Picture it. Your nicely clad son decides on an impromptu soccer game in the newly rain-drenched yard. Whose face is redder? The soccer player's or his mom's? Yup. You guessed it. Maman is none too pleased.
The good news is Mary Zeitler, Whirpool's home economist at their Institute for Fabric Science, came to my rescue. I asked her pointed questions, thinking she might buckle under the pressure of my pressing queries. No, no. Mary proved to be as tough as nails. I feel sorry for those stains. They don't stand a chance under her gaze.
CLH: Is it important to react quickly when your toddler smudges ketchup on her shirt or can you remove the stain hours later just as easily?
MARY: It's always best to treat a stain as soon as possible. If nothing else, rinsing the stain under running water will help dilute it. Line dry or lay the garment flat to dry until laundering. There are also pre-treat sprays and sticks that can be applied to the stain until you can throw it in the washer. Be sure to follow the directions on the label.
CLH: What products do you recommend to remove grass or blood stains?
MARY
: Both blood and grass stains are bleachable. For colors, use an oxygen based, or color-safe bleach. For whites, liquid chlorine bleach can be used. You can also dab a little liquid detergent directly on the stains for improved results. There are stain removers available for specific stains that work well, too. They are located in the detergent aisles of your grocery store.
CLH: How do you go about removing stains without stressing the fabric?
MARY: There is little reason to stress the fabric when attempting to remove stains. Stain sticks, sprays and detergents can be applied without stressing the fabric. If there is excess stain material, like bubblegum or candle wax, gently scrape it off with a dull butter knife or spoon. If the scraping appears to be stretching the fabric, soak it until it softens and can be scraped off without damaging the fabric. Take advantage of soaking, and stain removal products so scraping and scrubbing are not necessary.
Additionally, I have also included a better summary of some of the products that we currently have available.
For the Laundry Room:
- The Pure Power of Steam: The Duet® Steam laundry pair naturally steams out stains wrinkles and odors in just minutes without pre-treating or chemicals. MSRP: $1499-1599 for the washer and $1199-1299 for the dryer.
- Heaps of Laundry in a Hurry: The ENERGY STAR® qualified Whirlpool® Cabrio™ HE washer can wash three baskets of laundry in a single load. MSRP: $699-999 for the washer and $749-849 for the dryer.
- Streamline Your Laundry: The Laundry 1-2-3™ custom laundry suite (laundry towers, pedestals and work surfaces) provides solutions for organizing, sorting, treating and folding. MSRP: $169-$299.
- Reduce Dry Cleaning: The Whirlpool® Fabric Freshener relaxes wrinkles and removes odors in under 30 minutes. MSRP: $199.
- Laundry Lifestyle: For those in need of a laundry makeover, check out the Perfect Match laundry selection guide to determine which laundry pair is right for you.
