How to Remove Bleach Stains from Colored Clothes

Did you just make the mistake of pouring bleach on a colored shirt while trying to remove some other stain, resulting in a discolored spot on your shirt? Although bleach is used to get rid of some stains, it can cause damage to the fabric depending on the kind of material it is. If such an accident has happened, do not worry; you do not need to give away your favorite shirt.

The best way to get rid of bleach stains is to avoid them in the first place. Do not put bleached clothing with unbleached colored clothing while putting clothes in the dryer. Also, when you have bleached a set of garments, do not forget to flush the dispenser with water. Furthermore, when pouring bleach, make sure that the colored clothes at a good distance from the machine or the bucket so that no splashes occur. Read below to find out what you can do to mitigate the damage if it occurs, and have the shirt return to its’ original appearance.

Method One (Using White Vinegar)

Things that you will require:

·      Paper towel / Clean cloth

·      Photographic fixer

·      White vinegar

·      Bowl

·      Water

·      Color remover (If required)

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   To start off, if you dropped bleach on the shirt just right now, use a paper towel or a clean cloth quickly, and blot the spot gently such that the towel absorbs the excess bleach present on the shirt.

2.   If you have photographic fixer at home, utilize it! It neutralizes the effect of the bleach, and can help you get rid of the stain before it even sets in. Dip a clean cloth in photographic fixer, and blot the stain with it if it is completely fresh. Keep dabbing the stain with the damp cloth till the entire stain gets saturated.

3.   Soak the colored shirt in cold water. If the photographic fixer was applied on a fresh stain, it is possible that the stain may disappear immediately.

4.   Very few people have photographic fixer at home which is why you can make use of some simple household ingredients to remove the bleach stain from colored clothes. Pour some white vinegar in a bowl, and dip a clean cloth in it.

5.   Now, apply the cloth to the stained area. Soak the affected area in white vinegar completely.

6.   Wash the stain with cold water. You will notice that the stain has slightly faded.

7.   Repeat step 4, 5 and 6 again till the entire stain gets off from the colored clothing.

8.   To dry the clothes, hang them outside in direct sunlight. This might bleach the entire garment slightly.

9.   In case the stain has had too much time to set in and white vinegar has failed to remove it, use a color remover, i.e., sodium hydrosulfite. It can be found at your nearby departmental store. The color remover removes the color from the entire garment, making it lighter but of the same shade and having no traces of bleach stain on it.

How to Remove Cement Stains

Cement can land anywhere – on your walkway, on tiles and even on your car. This is likely to be the case when you are getting your house renovated.  The laborers may make a perfect new structure, but at the same time they may also create a mess on the paver, tiles and the car. This article teaches you about what to do when you are faced with cement stains in your house. Remember to always check the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area for any discoloration that it might cause to the object. Also, when working with acids, use protective glasses, gloves and a mask. Take all necessary precautions.You can adopt any one of the following methods depending upon the effected

Remove Cement Stains from Pavers

If a thick white later has appeared on your colored paver, do not fret; follow the outlined steps and get rid of the cement stains easily.

Things that you will require:

·      Wire brush

·      Hammer or chisel

·      Phosphoric-acid based cleaner

·      Garden lime/ Baking soda / Ammonia

·      Muriatic acid

·      Water

·      Trisodium phosphate

·      Sealer

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   The first step requires you to get the excess cement off from the paver. To do so, brush away the area where cement has been spilled. You will notice that a lot of it did not actually set in the stone.

2.   It is possible that the cement might just come off by tapping it. Grab a hammer or a chisel, and tap the centre of the cement with it. If you are lucky, this will work, and the cement will break into two parts.

3.   To remove cement stains from a paver, you require a phosphoric-acid based cleaner. Apply it in the amount and way specified on the box of the cleaner. If needed, neutralize the acid with garden lime, baking soda or ammonia.

4.   Brush the affected area, and the stain will easily come off. If needed, repeat the above step.

5.   Stubborn stains may not come off by simply a phosphoric-acid based cleaner. In such cases, resort to muriatic acid. Dilute it with water as it may otherwise damage the paver adversely. Follow the instructions on the box of the muriatic acid for instructions regarding the ratio of acid to water, and for the duration of application.

6.   Leave the muriatic acid in place till it dries off. After that follow the following steps.

7.   Remember, when an acid is applied, it needs to be neutralized. Read the instructions on the box to do so.

8.   Rinse the paver generously with water.

9.   You may also want to wash the paver with trisodium phosphate. This will result in consistency of the color of the stone.

10.   Wash the surface thoroughly again with water.

11.   Let the surface dry. If a sealer was present on the paver, apply it again.

Remove Cement Stains from Tiles

Any kind of small construction inside your house can lead to cement stains being left on the tiles. To get rid of the mess that the workers created, read below.

Things that you will require:

·      Vinegar

·      Sponge / Absorbent pad

·      Brush / Scotch Brite pad / Scouring pad

·      Water

·      Soap

·      Phosphoric acid

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   Firstly, pour a small amount of vinegar on to a sponge or an absorbent pad, and apply a generous amount to the area.

2.   Leave the vinegar on the cement for at least an hour or two.

3.   Keep checking that the area remains moist. Apply more vinegar if needed.

4.   After an hour or two, the cement will start to loosen, depending on how long it has had to set in. Scrub the stain well with one of the following: a brush, Scotch Brite pad or a scouring pad. Be careful to not damage the stone while scrubbing.

5.   Repeat the above steps if the stain still remains.

6.   Rinse the area well with plain water and clean it with soap.

7.   If the stain is large and stubborn, you may need to use phosphoric acid. Before that, get rid of the excess cement on the tiles using a screwdriver or a metal scraper.

8.   Read the instructions on the box of the phosphoric acid, and follow them to remove the cement stain from the tiles.

9.   Once you have done so, wash the area well with soap and water.

Remove Cement Stains from Car

If you parked near a construction site, and got cement on your car, it is likely to leave behind a stain. To clean it, you can do the following:

Things that you will require:

·      Vinegar

·      Water

·      Spray bottle

·      Paper towels

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   To start off with the cleaning process, pour some distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle.

2.   Now, apply this vinegar on to the stained areas of the car.

3.   Cover the sprayed area entirely with paper towels.

4.   Spray the paper towels with vinegar as well.

5.   Leave them in place for 25 minutes. The sprayed towels will stick to the cement, and will help it loosen from the surface of the car.

6.   Ensure that the paper towels remain moist. Apply more vinegar on them if required.

7.   After 25 minutes, take off the paper towels. The cement will come off with it.

8.   Repeat the above steps if necessary.

How to Remove Armpit Stains from Clothes

Are you scared of going outside? Does the scorching sun leave you worried about sweating too much while walking from the office to the subway station? Remember, the yellow stains on your shirts are usually formed from not all the sweating, but from the sweat combined with aluminum that is used in anti-per spirants.  Does that mean you should not wear a deodorant? But then, you will be faced with the embarrassment of having slightly wet armpits in the heat. We are all faced with this dilemma in the summers. However, it’s something that one cannot avoid. What you really need is a solution to the yellow armpit stains that are formed on the clothes, making you to not want to wear them again, especially if it is a white shirt.

To prevent armpit stains from forming on your clothes, you can always wear an undershirt or switch to a more expensive aluminum-free deodorant or wait for the deodorant to dry before you wear your shirt. This may not always be possible though. If you want to find out how to remove the armpit stains from your clothes, scroll down. As a general tip, always test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area of the clothing to check for any damages that it may cause to the garment.After that you can adopt anyone of the following methods to remove Armpit stains from clothes.

Method One (Using Hydrogen Peroxide)

One way that can be easily used to get off the armpit stains from clothing is by using hydrogen peroxide. However, remember that this method is best used on white clothing only.

Things that you will require:

·      Washing bucket

·      Water

·      Hydrogen peroxide

·      Measuring cup

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   To start off, pour water in your regular washing bucket, and add hydrogen peroxide to the water in a 50:50 proportion. Let it mix with the water.

2.   Dip the white clothing in the bucket, and let it soak for half an hour.

3.   After half an hour, rinse the shirt in cold water, and leave it hanging for it to air dry. 

4.   Check the shirt for any remaining yellow armpit stains once it has dried. If any remain, repeat the above steps, and this time use hydrogen peroxide in a higher concentration.

Method Two (Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide)

If you are unable to get rid of the stains from your white shirt with only hydrogen peroxide, mix it with baking soda and use it in the following way.

Things that you will require:

·      Bucket

·      Baking soda

·      Water

·      Hydrogen peroxide

·      Measuring cup

·      Towel

·      Clean cloths

·      Old toothbrush

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   The first step requires you to make the cleaning solution that will help you clean the armpit stains from the white shirt. To do so, grab a bucket, and add 1 part baking soda to 1 part water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. For one shirt only, you will need approximately ¼ cup of each ingredient. Increase the amount if you have to clean more shirts.

2.   Place a towel on a hard surface so that the solution does not seep through and does not damage the surface.

3.   Lay the shirt on the towel.

4.   Dip a clean cloth in the solution, and apply it to stained area of the white shirt.

5.   Leave it in place for half an hour.

6.   Use an old toothbrush to get rid of any residue present on the shirt.

7.   After this, rinse the shirt in cold or warm water, and let it air dry.

8.   Ensure that the entire stain has been removed. In case it has not, repeat the above steps.

9.   Wash the clothing as usual.

Method Three (Using Lemon Juice and Salt)

Isn’t it wonderful that your very own homemade lemon juice can help you remove yellow armpit stains from shirts and t-shirts? Follow the steps below, and have your shirt renewed to its original appearance.

Things that you will require:

·      Lemons

·      Bowl

·      Clean cloth

·      Table salt

·      Teaspoon

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   Firstly, grab a few lemons from your pantry. Squeeze them out in a bowl to extract fresh lemon juice.

2.   Dip a clean cloth in the bowl of lemon juice, and apply it to the stain. Make sure the stain gets wet.

3.   Now, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of table salt on to the affected area.

4.   Take the shirt between your fingers, and gently rub it till the stain disappears.

5.   Another way to fasten the cleaning process is to let the clothing dry in the sun after the application of salt and lemon juice.

6.   Wash the shirt as normal, and let it air dry.

7.   Check for any remaining yellow armpit stains. If there are any, repeat the above steps.

Method Four (Using White Vinegar)

Similar to lemon juice, vinegar can also be used to get off mild armpit stains. A fairly easy and efficient method, it helps you avoid any sort of embarrassment that you might have to face by wearing a stained shirt.

Things that you will require:

·      Undiluted white vinegar

·      Bowl or bucket

·      Old toothbrush

·      Laundry detergent

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   First off, pour some undiluted white vinegar in a bowl or a bucket.

2.   Grab the stained piece of clothing, turn it inside out, and dip the stained area in the bucket or bowl of vinegar.

3.   Let the stain remain soaked in vinegar for approximately an hour. The stain will slowly start to loosen.

4.   Grab an old toothbrush, and start scrubbing the affected area with it. Be careful to not damage the fiber of the shirt.

5.   Wash your clothing as normal, using your normal laundry detergent.

6.   Let the shirt air dry. Then, check whether the stain has been completely been removed or not. If not, you will need to repeat the process. Remember, if you place the garment in the dryer, it becomes quite difficult to remove any remaining stain.

7.   If it is a white shirt, you can also let the shirt dry in the sun after the application of vinegar.