent, I rarely have to iron anything –the wrinkles seem to just fall out! This recipe makes almost 5 gallons at a cost of about $3.00. I use a cup of detergent per full load and get 55-60 loads of clothes from each batch of soap. Pretty cheap, yes? I make mine in a large recycled paint bucket with a lid and store it under the pantry counter. I keep a smaller container by the washing machine which I refill from the large bucket. I buy all the ingredients from my local Kroger grocery store or they can be purchased online, which would increase the cost. Since I have very hard water, I sometimes add ½ cup of baking soda to the wash load to soften the water. (This works great when washing dishes, too, both in the dishwasher and hand washing).

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP:

Ingredients:

1 very large container (5 gallon )
1 bar Fels Naptha Soap
1 ½ cups 20 Mule Team Borax
1 ½ cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Directions:

Put 12 cups (3 quarts) water in a large pan, bring to a boil.
Grate the bar of soap into a bowl and pour into the boiling water. (I shave the bar of soap with a potato peeler.)
Stir until dissolved.
Add the Borax and Washing Soda, stir until dissolved.
Put 8 cups (2 quarts) HOT water into a 5-gallon container.
Add soap mixture and stir well
Add 2 gallons ( 8 quarts) water, stir well.
Let mixture sit for 24 hours and it will kind of jell, like Jello.
Use a whisk or mixer (or paint blender) to make it smooth. This step is not absolutely necessary, but makes for a smoother soap.
Add 1 cup per regular washer load of clothes.

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Ink Stain Removal

Ink is one of the hardest things to get out of clothing. Inks are made in many different ways, so it is hard for me to tell you what will work best for removing your ink stain since I don’t know what kind of ink it is. The strategy for ink stain removal is to use a solvent to remove the stain from the fabric. Not all ink can be removed but you will not know about your stain until you try. In the worst case the following solvents will at least lighten the stain.

When working with all of these solutions soak a clean terry cloth rag with the solvent and blot at the stain. Never rub an ink stain because you will only work it further into the fabric. If you get an ink stain, treat it immediately if possible to make ink stain removal easier once you get home. You can treat with waterless hand sanitizer or just plain water if that is all that is available.

Hairspray is the most common ink solvent, and it works fairly well. Be patient and keep spraying and blotting. It will take some time for the stain to come up. Sometimes I will let the hairspray soak for a few moments before I blot. Rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover (acetone), Lestoil, and turpentine all work well on removing ink stains. Some ink formulas may need the use of one or more of these solvents to remove the ink.

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Laundry Odor Removal

Teri V. sent in the following tip:

I have a teenage son with raging hormones and body odor! To help fight the odors in the laundry I use the bleach cup in my washing machine and fill it with isopropyl alcohol. The rubbing alcohol not only boosts the power of the detergents, it also removes all of the odors, even the tough ones.

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Laundry Soap Residue Removal

If you start to notice that your laundry is coming out of your washer with soap residue or your clothes seem to be getting stiffer the more you wash them, then you have a detergent build-up in your washer. Adding one cup of white vinegar to your laundry will help to break up that residue. I recommend adding vinegar about once a month to keep your washer clean. Just make sure to never add vinegar to any load of laundry that you are adding bleach to.

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Red Wine Stain Removal

We have all been there before. You are having a wonderful time at a party and turn around to talk to a friend when you accidentally bump into a glass full of red wine. You new dress is ruined. To get the red wine stain out mix 1 tsp of dish detergent and 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide into a bowl. Use a clean towel or sponge to dab the area. Start from the outside and dab your way around the stain slowly working toward the center of the stain as it is removed. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach your clothing so test before you begin.

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Tough Laundry Stain Removal

If a stain has been completely set-in and even if it has already gone through the dryer, Lestoil can still save the day. Work the Lestoil into the stain and launder as usual. Make sure that you never use Lestoil on any garments that are dry-clean only. Also, test in an area that will not be noticed to make sure that it does not fade or damage your clothing.

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Share Your Tips

Do you have a great laundry stain removal tip? Please add it to the comments or email it to us so that we can share it. Together we can knock out even the toughest stains.

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The Best Coffee Stain Remover for Fabrics and Carpet!

Every coffee drinker has had to deal with a bad coffee stain at one time or another. Seeing as how most people cannot get themselves going without coffee in the morning, a spill is going to happen. Now that every fast food drive-thru offers decent coffee, car spills are also becoming quite common. With coffee spills, make sure that you always blot the area with a dry cloth. If you try to rub out the spill, you will just spread the stain and cause it to set faster.

The best coffee stain remover can be made out of common household items.

If the coffee stain has already set, don’t worry. We have a fantastic coffee stain remover for you. To make your own coffee stain remover for fabrics and carpets, mix 1 teaspoon of a clear liquid dish washing detergent with 1 cup warm water and sponge the area with the detergent solution. Blot again with a dry, clean terry cloth. Then, mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water and sponge the area with the solution. Blot dry again. Remove the excess vinegar with a sponge and clean water. Dry with a fresh cloth. Again, make sure to avoid rubbing, this can cause the stain to spread. This homemade cleaning system will remove even the worst set-in coffee stain. Just make sure to always test your fabric first to make sure that it will not discolor.

If you have just spilled coffee on yourself or your car’s interior, there is a simple way to reduce the stain. Using waterless hand sanitizer, you can work out the majority of the stain. With the recent flu scare, if you do not have your own hand sanitizer, I’m sure that someone around you will! Hopefully, they are willing to share.

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How to Clean a Mop

It doesn’t matter how often that you clean your floors, if you are not using a clean mop, all you’re doing is spreading the same dirt around. Most people don’t look forward to mopping their floors, but we all know that for large areas, there is still no substitute for the old mop and bucket! Don’t worry; we have a couple of great tricks to help you clean faster and better with that old mop.

Without a clean mop, you’re just spreading dirt around!

First of all, mops have gotten a lot better over the last decade. I recommend getting a mop with a self-wringing head, like the Lipman Twist mop. Besides keeping your hands cleaner, these mops have a removable heads that are machine washable. This makes keeping the mop head clean a snap and lets you replace it with a new one as needed. When you are done cleaning your floors with them, just throw them in the washing machine. Use the delicate setting with the water as hot as possible. Use minimal detergent and no fabric softener. Do not use any bleach as bleach can destroy the cleaning fibers, shortening the mop head's life! Some mop heads can also be thrown directly in your dryer. Just check the label and follow the directions. Do not use any dryer sheets, as they may reduce the cleaning power of the mop.

While you are mopping, make sure that you keep cleaning the dirt from the mop. If you can, rinse the mop often in a sink or washbasin before dipping in your detergent solution. This will make your cleaning solution stay clean throughout the mopping. If you do not have the ability to rinse the mop, get a second bucket filled with warm, clean water and use it as a pre-rinse before putting the mop back in your cleaning solution. This sounds like more work, but the increased cleaning power of a clean mop will reduce the overall time required to get great results! This also will allow you to use the same bucket of cleaning solution for a larger area, reducing the amount of cleaning products that you use.

If you do not have a machine washable mop, rinse and wring out the mop until the rinse water comes out clean. Use the hottest water that you can to kill off any bacteria. Store your mop with the mop head up and away from the wall. This will help it dry better and will reduce the chances of mold. You can always sanitize the mop head with a rinse of water and hydrogen peroxide after each use. Just make sure that you rinse it out completely when you are done.

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Tip and Tricks for Cleaning Wallpaper

There are a lot of tips for cleaning wallpaper. Wallpaper presents special challenges because it is generally made of a coated paper or vinyl, adhered to your wall with an adhesive. By improperly or aggressively cleaning, you can easily ruin it. Too much moisture on paper-based wallpaper will reduce it to scraps. Vinyl, modern wallpaper is much more forgiving, but still requires a gentle touch.

Take your time, when cleaning wallpaper and always first test your cleaning in an inconspicuous place!

If you have modern wallpaper, consult the manufacturer as to the best cleaning techniques. However, if you do not know the exact type of wallpaper that you have you can use the following method for cleaning. To clean large areas of wallpaper, get two buckets. Fill one bucket with warm water with a few drops of dish detergent. Fill the second bucket with cool, clean water. Clean the walls with a sponge barely damp with the detergent water. Use minimal pressure and quickly wipe off the surface with a sponge dampened with the cool water to remove any excess detergent. Quickly dry the area with a dry cloth by blotting the entire area. Work small areas to minimize the amount of moisture and to guarantee that you get each area dry before moving on. Always test this procedure on a small inconspicuous area of your wallpaper to make sure that it doesn't cause any damage.

To remove scuff marks from your wallpaper, here are a few good tips:

Pink pencil erasers used with a very light touch can do a great job, just start with a small sample area.
Kneaded erasers also can be very effective and offer less chance for damaging the paper.
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are very effective, just be gentle. You can take the finish off very quickly with too much scrubbing!
I had heard rumors that wadded up white bread also works. I was very hesitant, but I did try it. It does work, a little bit. It is not nearly as effective as the other methods on tough marks, but it does remove the light ones. Just make sure to clean up all of the little bits that are going to fall off, you don't need to attract ants after all!

With a little patience, you can get your wallpaper looking great!

Homemade Carpet Shampoo

Carpet Shampoo is the best cleaner to really deep clean your carpets. Buying it in the store can get pretty expensive. We like to use a 1/2 cup of laundry detergent, 1 teaspoon of ammonia, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and about 4 cups of hot water. Mix the ingredients into a medium size bowl with a whisk until it makes a nice lather. Use a sponge to lightly rub the lather over the carpet. Once the lather has dried completely, vacuum and enjoy your fresh clean carpets. It works best if you vacuum before spreading the lather. If you have a foaming spray bottle you can also use it instead of the bowl.

Cut Down On Your Waste By Using Concentrated Products

Many mass market products now come in concentrated forms. We have been using All Mighty for a while now and love it. It does just as good as a job as the detergent that comes in the much larger container. This little bottle is enough for 32 loads! Many brands of fabric soften also come in concentrated forms and many of them have refills you can buy that come in more recyclable materials. If every household would use these smaller packages we would save lots of landfill space. Next time you are at the store look for the concentrated version of products you already use, you might be surprised that the manufactures usually pass on their savings in packaging materials to you.

Latex Paint Spills

If you spill latex paint on your carpet, don't fear, but also don't hesitate. Quick action is the best way to keep it from becoming permanent. First blot with a clean, absorbent cloth. Always work from the outside in to not spread the paint. Next sponge with cool water and blot again until you've removed as much paint as you can.
Then, mix one teaspoon mild dishwashing detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. Blot the paint with the mixture, using a clean cloth. Let the area dry and vacuum thoroughly.

How to Clean Hairspray Stains from Solid Surfaces

Most hairspray stains or overspray can be removed from most solid surfaces with a simple mixture of dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a sponge or clean cloth and work the residue off of the surface. For set stains, rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth will break it down enough to remove with the sudsy water. If you remove hairspray from wood, make sure that you polish or wax the wood as soon as possible after cleaning.

Smelly Bath Towels

Smelly bath towels make you feel like you just got dirty after taking a shower. They can also be very embarrassing if you have company over. The first step towards alleviating this problem is to properly clean them. Unless the manufacturer's tag recommends against it, wash your towels in hot water and add 1/2 cup of borax to each load. Add 3/4 cup if it is a high capacity washer. Make sure that your towels are completely dry before folding or placing inside your cupboards. After using your towels always hang unfolded and let air dry completely before putting them away. If your towels do not lose their scent after washing with detergent and borax, soak for an hour in a mixture of 1/2 cup borax and warm water and then rewash with a 1/2 cup of bleach added to the washer. If the smell continues after even this...it's time to buy new towels!

How to Clean Your Baseball Cap

I have a favorite hat. It's really been through a lot over the years. One thing I hate is getting the sweet stain circle around the headband area. To clean your baseball hats and remove the stains first pretreat with liquid laundry detergent. Soft hats can be then thrown right in your washers. Wash on the gentle cycle and air dry. Do not use your dryer, it will shrink and possibly destroy your hat. For shaped hats, you have to support them before laundering otherwise they will completely loose their shape. You can use two strainers and press the hat between them. Tie the strainers together and launder.

Keep Your Wooden Cutting Board!

I have always preferred wooden cutting boards as opposed to plastic. Something about them just seemed so homey. I had heard that plastic board were safe because they’re dishwasher safe. But, still, I stuck with my wooden board and was just extra careful in my cleaning and use of it. Now, it’s come to light that wooden boards may be superior to plastic in the anti-bacteria department. Wood, if properly maintained, can be self healing. Smaller scratches can close up on their own. So, now I get to feel clever for standing by my wooden board. Wooden cutting boards should never be left soaking in water, and you should avoid full immersion into water if at all possible. Only use mild detergent and allow it to dry before putting it away. In addition to washing it, I like to disinfect it using undiluted white vinegar. I keep a spray bottle of it in the kitchen for lots of reasons. The acetic acid in the vinegar will kill salmonella, E coli and staph. If your cutting board starts to get a little smelling from chopping garlic or onions, just slice a lemon in half and drag it across the surface. Wooden cutting surfaces also need to be oiled once in a while to keep them from drying out or cracking. Only use food grade mineral oil. Do not use olive or vegetable oil. They will turn your board rancid. Rub a generous quantity of oil over the board and let it sit for an hour or so. Wipe any excess oil off with a clean cloth and wash it as usual. I oil my board every couple of months or whenever it’s looking dry. You can also oil wooden spoons in the same manner to prolong their life.

Cleaning Your Rubber-Backed Bathroom Rugs

Rubber-backed rugs are perfect for bathrooms. They are skid-free and surprisingly easy to clean. Make sure that there are no special care instructions on them and toss them in the washing machine. Make sure that you sort by color. Use the gentle cycle, cool water setting, and basic laundry detergent, absolutely no bleach! Line dry the rugs with the rubber side up. Once dry, fluff the rugs with your hands.

Refresh Your Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths are fantastic and an absolute must for cleaning around your home. These cloths do get dirty and need to be cleaned. Heat destroys then, and certain chemicals, like bleach, melt them so you have to be very careful. To clean your microfiber cloths, soak them in a warm, not hot, water bath with dish soap for about an hour. Then wash them in your washing machine using the lowest temperature setting, gentle cycle, and regular detergent. Do not use any bleach or fabric softener, this will destroy them. Let the microfiber cloths air dry and they should be good as new!

How to Remove Crayon Marks from Carpet

Kids (and many adults) cannot get enough crayons. It sometimes seems like kids cannot get enough paper. If you have found a mysterious crayon mark (or a full picture) on your carpets don't worry. First, you need to remove as much of the crayon as possible. Using a fingernail or dull knife, scrape off as much as you can. Next, spray the marks with WD-40 and let it sit for 5 minutes. Using a stiff brush, scrub the marks and then wipe with a paper towel. Apply a second coat of the WD-40 to the marks. Now, scrub the mark with a mixture of liquid dish washing detergent and water. Scrub the marks again with the stiff brush and work the mixture in a circular motion. Finally, use a sponge and warm water to clean up the remaining cleaner and WD-40. Repeat if necessary.

Fruit Drink on my Carpet!

Ever notice how the lighter colored carpets attract the red fruit juices? It's almost like they need each other. The best way to break these two up is to get to the stain as quickly as possible. Fill one container with a cup of warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of clear dish washing detergent. Fill a second container with just warm water. Working from the outside of the stain into the middle alternate the detergent solution and the water, changing towels between each change. Once the stain is removed, blot dry with a final clean dry towel. If the stain has had time to set and the detergent/warm water doesn't completely remove the stain, make two more containers of solutions. Fill the first with 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 cup warm water and the second with 1 cup white vinegar and 2 cups warm water. Now alternate working the stain with each of the two new solutions each time followed by working the stain with just the warm water. Use a clean towel each time you change solutions. Finish with the warm water and blot dry.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet

To remove coffee stains from your carpet quickly blot the area with a clean, white cloth. Make sure to absorb as much of the liquid as you can. Next mix 1 teaspoon of a clear liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup warm water and sponge the area with the detergent solution. Blot again with a dry, clean cloth. Then, mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water and sponge the area with the solution. Blot dry agin. Remove the excess vinegar with a sponge and clean water. Dry with a fresh cloth. Make sure to avoid rubbing, this can cause the stain to spread

Removing Sweat Stains from Shirts

Sweat stains are a part of normal life. After being in a very warm wedding last weekend, I can tell you that sometimes they cannot be avoided. If you are using bleach in your wash, scrub the sweat stains with water and lemon juice. Launder as usual. If you are not using bleach, scrub the stains with white vinegar and wash as usual. Do not ever put white vinegar into a washer with bleach, it creates toxic gases!

Removing Grease Stains From Clothing

Whether you work on cars, bikes, or any other mechanical devices, I am sure that you have encountered a few grease stains on your clothing. Grease is particularly nasty because of its' inherent ability to not break down and to withstand heat and friction. To clean grease from clothing, you need to first get the right tool for the job. Basic dish washing soap is designed to do one thing, break down grease. Also, dish washing liquid will not harm most clothing. Always test any clothing cleaning treatment in an inconspicuous place, inside seam, etc. Rub the dish washing detergent into the grease until it begins to break down. Launder the clothing as usual.

Removing Oil-Based Paint from Clothing

Last year I bought two new pairs of jeans. They fit great and were still a solid color when I decided to paint the doors on my garage. I (as always) was extremely careful covering all areas to not be painted. I also practiced very careful brush strokes to keep the paint on the brushes. The door came out great. I didn't get a drop on me until I was cleaning up my drop-cloth and it rubbed paint directly onto my pants. To remove the paint, act fast and blot, don't rub. If you rub the stain it will only get forced deeper into the cloth. Apply a small amount of paint thinner or alcohol to a clean cloth and test on the inside seem of one of your pant legs to make sure it doesn't damage the color or the fabric. Once you have spot treated the area and the paint begins to soften, remove the remainder of the paint by agitating it in a solution of water and a strong liquid detergent. Once the majority of the paint has been removed, launder immediately. This will remove the final paint residue and all of the solvents.

Laundry Stain Removal Week

This week on Chester's Clean House we will be discussing laundry stain tips. If you have a tip you would like to share please email me. We'll start off the week with an oldie but goodie.

To remove ball point pen ink from fabric use hairspray. Spray on a liberal amount and then scrub with a small amount of detergent. Rinse in cold water since hot water may set a non-grease based stain. Wash as you normally would.

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