When you're on the road, a single stained garment can take a big dent out of your wardrobe options. Don't let a ring around your shirt collar or some French fry grease on your waterproof pants put a damper on your trip. Inside your hotel room and travel bag are a few items that can be used to stamp out stains. From ink to red wine, here are some stain removal tricks when you're in a pinch.
Body Oils/Makeup: Use a dab of shampoo or shaving cream as you would a detergent.
Chewing Gum/Candle Wax: Harden the gum or wax with ice and then peel it right off.
Coffee/Soy Sauce/Mustard: Blot the trouble spot with shaving cream, let it sit for 30 minutes, and rinse.
Deodorant/Sweat: Mix equal parts lemon juice (available at nearly any restaurant) and water, then hang clothing in the sun for several hours.
Fruit Juice: Soak the garment in cool water, rub a bar of soap on the stain, and then rinse with hot water.
Grease: Blot the stain with artificial sweetener — the yellow, pink, or blue packets left near the coffeemaker should do the trick.
Ink: Apply hairspray or toothpaste and allow it to set, then run under cool water while rubbing the stain gently.
Lipstick: Dab the stain with hairspray and rinse with warm water. Blotting it with bread also works, if bread is available.
Wine: Pour boiling water (from the coffee pot in your hotel, maybe?) on the stain from a height of three feet. It's probably best to do this in the bathtub.
And remember:
- Act fast. The sooner you attack the stain the better.
- Machine drying or ironing can set stains. Don't use these processes until you're sure you've tried everything.
- To avoid discoloration, it’s always a good idea to test on a small bit of fabric first.
- Avoid rings from the spots you treated by drying your clothes with the in-room blow dryer.
Photo by 23hours / shell belle, flickr.