Did you know towels are one of the most-likely stained items in the home, right next to pillow cases? Of course, carpets see more wear, but they aren’t technically an item—and carpet stains are another headache of their own. It does make sense, however; the bathroom, where most towels are stored, is one of the dirtiest rooms in the home.
So how does one go about towel stain removal? The American Cleaning Institute gives us some insight, which we’ll consolidate for you.
Cosmetics
You may have thought you removed all of your mascara before showering, only to find it all over your towel afterwards. Luckily, the process for general cosmetic removal (minus lipstick) from towels isn’t too lengthy. Simply pre-treat the cosmetic stains with detergent (liquid or powder), stain remover, or bar soap and wash as usual. Just make sure the soap or stain remover is safe to use on the fabric of your towels. That was a close one!
Lipstick, on the other hand, is a little bit trickier. First, you’ll want to put the stained side of the towel on a paper towel. Next, dab (don’t scrub!) either rubbing alcohol or dishwashing liquid on the back side of the stain. Again, just make sure they are safe for the material of your towels. Then, using another paper towel, apply pressure to the back of the stain, which helps push the stain onto the first paper towel. Repeat as needed, and wash the towel only once all traces of the lipstick are gone.
Blood
Since we often shave and treat wounds in the bathroom, towels often get blood stains. There are two ways to approach this, depending on whether the blood is new or old. If it’s new, simply soak the towel in cold water prior to washing. If the blood is old, it should be pretreated in warm water with a stain removal product that contains enzymes, and then washed.
Grease and oil
This goes for both bath towels and kitchen towels. Bath towels often come in contact with grease and oil from projects such as car maintenance and home improvement, while the grease and oil on kitchen towels is usually from cooking. The stains are treated similarly, but vary depending on whether the stain is light or heavy.
Light grease and oil stains can be pretreated with a grease or oil-specific stain remover, and then washed in hot water (as hot as is safe for the fabric). However, heavy stains should mimic the process for lipstick stains, utilizing a paper towel beneath the stain, face down, with stain remover on the back of it to help pull the grease or oil out. Then, wash in hot water.
Cleaning stained towels or clothing alone is still time-consuming, even with these tips. Who will get the rest of the housework done in the mean time? And now that we reminded you how grimy bathrooms can be, you probably feel obligated to handle that, too. Instead of hassling yourself, just call a professional cleaning service like Misty Clean, who will do a wonderful job done in no time.
Don’t let seasonal allergies win. Call Misty Clean!
Many homeowners these days don’t have time to clean as thoroughly as they should. That’s where Misty Clean comes in. Offering professional, quality cleaning services to the Anne Arundel, Howard County, and Baltimore County and city areas, you’re bound to be impressed by our experienced technicians. With Misty Clean, you’re getting only the best!
For more information about our services, or if you have any questions about deluxe cleaning services or general cleaning, please give us a call at: 410-255-4111.
You can also visit our website for a no-obligation estimate request on your cleaning services!
For weekly cleaning tips and news in residential cleanliness, keep up with our blog or follow and like us on social media: Facebook, G+, and Pinterest.
