Cleaning set in stained clothes does not have to be hard! Here are some great tips to remove those old stains and renew the clothes to resell or wear again!
Run set in stained clothes under cold water.
First, I try to run the stain under cold water and let it soak for at least an hour. This will loosen the stain. Do not let your clothes sit in water for days on end, unless they are solid white. The colored clothes will fade if left in water too long.
Pretreat the set in stained clothes with Shout Advanced Stain Remover Gel
This stain remover works so well. It is inexpensive and you can find it at your local grocery store, even order if off on Amazon. Spray a generous amount on the stain and let it sit for a half hour. Then, it is time to throw it in the washing machine. Need help removing stickers? Visit this blog post.
Put the set in stained clothes in the washing machine with Tide Free and Clear.
You can use whatever scent of Tide you prefer. However, Shout does have a scent, so it is best to use Tide Free and Clear. That way whatever comes out of the dryer is not some over bearing chemical smell.
My family and I are very sensitive to laundry detergent scent. I always use unscented detergent, unless I have to pre-treat a stain. Do not use Tide All Natural or something with a different formula than the original Tide. It will not work as well.
Use the best temperature setting for the type of clothing you are working with. Always check the label on the clothes. If you are going to wash wool, silk, any kind of plastic or mesh, always use cold tap water. Hot water is great for washing white clothes.
Throw the Set In Stained Clothes in Dryer on Low Temperature Setting
When you dry your clothes in the dryer on a high temperature setting, it damages your clothes. Not only does it shrink them, it fades them. Also, it creates those very small and annoying balls of lint that build up on your clothes.
You can remove those balls of lint with a razor but it can take forever. It also makes your clothes very stiff and rough if you do not use fabric softener or laundry detergent.
A safety tip is to clean the dryer lint traps after every load that is finished to prevent a fire. High heat and lint buildup = fire. Always use a lower temperature setting.
If the Shout, Tide, Wash and Dry Do Not Work to Remove the Set In Stains, Invest in Oxyclean
So I will be honest, Oxyclean Stain Remover is always my last resort. It does work and it really, I mean really, brightens the color of clothes. However, I can only buy the unscented version online. It is never on the self at my local grocery store.
The smell of the Oxyclean that contains perfume is very strong.
I pre-treat clothes in the bathtub with Oxyclean. The instructions say to use 1 scoop for every gallon of water. In my experience, the set in stains do not get removed if I let more than five toddler shirts soak in one gallon. Also, if you use the scented Oxyclean, the smell is so strong, it will stink up your whole house. Make sure you open the windows.
I will only use Oxyclean for items that are expensive brand names or something that has a fast sell rate. Otherwise, it takes too much time and is not worth selling.
It is Always Best to Donate
Donate the clothes that have set in stains. Give them to a relative who does not mind if you cannot get the stains out or post them for free on Facebook. Read this blog post for ways to donate. Make sure you keep track on what you are donating so you can use the deduction at tax time. Here is a donation tax form (for donations greater than $500) here.
Do Not Try to Consign Clothes with Set In Stains
It is better to not take the chance in selling the stained clothing at the sale. The clothes with stains are pulled and kept in quality assurance. The consignment company keeps track of how many items get pulled per seller and will charge a fee if items are pulled from the floor. Be sure to check the rules of your consignment company on their website before taking the chance of the clothes getting pulled.
The Less Smell, the Better
People do not like smelly clothes, especially first time Mamas, or natural Mamas, or people sensitive to fragrances, like me. If I see a piece of clothing that smells strongly like Oxyclean, I will not buy it. It is too much of a hassle for me to try to get the smell out and once it is next to all of the other clothes that I plan on purchasing, it stinks those up too.
Just keep that in mind when you are cleaning your clothes for a consignment event or store, try not to use really smelly detergent so it is more sellable. Here is a blog post on help with pricing items for consignment events. If the smell test is not passed, you will pass on a sale too.
Check out some of my other blog posts:
What to Do When You Receive Smelly Clothes?
How to Remove Stickers Naturally and Easily with Items Already on Hand
How to Package Clothes to Sell
How to Prepare for a Consignment Event in 7 Super Easy Ways
What Supplies Do I Need for a Consignment Event?