Nov-Dec-Jan | 2019-2020

FEATURE

BEST METHOD TO REMOVE STAINS

As Harr y Winston said, “People will stare. Make it worth their while.” – let’s hope people are staring at your stylish clothes, and not at the stains on your clothes! Despite how careful we are, a glass of wine, a delicious morsel of food or an unfortunate crayon from the kids might unknowingly make their way to our beloved sartorial possessions. Read on and find out how best to remove stains.

Whether it’s a food stain or stains from perspiration, every stain reacts differently to different clothing due to the fabric’s composition and coloring process. Avoid putting stained garments in the dryer, as the heat will cause the discoloration to set permanently. Stains need prompt treatment for successful removal. Sadly, hand washing is not an effective method of removing stain. This leaves us with the option of dry cleaning and chemical spotting. Can dry cleaning remove all stains? The question can only be answered if the real meaning of dry cleaning is first understood. Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning clothing using a chemical solvent (other than normal water). All stains, including the most disastrous ones can be removed with ease if their special solvents and equipment are used. For stains to be removed with success, a number of factors need to be considered.These factors are: • The nature of the stain • The type of fabric • The colorfastness of the dye Stains cannot be removed through dry cleaning if: • The stains are oxidized, old or are set in the fabric

• The fabrics are of a delicate nature that limits the degree of stain removal • The dye in the fabric is soluble, meaning that it will be removed together with the stain • The stain is stronger than the dye The best way to deal with a stain on your clothes is to take them to an expert dry cleaner as soon as possible. Point out the type of stain to the dry cleaner as this will greatly improve the chances of successful removal. Never put stained clothes away as exposure to the environment and the warmth of the storage will only set the stain making the stain more difficult to remove. You should not try to remove the stain with a common household bleaching agent. Most bleaches remove stains through oxidation, meaning that if they fail in removing the stain, then the bleaches will complete the oxidation process.This will further fix the stain making it impossible to remove through dry cleaning.Try to blot the stain with a clean tissue paper to remove as much stain as possible. It is therefore very important to take your stained clothes to an expert for dry cleaning as soon as possible. Dry cleaning can eliminate all but a few stains from your clothes.

Need some help with dry cleaning? Drop by Essentials to find out more!

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