Laundry - Wedding Stains

Showers are planned, invites are pouring in and gifts have been purchased. Wherever you look, it is certainly clear – wedding season is here.

We all spend time and money trying to find the perfect outfit – whether it’s your own gown or a fabulous dress for your cousin’s wedding reception – but sometimes collisions on the dance floor or the buffet line can cause us to spend more time concocting a stain remedy than dancing the electric slide. Experts from the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science, the online hub for everything laundry, offer the following fabric care tips so you can vow to spend your next wedding reception worry-free.

• Washable silk a victim to Uncle Larry’s glass of red wine during the conga line? The earlier you treat the stain, the better your chance to remove it. Ask the bartender for some club soda, check the care label and dab the stain right away. Cold water will also dilute and prevent stain from setting. Once home, soak the garment in a mixture of a gentle detergent and water for up to 30 minutes before washing in warmest water safe for the garment. Hand wash or use the washer cycle designed for hand washing. Air dry and if stain is remaining, repeat treatment.
• Grandma missed your cheek when she kissed you hello? For cotton fabrics, check the care label and if stain is heavy, scrape off any remaining lipstick with a spoon. See if the bathroom has any pretreated makeup remover pads or liquid makeup remover on hand. Test first on a hem or inside seam to make sure it is safe for the fabric, then dab the stain with the makeup remover to loosen up the stain. Once home, rub in liquid detergent and soak in a mixture of detergent and water for up to 30 minutes. Wash in warmest water safe for garment and air dry.
• Adorable flower girl meets chocolate covered strawberries? For a cotton garment, check the care label first and treat with cold water to flush out the stain. Once home, rub liquid detergent into the stain and wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Repeat if necessary.