How To Clean Anything

General Info:

Dye Stains or dye Transfer are the hardest to remove. Read the care instructions and any warnings on the garment label.

First soak up or blot any liquid and nueralize the stain by using a Ammonia solution of 1 teaspoon of Ammonia in 1 cup of water.

Next rinse and use a laundry pre-treat and let it soak for 30 minutes. Launder.

If the stain remains and the garment is colorfast, soak the entire garment in a dilute solution of liquid chlorine bleach (safe for the fabric) and water. (Test for colorfastness first.) Launder with a fabric safe bleach.

There are also a number of dye removers which are available in drug and grocery stores. However, color removers will also take out fabric colors as well as the stain.

Precaution: Chlorine bleach may change the color of the garment or cause irreversible damage. Therefore, it is important to check for color fastness before using. If the stain does not come out within 15 minutes of bleaching, it cannot be removed by bleaching.

General Info:
Be sure to check the helpful hints for the Do’s and Don’ts of stain removal and Six Sure Ways to Set Stains.

Tools & Chemicals:
Dish washing or fine fabric detergent, white terry towels, a large pot or strainer, a lemon, vinegar.

Technique:

• This is involved, so here we go! First, if the fruit juice was mixed with alcohol the stain may be set permenantly, but this is still worth a shot. Don’t wash this article in hot water, or dry in a dryer. Heat will set the stain forever, and possibly longer.
• Be certain that the fabric is durable, and not damaged by boiling water. Test a shirt tail for colourfastness and for durability by dipping into boiling water. If the fabric shrivels up into a crumpled, wrinkled mass, check our Find a Pro section to locate the closest Dry Cleaner.
• If the stain is dry or old, moisten with glycerin. Take the stained area and stretch it over a large pot or strainer. Secure with an elastic band or two. Put the shirt and pot in a tub or large sink, in case you spill any water. Boil a big pot of water, and from a couple of feet above slowly pour the water through the stains. Contrary to washing in hot water, this passes through the article taking the contaminents with it.
• If any of the stain remains, cut open a lemon and rub the lemon on the stains, then hang to dry.
• If the stain remains, mix some white vinegar and water 1:2, and then apply that to the stains, then hang to dry.
• If the stain remains soak in a digestant for 30 minutes, launder as you normally would in cold water, and hang to dry.
• If the stain persists, and the article is white and bleachable, wash in a bleach solution as directed by the manufacturer, and hang to dry. Never dry this article of clothing in the dryer until the stain is removed, or it will be set.

Last Resort:
If the stain remains, soak the whole article in fruit juice so it is at least the same color, or consider replacing the article of clothing.

General Info.:
Here are some tips on how to care for and store gentlemen’s accessories.

Ties:
Care – When taking off a tie, try to remove by gently loosening the knot, not by yanking on the collar loop which can stretch the fabric. Always have ties dry-cleaned by a reputable cleaner with experience in spot removal and non-fading silk cleaning methods. Non-experts should only attempt to gently blot fresh water spills with a dry, clean white cotton cloth. Leave all other stains to an expert.
Storage  Try to hang ties on brass hooks, with one tie per hook. For packing purposes, roll up ties to prevent wrinkling.

Belts :
Care To keep looking scuff-free, buff leather belts with a clean, soft cloth. Do not use shoe polish. Polish buckles with the appropriate metal polish when they start to look dull.
Storage Always hang by the buckle from a hook or roll them up and store in a drawer.

Shoes :
Care Suede and nubuck shoes need a protective spray. Re-apply often, especially after they’ve been wet. When necessary, lift flattened nap with an old toothbrush. Leather shoes need to be polished often. Instant polish works in a pinch, but nothing replaces old fashioned buffing with a shoe brush.
Storage  Try to use wooden shoe trees as much as possible. They preserve the shape of the shoe as well as absorbing moisture and odour. Also, never wear a pair of shoes two days in a row. They need time to dry out naturally.

General Info.:
Here are some tips on how to care for and store gentlemens outerwear.

Wool Coats :
Care – Dry-clean one or two times each winter. Always use strong wooden hangers not hooks to hang.
Storage Use mothballs or cedar-chips to protect during warmer months.

Leather Jackets :
Care If the jacket gets wet, always allow to dry on it’s own. Never use a heat source, which can dry out the leathers natural oils. Wipe off white salt stains with cool water and a soft cloth. When necessary, use an appropriate leather conditioner to repair marks and scratches.
Storage Use sturdy wooden hangers and never leave garment in a plastic dry-cleaner bag; this avoids drying out the leather.

General Info.:
Gore-Tex is a specially constructed fabric with pores small enough to repel water droplets but large enough to let body-moisture evaporate out. When sandwiched with different face fabrics ,Gore-Tex is a very comfortable ,waterproof material.

The enemies of Gore-Tex are dirt, salts and oils which, over time, will wear away the Durable Water Repellency (D.W.R.). D.W.R. promotes water beading up and running off rather than soaking into the fibres.

Technique :
Frequent washings with detergent will keep the D.W.R. from breaking down as quickly. Be sure to rinse completely as detergents by nature cause water to penetrate into fabric in order to wash away dirt. Often a second wash cycle without detergent is necessary to get rid of all the detergent residue.
Everyday use and constant flexing will also cause small cracks in the D.W.R.. Drying the garment in a hot dryer will cause the D.W.R. to partially melt, re-fuse and seal over the cracks. You can also use an iron to touch up the D.W.R..
Eventually, the D.W.R. coating will wear out. There are several D.W.R. restoration products available at your local outdoor store.

Grass stains will usually come out of your clothes if you pre-treat with vinegar before machine washing.

This question was submitted from Debbie.

“How do I clean automotive grease from clothing? ”

It is always best to treat any petroleum based stain as quickly as possible. Grease, etc. , attracts dirt and will destroy fabrics if untreated. Try these techniques :
First, when stain is fresh, blot as much excess with paper towels.

Next, we recommend using a spot remover / dry cleaning fluid. Follow the directions and use gloves in a well ventilated area. Place the garment with the stain facing onto a clean, white, absorbent cloth. Then soak another like cloth with the spotting solution and blot the stain from the back. The dissolved grease will transfer to the under cloth.

Rinse the garment with water and repeat only if necessary (dry cleaning fluid can be very hard on many fabrics).

Precautions:Always test on an inconspicuous area before using spotting chemicals.

This question was submitted from Darren H.

“How do you get hair gel and grease out of a suede jacket?”

Suede is very beautiful but terrible to clean.

Try these techniques :

About the only thing you can do is use a suede brush.

For the grease, cover with corn starch and leave overnight. The grease will wick into the corn starch then brush or vacuum off.

Otherwise, there is little you can do besides going to a professional with the skill and equipment to effectively clean stains from leather & suede.

General Info. :
Without proper care, leather (and suede) hiking boots will rot or else turn brittle and crack. Even newer waterproof boots need attention to keep the leather supple, conditioned and functionable.

Technique :
Some models are pre-treated at the factory and can be worn several times before waterproofing. Others , especially lighter boots, should be treated as soon as they are purchased.
After use, clean boots with clean, cool water and a medium stiff brush. If mud is allowed to dry on boots for any length of time natural oils can start to wick out of the leather.
Dry wet boots as soon as possible-take out footbeds and laces.
Re-apply the appropriate waterproofing often, especially after the boots have been soaked during use. Consult with the boot vendor for the best treatment for your particular pair.

Precaution :
Never dry wet boots with a direct intense heat source such as a campfire or blow-dryer. These will dry out the leather and weaken the glue.

To remove glue from clothes (White,hobby glue, School):

1. Gently scrape (use a spoon) off whatever you can.

2. Soak and agitate in cold water before washing. Do not use hot water it will cause coagulation between the fibers in the yarns of the fabric, making the stain difficult to remove.

3. Inspect before drying if stain is still present. Soak in cold water using a detergent or enzyme presoak product for about 30 minutes. Soak old stains for at least several hours.

Launder in warm (not hot) water, rinse, and inspect. If stain remains, soak an additional 30 minutes, then rewash. (Never put a stained fabric in a dryer. The heat from the dryer can set the stain.)

Always follow garment label warnings and instructions.