Laundry - Vacation Stains

Whether families and friends head to the beach this summer or engage in a “staycation,” both will be accompanied by barbeques, suntan lotion and fun outdoor activities – and the stains that come with them.

While laundry is the last thing on everyone’s minds as they try to relax, treating stains properly can save your time and your clothes. Experts from the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science, the online hub for everything laundry, offer the following fabric care tips to help removes common vacation stains –from suntan lotion on your bathing suit to ketchup from a hot dog. First, check the care label on the garment. Next, follow these tips and then enjoy the rest of the vacation!

• Sunscreen all over the bathing suit? Check an invisible corner to be sure that the treatment you choose will not affect the color of the garment. Remove any excess lotion with the back of a butter knife or a spoon. Soak the stained area in a mixture of detergent and water. Wash in the warmest water possible for the fabric. Air dry and check the garment carefully for any residue.
• Ketchup on that hot dog caused a bit of a mess? Rub liquid detergent into the stain, and then wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. If necessary, follow-up with a wash in color-safe bleach for colors or liquid chlorine bleach for whites. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.
• A casual game of Frisbee turned more into tackle football? Remove those grass stains by soaking the garment in a mixture of detergent and water before washing in the warmest water safe for the garment. If necessary, follow-up with a wash in color-safe bleach for colors or liquid chlorine bleach for whites. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat the procedure if necessary before you place the garment in the dryer.