Fabric & Upholstery Maintenance

How to Tackle a Stain or Spill: Accidents do happen. These tips will help you safely spot clean fabrics.

Things You Should Do:

• Know your fabric. Spills and stains are never planned! If you understand the special characteristics of your fabric, you'll be able to respond appropriately.
• Always blot from the outside of a spot to the center of the spot. This will help control the spread of a spill.
• Test your fabric in a hidden area to make sure the color doesn't come off with the stain or ringing occurs.
• If this spot is liquid, use an absorbent cloth or white paper towel and gently blot up the excess.
• If the spot is solid material, remove the excess by lifting off with a dull table knife or spoon.

Things You Should Not Do:

• Never rub, scrub, or brush a spill. Elbow grease doesn't work on stains and spills.
• Never use strong chemicals like bleach, solvents, or acids unless recommended by a specialist.
• Never use sudsy detergents. They will leave a soapy residue that attracts soil.
• Don't use tap water. Use distilled water or plain seltzer waster. Minerals in common tap water can cause rings. Even on treated fabrics.
• Avoid commercially available furniture and rug cleaners. Most foster rapid re-soiling.

Expert Advice on Some Common Problems!
Beverages: alcoholic, colas, fruits, juices, medicines, mildew, mustard, tea, and wine

• Step #1: If pre-testing indicates water is safe, slightly moisten the spot with distilled water or club soda using a clean white towel. Blot with a dry towel. Repeat. Be careful not to over wet.
• Step #2: If stain remains after process is repeated 3 or 4 times, test an inconspicuous area with household strength (3%) hydrogen peroxide. Allow this to dry thoroughly and check closely for color loss. If OK, apply solution to spot with a cotton swab. Allow to dry.

Berries, Blood, Ketchup, Chili Sauce, Chocolate, Coffee with Cream, Dressings, Egg, Mayonnaise, Meat, Milk, Sauces, Soup, Tomato Sauce:

• Follow Step 1 for beverages. If stain remains, test hidden area with a laundry pre-spotter containing enzyme. Dry. Then sponge tested area with water and blot with dry towel. Dry again. If area tested is OK, apply pre-spotter with a cotton swab and blot with dry towel. Take care not to soak fabric. If enzyme does not remove all traces of stain, follow Step #2 under beverages. If grease remains, apply spotter such as 1,1,1 trichloroethane and follow instructions under grease.
• Nail Polish: Test this procedure first with the same polish in a hidden area. Apply oil free mail polish remover or acetone with a cotton swab and absorb it gently with a white paper towel. Go slowly!
• Grease (Butter, Margarine, Etc.): Lift off excess with dull knife. Apply a few drops of dry-cleaning solvent such as 1,1,1 trichloroethane (available under brand name spotting products) with a cotton swab and immediately sprinkle with plain talcum. Vacuum and repeat until no traces of grease remain.
• Cosmetics: Exercise extra care. Dyes and solvents can cause serious damage to any fabric. Be very careful not to spread the stain. After testing, apply dry-cleaning spotter with cotton swab and blot with towel. Repeat. If stain persists, call a professional.
• Ink: Some water-based inks can be removed by sponging with alcohol. Always test with the same pen on inconspicuous area. Ball point can be easily set. Acetone, used very sparingly, often removes most traces. Follow procedures for grease, using acetone. Caution: acetone can dissolve some synthetics. Always test.
• Shoe Polish: Sponge with distilled water or club soda. If stain remains, sponge with alcohol. If color remains, follow Step #2 under beverages. For wax-based shoe polish, follow procedure for grease spots.
• Urine: Mix equal parts white vinegar & distilled water and follow #1d under beverages.
• Vomit: Add 1 Tablespoon non-sudsy ammonia to 1 cup distilled water and follow procedure #1 under beverages.