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Our tips for washing

Artists’ stains (Modelling clay, felt-tip or ball-point pen marks, etc.)

  • Modelling clay: Remove any excess clay – Machine wash – If the stain is still there, put a sheet of absorbent paper on it and run a hot iron over it – Machine wash again immediately.
  • Felt-tip or ball-point pen: Dab the stain with milk, rinse, and machine wash. Another tip: Dab with salted lemon juice or surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), rinse, and machine wash immediately.

Sportsmen’s mark (grass, earth, mud, etc.)

  • Grass: Machine wash - If the stain is still there, dab with a mixture of hot water and surgical spirit (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), rub gently, rinse, and machine wash immediately.
  • Earth or mud: Leave to dry and then brush the mark gently – Machine wash.

Daredevils’ marks (blood, eosin, etc.)

  • Blood: For a fresh stain, soak and rub it in plenty of cold salt water or in plenty of water with one or two tablets of aspirin dissolved in it, and then rinse and machine wash – For a dry stain, dab with vinegar and water, rinse and machine wash immediately.
  • Eosin: If the stain is a fresh one, sponge it off with absorbent paper and then dab with surgical spirit diluted in cold water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), rinse and machine wash.

Fruit stains (cherry, jam, soft fruit, tomato, etc.)

  • Cherry: Dab the stain with a cloth dipped in milk, and then machine wash immediately. If the stain is still there, dab with surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water). Rinse and machine wash immediately.
  • Jam, etc., soft fruit: Remove any excess from the stain. Machine wash immediately. If the stain is still there, use the same tip as for cherry.
  • Tomato: If the stain is a fresh one, dab it with a cloth dipped in milk, rinse and then machine wash immediately. If the stain is an older one, dab it with surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water). Rinse and machine wash immediately
  • Ketchup: Rinse with cold water, leave the stain to soak in vinegar and water. If the stain is still there, soak it for two hours in white vinegar or hot milk, and then rinse and machine wash immediately.

Vegetable stains (carrot, spinach, beetroot, etc.)

  • Carrot: Machine wash. If the stain is still there, dab it with surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), then rinse and machine wash immediately.
  • Spinach: Rub with a raw potato and then machine wash immediately. If the stain is still there, use the same tip as for carrot.
  • Beetroot: Dab with bread (without the crusts) and then machine wash immediately. If the stain is still there, use the same tip as for carrot

Stains left by drinks (cola, fizzy drinks, milk, etc.)

  • Cola, fizzy drinks, etc.: Sprinkle flour or maize starch diluted in water on the stain, brush lightly, and then rinse and machine wash. If the stain is still there, dab it with surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), then rinse and machine wash immediately.
  • Milk: Machine wash immediately. If the stain is dry, rinse with hot water and then rub gently and machine wash

Greasy stains (Oil, butter, spread)

  • Oil, butter: Remove any surplus by dabbing with absorbent paper. Sprinkle with talc, and run a hot iron over a sheet of absorbent paper placed on the stain. Machine wash immediately.
  • Spread: remove any surplus, and machine wash. If the stain is still there, dab it with a cloth dipped in surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), then rinse and machine wash immediately.

Stubborn stains (egg, chewing gum)

  • Egg: rinse immediately in cold water, scratching lightly, and then wash in cold soapy water. Another tip: Dab with surgical spirit diluted in water (one part surgical spirit for 2 parts water), then machine wash immediately.
  • Chewing gum: Cool the chewing gum down with an ice cube and then scrape it off. Another tip: Put a sheet of absorbent paper over it and run a hot iron over the paper Repeat the operation if necessary

Natural stains (Urine, vomit, mould)

  • Urine: Rinse immediately, rub with vinegar and water, and then rinse and machine wash immediately.
  • VVomit: Remove any excess. Machine wash immediately. If the stain is still there, dab it with vinegar and water, and then rinse and machine wash..
  • Mould: Dab the stain with a cloth dipped in salted lemon juice. Rinse and then machine wash.