No matter how many times my kid comes running up to me with purple goop all over that brand new shirt, I can't help but smile when I look into those eyes, full of innocence...they posses a kind of reckless abandon that reminds me of my former self, before the toils and stresses of life began piling up. While I am now the stain remover of the household, I feel that every time I scrub that little white shirt, it takes me back to a time where I didn't have to think or worry about any responsibility life could throw at me, let alone the need to keep myself clean.
All that nostalgia aside, it can still be very frustrating when you see orange juice all over your child's newly purchased Hello Kitty baby clothes. Especially, might I add, when you stayed in line for more than a reasonable amount of line on Black Friday at your local wholesale girls' clothes outlet to get them at an almost reasonable price. However, there is hope. As it turns out, removing stains from your child's jammies can actually be less of a chore than you may have imagined. Here are some tips that should help you in your quest to maintain a level of decency in your kids' appearance that reflects the outstanding character that you know they have.
Don't spread the stain!
- Upon initial contact with the stain in question, it may be tempting to scrub at it furiously in an attempt to contain the breakout before it makes itself a permanent part of the shirt's design. However, you have to force yourself to be calm, and remember that if you scrub at it too aggressively, you will most likely spread the stain to parts of the shirt that were previously unexplored, and would have remained as such had you not got all worked up! Try starting your wipes in circular motions around the stain, and move your way inward to collect as much as possible without creating too much chaos. This practice will help you a ton in the long run.
Don't procrastinate!
- Try tackling the stain as soon as possible, without delay. If little Jimmy runs in with mustard all over his new polo, act quickly. Grab him (employ your martial arts training, if you have any), and replace his attire. With luck, you should be able to take out the stain before it has time to make itself a member of your family.
Hot Water + Detergent = Job done!
- Forget the latest cleaning solution you bought when you were up too late watching television (I mean really...why were you up that late? The least you could do if you're putting yourself in those situations is hide your credit cards. I digress...). If you take the clothes in question to your laundry room, some simple detergent with hot water will take out the stain almost every time. One thing to be aware of, however, is that hot water can tend to make some stains (not many) worse. Protein stains are a good example of this.
Hopefully this will give you a good start as you prepare yourself for the battles ahead. Godspeed, and remember that one day, your kids will be cleaning your stains. That usually helps me make it through the day.
By:Mariola Szczesny
