How To Remove Ink Stains
Iodine is great for treating kids’ scrapes and cuts, but if it gets on clothes, the stains can be severe. Iodine is a dye, so you need to get to it quick and follow these steps to remove the stain.
How to remove iodine stains from clothing
- Start by immediately flushing the stain in plenty of cold, running water.
- Next, wash the clothing as per normal with washing powder or liquid – but don’t use bleach as it can set the stain.
How to remove iodine stains from non-washable fabrics
Use a sponge soaked in water to blot as much iodine from the fabric as possible. If the stain persists, seek professional help from a drycleaner.
How to remove iodine stains from carpets and furniture
- Start by quickly blotting up as much of the stain as possible.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild dishwashing liquid with one cup of warm water.
- Working from the inside of the stain, gently apply the cleaning solution to the stain.
- Blot with a dry cloth.
- Continue, slowly and patiently applying and blotting until the stain is removed. Repeat if necessary.
- Apply a few layers of white paper towel and weigh them down with a non-staining object. Leave overnight to dry, then vacuum to restore pile.
Stain remover notes
- The quicker you deal with a stain, the more likely you are to remove it.
- Unless it’s a fat stain, cold water is best for rinsing a stain, so as not to set it and make it harder to remove later.
- Before using a cleaning solution, test on an inconspicuous section, such as the inside of a sleeve, to check it won’t ruin the fabric.
- Always rinse out one cleaning solution before trying another to remove a stain as certain chemicals are not supposed to be mixed.
- Read the care instructions on the item of clothing before attempting vigorous stain removal. Some clothing may be too delicate to attempt stain removal and are better taken straight to the drycleaners.
- Don’t rub fabric harshly to remove stains as this can abrade fibres and cause fading.
- The white towel blotting method is often recommended for stain removal. Simply fold a clean white towel and, once you have treated the stain with water, gently dab it with the towel and check to see how much of the stain has transferred to the white towel.
- If using commercial stain removers and detergents, always follow the product label to understand the proper use and safety precautions you may need to take.
- It’s always easier to treat a stain on a washable fabric.
credit: kidspot
