Summer is finally here, and we are ready to enjoy every bit outside. While summer usually means fewer clothes, it also means being outdoors in the heat and a lot more activities to be planned. So the need to care for your clothes is not only more important but also very necessary to avoid permanent damage.
Why maintaining fabric care is essential for summer clothes
As temperatures rise, sweat, dirt, and bacteria can quickly build up in your summer garments, especially in the armpit areas. You have spotted on your old t-shirts and shirts sweat stains that, if not treated, are very tricky to remove. Typically, people resort to harsh washing techniques to eliminate these issues, but this can compromise the vibrancy and freshness of the clothing as well. Consequently, many summer outfits, whether it’s an abaya, a linen dress or a white t-shirt, begin to appear worn out after only a few uses and washes because you can’t treat your summer clothes like you would with your winter clothes.
Additionally, summer garments are often crafted from natural and breathable materials, such as cotton and linen. While these fabrics are excellent for keeping cool in hot conditions, they also need additional attention to remain in great condition for years to come. The use of strong detergents, washing in hot water, or excessive tumble drying can result in lint, pilling, colour fading, and early wear and tear.
Read: Make Your Handbag Lasts For Ages With These Proper Care Tips
Fixing summer stains
Sun cream
Begin by scraping off any extra sun cream using a dull object. As suncream is oily, it’s great to create a paste using your laundry detergent and water. Gently massage the paste into the fabric and then lift it off with a soft cloth before washing it as usual. After washing white items, check for any yellow stains. If you see any, apply a few drops of lemon juice and hang the garment outdoors on the line. Alternatively, pre-treat with an oxygen bleach stain remover. These techniques are suitable for most fabrics that can be washed in a machine.
Pollen
When it comes to pollen on any fabric, you must be very careful since it mainly consists of loose powder that can easily spread. Therefore, shaking or vacuuming it off is the best approach to removing it without spreading and embedding the stains. For any leftover marks, dab with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. After that step, immediately place the clothing into the wash without rinsing, at the highest temperature suggested on the label.
Sweat
For dealing with sweat stains on clothes, add a cup of white vinegar or lemon juice to warm water and let the items soak. For persistent yellow stains on whites like cotton blouses and shirts, include oxygen bleach in your regular wash.
Grass
For machine-washable fabrics such as cotton, denim, and polyester, rub liquid laundry detergent into the affected area and wash as usual. For suede, a clean pencil eraser can effectively remove the stain.
Mud
Unlike the majority of clothing stains, it’s best to allow mud to dry so that it can flake away. You can scrape off the excess mud from clothing with a spoon and then apply a paste made from detergent and water as a pre-wash treatment. I’ve noticed mud stains on my jeans. If I don’t spot-treat the mud, be sure to treat mud like you would with any other stain.
Ice cream
Ice cream should be dealt with immediately. Scrape off any surplus ice cream, then soak the stained area in cold water mixed with biological detergent. For delicate fabrics like silk and wool, if they aren’t suitable for machine washing, it’s best to have them dry cleaned. If they can be washed, first dab the stain with diluted distilled vinegar, and then wash as you normally would with an appropriate detergent. Using hot water on ice cream stains is not advisable, as it can make the stain more difficult to remove.
BBQ sauce/ketchup
Gently scraping off any large pieces of sauce, non-delicate fabrics can be washed under a cold tap to eliminate as much of the sauce as possible. After that, work in a liquid detergent, rinse it off, and machine wash as usual. For suede, blot the sauce up with paper towels and then dab it with white vinegar.
Oil (from food)
Blot the area with a towel. Next, lay your stained garment flat and sprinkle a small teaspoon of baking soda on the stain. Allow the baking soda to sit for 30 minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the baking soda off the fabric. If the baking soda clumps, that indicates it is effectively absorbing the oil. Don’t worry if some baking soda remains; it will wash away in the following step. Apply dish soap over the baking soda to cover the stain adequately. Work the dish soap into the baking soda, using your toothbrush for added scrubbing power on tougher materials.
Rinse the soapy garment thoroughly under running water before placing it into the washing machine. It’s important to never put a garment with any dish soap residue into the washing machine, as excess suds can damage the appliance! Wash the clothing in the washing machine with your chosen detergent, adhering to the care instructions on the garment label. Finally, air dry it, as using a dryer can set the oil stain and make it more challenging to remove.
Final Thoughts
So, no matter what type of material or style of hijab, suit or linen set you are wearing, there is a remedy to remove those inevitable summer stains.