May is the month when we celebrate our wonderful mothers! Although we do appreciate them every day of the year, Mother’s Day is a special time to thank them for all that they do. Whether we do this through the gift of flowers or with a surprise brunch, we want them to know how much we care. One sure way to put a damper on the day is when you are getting spruced up for your brunch and manage to spill something, causing a stain on your beautiful outfit. Common stains could include lipstick, liquid foundation, eye shadow, or blush.
First, don’t panic! Our first instinct is to vigorously brush at the stain which can cause it to set deeper into the fabric or can make the stain larger. Instead, carefully shake any loose particles off of the shirt or dress into the sink (this will reduce the chance of staining on your bathroom rugs). If it was a liquid based stain from lipstick or foundation, take a wet cloth and gently dab at the stain. If the stain is still wet, you may be able to remove a good portion of it without laundering it.
With any persistent stains that cannot be removed with a wet cloth, use a stain remover such as Zout Liquid Spray. Spray the make-up stain and gently rub, being careful to not spread the stain out. Let it sit for approximately 5 minutes and then wash with a detergent such as Purex Oxi. Make sure to check the stain before transferring the clothes to the dryer. If the stain is still there, do not dry as the heat from the dryer will cause the stain to set. Repeat the procedure above of pretreating the stain and laundering.
Some stains might be harder to remove, such as lipstick stains. Lipstick consists of a wax, which provides the structure. Science fact: The waxes in a lipstick can be beeswax, ozokerite, candelilla, or carnauba wax. Wax has a high melting point, which means that it will not wash off in cold or warm water. When dealing with a lipstick stain, start by gently scraping off any of the wax that is sitting on top of the cloth. What remains will most likely be an oily, greasy stain that may be a little more persistent than a foundation stain. If you are not seeing complete removal with the above procedure, pour a little bit of detergent on the stain and rub. Let it sit for five minutes and then rinse that spot with the hottest water that the fabric can withstand. Please check the garment tags if you are not sure. Then launder the clothing as usual.
As always, happy stain-fighting! And a happy Mother’s Day to all of our loving Moms!
