How to remove Soot Stains from clothes

Candle lit dinners and cozy fires are something which we always look forward to. However, interaction with such substances comes with its consequences. Even a little smoke can leave behind its pungent smoky odor in your clothes.

But, it’s not merely the odor which you have to worry about. A more pressing matter is the unsightly soot stains unknowingly and unintentionally incurred by your clothes. Moreover, once you wash this soot you might come across little pin holes which happen to be a consequence of burning.

Therefore it goes without saying that you have to figure out a reliable method to remove these soot stains from clothes. Fortunately, we have already done the figuring part and now all you have to do is follow the directions given below.

Proceed as described below.

Hopefully, soot stains will become history, by the time you end up with this method.

Method One (Using Vacuum and Baking Soda)

The following method is cost free and hassle free. It is pretty simple with a few ingredients. Moreover, the ingredients which are deployed in this method are usually found in every household.

Things that you will require:

· Vacuum  with a hose attachment

· Baking soda

· Pre laundry spray

Steps that you need to take:

1.   First of all, take a vacuum with a hose attachment.

2.   Hold the fabric firmly and tightly, while you use the hose attachment to remove soot off the fabric’s surface, as much as possible.

3.   Next, take some baking soda and sprinkle it on the soot stain.

4.   Since baking soda has absorbing properties, therefore it would absorb any oil or grease from the stain.

5.   Allow the baking soda to sit on the stain for some time, preferably 10 to 15 minutes.

6.   After the consummation of this time period, take the vacuum with its hose attachment, and vacuum away all traces of soot along with the baking soda residue.

7.   To restore your fabric to its original stain-free, odor-free and soot-free state, take a pre-wash/pre-laundry spray and apply a liberal amount on the stain.

8.   Afterwards, launder the fabric as you usually do in warm water.

9.   Make sure that you read and follow the directions given on the garment tag.

Method Two (Using a heavy Duty Detergent)

Soot mixed with solvent makes India ink, which is all the more difficult to get rid of. Therefore the following method deploys a contrary approach. Proceed as described below.

Things that you will require:

· Heavy duty phosphate based detergent

· Water conditioner

· Fabric bleach

Steps that you need to take:

1.    First of all, take the garment outdoors and shake it energetically so that all the excess soot might be swept off its surface.

2.    Next, take a heavy duty phosphate based detergent and use it to launder the fabric.

3.    To ensure a satisfactory stain removal, add one cup of water conditioner as well as ½ cup of fabric bleach in wash.

4.    Eventually rinse the garment and air dry.

5.    Repeat the procedure if required even if you have to do 4 or 5 rounds of this procedure.

 Warning:

  Soot is oil-based and should never be rubbed, in order to remove it.

How to remove Soot Stains from Walls

Candle lit dinners; cozy fires on chilling winter nights and a good smoke after a strong tea are scenarios which are excessively appealing. Yet when you end up with grayish black soot stains on your walls, then perhaps you feel like giving these things a second thought.

These grayish stains are greasy and refuse to budge with merely detergent and water. They can easily be spotted on light colored walls and are not merely unsightly but also present a health hazard.

Repainting your wall is not a good option until primarily you remove the soot and then treat the stain. Feeling Dejected? Thinking of giving up your cozy fires and candle lit dinners? Well, all hope is not lost and we are here to restore your lost hope.

Given below is a simple home remedy which will help you to remove these soot stains from scratch, leaving you behind, with walls as good as new.

Things that you will require:

· Soot sponge

· Murphy’s Oil/ Rubbing alcohol

· Dish soap

· Warm water

· Vacuum upholstery attachment

Steps that you need to take:

1.   First of all, take a vacuum upholstery attachment and vacuum away the obvious pieces of soot. This upholstery attachment will enable you to effectively remove soot, as well as prevent any dents or scuffs on the wall.

2.   Afterwards take a soot sponge. This sponge is also known as a dry sponge or a Chem sponge. Using this soot sponge, rub the entire wall. This rubbing should be done extremely carefully, so that all soot is properly lifted off the wall.

3.   Once you are sure that majority of the soot has been removed off the wall, wash it using Murphy’s oil and water.

4.   Start from the bottom and work upwards, and make sure that you wipe the wall with a clean cloth.

5.   In case you cannot lay your hands on Murphy’s oil, then take some rubbing alcohol and dab it on the soot stains. Continue blotting the stains until they start disappearing.

6.   Then take a dish soap solution. Dish soap has a grease cutting tendency and can effectively remove soot stains.

7.   Soak a clean cloth in this solution and then use this cloth to wipe off any leftover grease.

8.      Work from the bottom and move upwards. Moreover work in small sections to prevent the stain from spreading.

9.      Hopefully, you will end up with soot-free and stain-free walls.

Tips and Warnings:

· Only a dry cleaning/ soot sponge should be used for the removal of soot from the walls. This is because; this sponge attracts soot and holds on to it. Consequently, it prevents the soot from spreading or reapplying as you work your way over the whole area.

· If despite these steps, the soot refuses to come off, and then try taking some professional help.

How to remove soot stains from carpet

One of the worst stains that your carpets can possibly incur is that of soot; and if you happen to smoke or if someone in your household does, then this stain is surely going to be a common one.

Or, if you have a coal furnace at your place, then you need to brace yourself for frequent soot stains. Soot can permanently discolor your carpets, making them unsightly to look at. These stains are particularly bad for lighter colored fabrics.

In such cases, the simple home remedies we shall be providing hereby can come in real handy. These steps can help you to get rid of these soot stains from carpet and restore your carpet to its original state. Just make sure that you make haste, while treating these stains because the sooner you act, the better will the results be. This caution might seem pretty obvious, yet it is of extreme importance. The longer you leave the soot stain on the carpet, the more time will the carbon particles have to get embedded in the carpet fibers and dis-color them for good.

The following method makes use of the miraculous stain-lifting powers of rubbing alcohol and dish soap. Embark upon this method and enjoy a stain-free carpet.

                           

Things that you will require:

· Vacuum

· Wash cloth

· Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

· Paper towels

· Dish soap

· Warm water

Steps that you need to take:

1.   Trying to pick up soot chunks with your fingers or paper towels can be a bad option. You might be wondering why that is so. Well, the answer is pretty simple. When you try to pick up these chunks with your fingers or perhaps with a paper towel; there is a great probability that you end up rubbing the cinders deeper into your carpet.

2.   In such cases, always choose to go for a hand held or upright vacuum. Vacuum’s characteristic suction power will lift the soot cinders right off the carpet; thus the removal of these stain remnants will be made easier.

3.   Once you have vacuumed up the soot cinders, take a wash cloth and dab it with some rubbing alcohol. Blot the stain with this wash cloth. Working the cloth clockwise on the stain can help in its effective removal. You have to be very careful in the application of rubbing alcohol on the stain. Alcohol must not be allowed to seep through the carpet fibers as it can end up damaging the carpet’s backing.

4.   After its application, place some paper towels on the stained area. To ensure effective absorption of moisture by these paper towels, place something heavy on the towels to weigh them down.

5.   If the soot stain is stubborn and still persists despite the rubbing alcohol treatment, then make a cleaning solution by mixing few teaspoons of dish soap and a cup of warm water.

6.   Blot the stain with this cleaning solution.

7.   Afterwards, rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove all traces of soot, rubbing alcohol and dish soap solution.

8.   Lastly, place paper towels on the stain again and weigh them down with something heavy, so that they can effectively absorb moisture.

 Tips and Warnings

1.   Blot the stain gently with the cleaning solution instead of rubbing vigorously so that the carpet fibers do not get frayed.

2.   Prior to the application of rubbing alcohol on the stain, first check it out on any inconspicuous area of the carpet.