Ouch.

It has probably happened to you, grape juice spilled on a silk tie, a tomato stain on a favorite blouse. Whatever the stain and whatever the garment, your concern remains the same. You are attached to your favorite shirt, tie, dress or blouse, and it could be ruined. Well, before you add tear stains to the mix, here are some suggestions that may help you to deal with the pain.

Deodorant and Anti-Perspirant Stains

Constant contact with deodorant/anti-perspirant combined with the effects of perspiration can cause permanent damage to a garment. The most common cause of damage by these products is overuse of the deodorant, or infrequent cleaning. As with many other things, prevention and proactivity is the key. Using a dress shield is one way to eliminate the problem. If that is not an option, consider this course of action. As soon as possible after wearing the garment (assuming it is washable), wash it in the hottest water safe for the fabric. In some cases, presoaking may be necessary. Consider using a detergent containing enzymes or an enzyme presoak. If that doesn’t work, try using a three percent hydrogen peroxide solution or a diluted chlorine bleach solution, depending on the fiber type. One important thing to remember is to test for colorfastness first.

Ink Stains

You’ve probably heard of the home remedy in which hairspray is applied to a ball point pen ink stain in an attempt to remove it. Does it remove the stain? Usually. Are there side effects? Absolutely. Most hair sprays contain alcohol and oils such as resin and lanolin. Alcohol can cause extensive color damage, especially on delicate fabrics such as silk. As the ink stain disappears, the oils found in the hairspray can result in other stains. Just as we wouldn’t recommend using dry cleaning chemicals in your hair, we don’t recommend using hairspray on your clothes. Dry cleaning is usually the best option for ink stains.

What about Rayon Garments?

Rayon is a derivative of wood pulp and/or cotton linters. It has become one of the most popular fabrics available due to its comfort and absorbency. Some different forms of rayon are viscose, cuprammonium, high-wet modulus and lyocel. Rayon in all of its forms (with the exception of lyocel) is very sensitive to water. The problem is in the dyes that are commonly used with rayon. Most of them are not colorfast and can be altered by moisture. Since rayon garments commonly have sizing to help them hold a certain shape, this is another concern. Many sizings are water-soluble, so washing the garment in water can distort it, causing it to become unwearable. Due to these factors, dry cleaning is recommended for rayon. Again, lyocel is the exception. However, you should take special care to follow washing instructions when cleaning lyocel garments. If lyocel is washed when dry cleaning is recommended for the particular stain, the garment may become wrinkled or may shrink.

The Importance of Professional Dry Cleaning

A common myth is that frequent dry cleaning shortens the life of a garment. The opposite is true for three reasons. First, stains set with age. This ruins the garment. Second, ground-in dirt and soil are abrasive and cause wear and damage to the fibers. Lastly, soiled garments attract damaging insects such as moths and this can cause even more damage. If you just aren’t sure what to do about a particular stain, don’t do anything until you contact a professional. Tails The Drycleaner will be happy to answer your questions about removing stains. There are some very good reasons to select Tails The Drycleaner to handle tough stains. Consider the following.

• Tails The Drycleaner are experts in the dry cleaning industry. This ensures your clothes get the best treatment possible.

• Tails The Drycleaner inspects every garment before it leaves our facility. If we find unresolved issues with your clothes, special attention is given to make sure they are resolved wherever possible before pick-up or delivery.

• Tails The Drycleaner has the knowledge to handle tough stains in delicate fabrics and the technology to deal with them. This is the key to fixing the problem.

• Tails The Drycleaner is unrivaled in convenience. We offer pick-up and delivery for the same price as our walk-in service. However, for stains that you feel require special attention, we recommend bringing the garment in and discussing it with one of our professional staff.

The bottom line is, if you don’t know what to do about a particular stain, call us. We will help you determine the best way to protect your investment.