Another Day, Another Stain

   My sweet husband and the rest of these clothing criminals I live with but especially my husband can create new stains you cannot wrap you mind around. You will stand there in the laundry room or over a hamper just shaking your head. You try to think of some scenario that could have possibly created this new monstrosity and wonder if disposable clothes in a new business venture that could skyrocket. My very favorite are the ones that have been sitting for a week just marinating and laughing at me as they sink deeper into the particles of the threads. I have used every stain remover on the market and not one works as well as some old fashioned basics and a couple of genius preemptive measures I take to assure I can take out anything short of permanent markers. Throw those ugly little markers in the trash and give them Crayola invisible markers since they can't act any better. Today I just wanted to list three tips you can use to take just about anything out and help save some scrubbing and ranting before it even happens. If this doesn't work then let's discuss those disposable garments or wrapping them in Saran Wrap.

• First off, Spray every clothing item that comes into your home with Scotchgard. Re spray every three months if it is a heavy use item. This helps more than anything else I have tried. Trust me, if you even let them hold it up to look at it once it gets home, they will stain it somehow. I'm right and you know it!
• Now, you walk in and the five year old has had a bloody nose while eating a chocolate bar and your husband just came over to help but he was having BBQ. We now have a trifecta of stains and you are in a whirl of hiss fit you can't get out of and figure you'll just throw it out. Well don't. Get out your economy size bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide and drench that shirt in it. Let it sit for ten minutes, throw is in the wash on hot (no matter what darn color it is) and let it run. I have used this method with all of these and lipstick, foundation make up, motor oil, cooking oil, paint, and rust. But this in oil drum size as often as needed.
• I'm going to share this one because it makes sense but has the least amount of a chance of success because it depends on said laundry criminals to do something to help. Place a bottle of Shout stain remover in each hamper. I know, this is a waste of time. These people do not have the where with all for this sort of forward thinking. Who are we kidding...
• These same people are going to beat your towels to death until they are flat and grimy causing you to wonder if they use soap when they bathe. We have all heard about using vinegar and baking soda. This does work very well but I find it leaves the towels stiff as well. To revive that fluff after this process, I will run them through an additional rinse cycle with Downy Original softener but also 10 drops of lavender oil. When the washer fills up and the softener and oil are mixed into the towels well, shut the washer off for an extended soak for an hour. Finish the cycle and dry the towels. 
  
• Lastly, Hang dry your clothes if you can. This has nothing to do with stains but it will extend the life of your clothes more than you think. 

#southernhearted
#laundrystains
​#wastenotwantnot

​