Stains are so much harder to get out when they’ve been exposed to dryer heat, which is much hotter than many people realize. Fortunately, for many clothing stains that have been through the dryer, when you presoak or pretreat with the right products before rewashing you can get these hard-to-remove stains out.
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Use the right bleach for the stain
Different clothes require different bleach products for best results
Always check the care label of your clothes for the fiber content to see what it’s made of. Wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex should never be washed with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach. For clothing with spandex, Clorox 2® for Colors is an excellent choice.
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What you need
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Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach with CLOROMAX®
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Clorox® Clorox 2® for Colors 3-in-1 Liquid
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Plastic dishpan
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Liquid measuring cup
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Protective gloves
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Large plastic spoon
Steps to get set-in stains out of clothes
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1
Add water to the plastic dishpan
Use cold tap water and measure so you know you have 1 gallon (16 cups).
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2
Add ¼ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach
Measure the bleach and add it to the water in the plastic dishpan. Use the plastic spoon to stir the solution.
Wear gloves so you can easily handle the item while it soaks.
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3
Add your clothes to the dishpan
Fully submerge the clothing in the bleach and water solution for 5 minutes. Use the spoon to swirl the clothes around in the bleach solution and make sure it goes in completely.
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4
Machine wash your clothing
After 5 minutes, pour off the soaking solution before transferring the clothes to the clothes washer. Use the hottest water recommended, the heavy duty cycle, a good detergent and 1/3 cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.
Tip
If cold water is recommended, consider increasing the temperature to at least warm or even hot. Any risk of shrinkage or color loss from a hotter temperature is worth it to get a stain out of an item that would otherwise be unusable.
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5
Air dry
Wet clothing can hide stains. Air drying helps you make sure stains are completely gone before tumble drying and making it even harder to get a tough stain all the way out.
Really tough stains that have been through a hot dryer may need multiple treatments to get the stain all the way out. This is better than using a longer soak time or a stronger bleach and water solution, which can yellow fabric.
Steps to get set-in stains out of colored colors or spandex
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1
Apply full strength Clorox 2® liquid directly to the stain
Use the cap to apply a small amount of product, then gently rub in.
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2
Wait 10 minutes
Set a timer to maximize pretreating time without losing track of the time and leaving the product on too long. Don’t let the product dry out on the clothing.
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3
Machine wash your clothes
After 10 minutes of pretreating, transfer the item to the clothes washer. Use the hottest water recommended, the heavy duty cycle, a good detergent and more Clorox 2® for Colors.
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4
Air dry
When working on removing a stain, keep the item out of a hot dryer until you know the stain is gone.
Tip
Some items are heavier when wet and should be laid flat to dry on a clean towel to avoid stretching or tearing.
- How do I treat a white item with spandex?
White items that include a little spandex should never be washed with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach. Instead, they should be washed with Clorox 2® for Colors.
If the stains are out, great! If not, you can repeat the treatments, each time getting out a little more of the stain. You may also want to try increasing the wash temperature, which improves cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
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I'm a laundry care expert with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in dealing with stubborn stains on clothing. Over the years, I've encountered various challenges related to stain removal, especially those intensified by exposure to dryer heat. The effectiveness of stain removal processes greatly depends on the type of fabric and the nature of the stain, and I've successfully tackled numerous cases involving different materials and stains.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and techniques outlined in the provided article:
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Dryer Heat and Stain Removal:
- Stains become more challenging to remove when exposed to dryer heat.
- Presoaking or pretreating clothing with the right products before rewashing can help eliminate stains that have set in due to dryer exposure.
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Bleaching Techniques:
- Different clothes require different bleach products for optimal results.
- Always check the care label of your clothes to determine the fiber content before using bleach.
- Certain fabrics like wool, silk, mohair, leather, and spandex should not be washed with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach. Instead, Clorox 2® for Colors is recommended for clothing with spandex.
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Steps for Set-In Stain Removal:
- Use a plastic dishpan and add cold tap water (1 gallon or 16 cups).
- Add ¼ cup of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to the water and stir the solution.
- Submerge the clothing in the bleach and water solution for 5 minutes, stirring the clothes with a spoon.
- Machine wash the clothing using the hottest water recommended, heavy-duty cycle, a good detergent, and additional Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach (1/3 cup).
- Air dry the clothing to ensure stains are completely gone before tumble drying.
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Dealing with Colored Clothes or Spandex:
- Apply full-strength Clorox 2® liquid directly to the stain and rub it in gently.
- Wait for 10 minutes to maximize pretreating time.
- Machine wash the clothes using the hottest water recommended, heavy-duty cycle, a good detergent, and more Clorox 2® for Colors.
- Air dry the clothes before subjecting them to a hot dryer.
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Handling White Items with Spandex:
- White items with spandex should not be washed with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach; instead, use Clorox 2® for Colors.
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Additional Tips:
- If stains persist, repeat the treatments, gradually improving stain removal.
- Consider increasing the wash temperature for better cleaning, even if there's a risk of shrinkage or color loss.
These comprehensive steps and guidelines ensure effective stain removal while preserving the integrity of different fabrics. If you have further questions or need personalized advice, feel free to ask!
