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3 On Your Side: Stain Removal

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― It's happened to all of us. You wear your favorite new shirt to dinner…and one bite later, ketchup everywhere!

Summer can seem like the season of stains, but 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan has a jam packed list of solutions.

With two young boys, Theresa Apostolis is used to wrestling stains and this summer is no exception.

"Grass stains, ice cream, ice pops, suntan lotion. You name it, we have it," said Apostolis.

Real Simple magazine came up with foolproof guide to getting rid of filth.
Stain guru Jaimee Zanzinger with Real Simple magazine says you should use pre-treatment products to tackle caked on grass.

"Let it soak into the stain and then scrub it gently with a toothbrush," said Zanzinger.

A quick spritz or two can also lift things like ketchup and barbecue sauce.

"And just launder it as usual in the hottest temperature that your garment can allow," said Zanzinger.

But it's cool water that's key for removing ice cream.

"If you let it soak, that can often lift the stain out of the clothing," said Brian Sansoni with the Soap and Detergent Association.

Then, wash with an enzyme detergent. Many are out there. They help break down food proteins. And color safe bleach is a safe bet for popsicles.

"You also might want to think about these bleach pens or stain pens, which again, very easy to use. Always read the product label directions," said Sansoni.

For a traditional bleach alternative, try hydrogen peroxide. It's perfect for blood
stains.

And try this home remedy for drippy sunscreen and calamine lotion.

"A mixture of half dishwashing liquid and half glycerin, which you can pick up at any drugstore."

Finally, don't add water to grease stains. It can cause them to set.

"Put the garment face down on a layer of clean paper towels and then apply a cleaning fluid solution on the back of the fabric. You can pick those up at any kind of drugstore or hardware store," said Zanzinger.

Remember, ground in stains may need more than one spin in the wash and always check your clothes before you throw them in the dryer. Heat can cause a stain to set.

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