2001 Archive

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October 

November

December

Archive By Topic

Health and Nutrition

Human Sciences

Environment

Animal Science

Agronomy

Horticulture

4-H

Consumer Affairs

Back

Auburn, Oct. 22---Halloween conjures up opportunities for a lot of ghastly stains. Think mushed pumpkins, smashed apples, puddles of punch, makeup smears and overflowing goodie bags that may mean candy stains. It's enough to spook anyone!

The Soap and Detergent Association has a bag of tricks to help scare those stain goblins away.

Always check the fabric care label for cleaning instructions.

Pumpkin and apple stains fall into the fruit category. Think about how an apple slice turns brown if it's left out. That is what happens to a fruit stain. The trick is to treat a fruit stain as soon as possible after the occurrence. Remove the excess fruit and run the fabric under cold water. If the item can't be washed immediately, rinsing it in cold water may stop the oxidation. As soon as possible, wash the garment using the warmest temperature that is safe for the fabric.

For makeup stains, remove any excess with the back of a spoon. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover, then wash the garment in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Warm or hot water will help soften the residue, so it can be more easily removed.

Chocolate and caramel candy stains should be pretreated with a prewash stain remover, then laundered using a detergent and a bleach that is safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, launder it again. Don't dry the garment until the stain is completely removed.

Halloween also means parties and possible stains on carpets or linens. The quicker you clean the area, the more likely the stain can be removed. For carpet stains, carefully remove any excess food or blot up liquids. Then, clean any remaining stains using a carpet cleaner. Read and follow the label directions. Be sure to only use products formulated for cleaning carpets. Other cleaning products can discolor the carpet. After cleaning, use a clean, white cloth or towel to blot the carpet until it's as dry as possible.

Source: Dr. Carol Centrallo, Apparel and Textile Management Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (334) 844-1325