How to Remove Stains from Unfinished Wood

If you’ve had the misfortune of finding unwanted stains on your unfinished wood, you’ve learned firsthand why experts recommend a protective coat over wood surfaces. Whether you’ll ever be able to remove the stain depends on a couple of factors, namely, the type and condition of the wood and the kind of stain you’re dealing with, but under the best of circumstances many stains will be permanent. Still, you may improve or eradicate the stain by following these steps.

You Will Need:

• Fine grit sandpaper

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Using fine grit sandpaper, lightly sand the surface.
2. Pause frequently to wipe away the dust and check your progress.Also, ensure you are not sanding so much wood away that you leave a depression.
3. Repeat until the stain is gone or until you start to wear away the wood.
4. If the sanding is noticeable, lightly scuff the rest of the surface with the sandpaper so it matches.

Additional Tips and Advice:

• Pine is a soft wood and quickly absorbs stains. Harder woods are more likely to only be stained at the surface, therefore increasing your chance of successful stain removal.
• If you get the stain out, consider finishing the wood with a clear protective finish. If you can’t get the stain out, consider applying a wood stain over the entire surface to “hide” the unwanted color.

• Oily food stains rarely come out of wood.

How do you remove olive oil from a wool sweater?

You recently splashed some olive oil and lemon juice mixture on a wool sweater. How can you get that out? You haven't done anything yet except blot as much as you could. 

Removing stains from wool can be a little tricky to tackle yourself. It’s often best to take it to a professional cleaner and allow them to treat the stains. If you want to remove them at home, here is a method that many have found safe and effective. If your item is machine washable, see the additional tips for a quicker cleaning option.

You Will Need:



Cornstarch
Mild bleach-free dish detergent (ex: Dawn or Ivory)
Tub or basin
Cold water
Large sheet of paper
Pencil or pen
Large absorbent bath towel


Steps to Remove the Oil Stains:



1. If the oil stain is minor, you may be able to remove it with a simple absorbent.
2. Cover the stained area with cornstarch.
3. Allow it to set for 30 minutes so the cornstarch can absorb the oil.
4. Brush clean with a clean, white cloth.
5. If the stain remains, you can repeat the above steps or wash the oil out with the following steps.
6. Start by laying the sweater on the large sheet of paper.
7. Trace around it with the pen/pencil. This will provide a template to lay the sweater back out to
     its original shape and size while it dries.
8. Fill a tub, sink or basin (depending on the size of the item being washed) with cool to cold water.
9. Add a few drops of bleach-free dish detergent. If the stain is really tough, try applying some
    detergent directly to the stain.
10. Agitate the water lightly to mix.
11. Immerse the sweater in the water.
12. Swish it around gently a few times to work the soap and water into the sweater. Do not
       wring, twist or pull on the sweater or it will lose its shape.
13. Let the sweater sit in the water for 2-3 minutes and allow the soap to work.
14. Remove the sweater carefully being careful not to pull any parts and drain the soapy water.
15. Refill with clean water
16. Place the sweater back in the clean water to rinse.
17. Remove the sweater and drain the water.
18. Repeat steps 10-12 until all of the soap is removed.
19. Once rinsed, lay the sweater on a large, absorbent towel.
20. Roll the towel up with the sweater inside.
21. Gently push the water out of the sweater.
22. Repeat until the sweater is damp.
23. Lay the sweater on top of the paper with the outline traced onto it.
24. Make sure it fits the original size and shape. Make adjustments as needed as the sweater dries.
25. Allow the sweater to air dry completely.


Additional Tips and Advice

Some wool sweaters are machine washable (check the care instructions on the tag), which will make the stain removal process much simpler. In these cases, you will be able to spot clean the stain and machine wash the entire sweater. Do not machine dry it, as the heat will cause shrinkage. Wool is natural hair, and some have found basic shampoo effective in removing oil and grease stains. Never use any products with bleach to clean wool. It will weaken the fibers.

How to Clean a Keurig Coffee Maker With Vinegar and a Toothbrush Melissa Maker @ Clean My Space shares a quick and easy method of cleaning your expensive Keurig coffee makers with a toothbrush, vinegar, dish soap, and a microfiber cloth. Most of the machine can be cleaned in your dishwasher, with minimal manual labor involved.  Head on over to Clean my Space for the full instructions, along with a how-to-video.

Is Cleaning by Hand Washing The Same as Machine Washing on Delicate?

Can you clean a garment that is hand wash only on the Delicate Cycle in a washing machine?  You could, but should you?  Definitely not.  If in doubt, bring your item to a Professional Dry Cleaners like Comet Cleaners in Denton, Texas for our expert treatment.



It has long been a myth that hand washing and machine washing on a delicate cycle were the same thing when, in fact, they are very different. Sure, many people have taken the risk of machine washing a garment and had it be a success, but just as many have failed.

Hand washing properly is a process that uses as little agitation as possible.  The cleaning that is done is primarily from gentle soap action or water. Machine washing primarily uses agitation. Agitation is when clothes rub against other clothes creating a friction or scrubbing effect that gets dirt and grime out.
 

Clothes who's care labels state that hand washing is the only acceptable cleaning methods are usually too delicate to handle this scrubbing action.

Here's Why: Machine washing can cause tearing of fibers on a microscopic level which can cause holes and warping to develop. Even if it's not initially evident, these tiny tears can manifest months later as a hole that you have no clue how it got there.

Here are a few tips on hand washing your clothes:

• Try to always use cold water, not longer than lukewarm if you have to.
• Make sure the sink is clean, or better yet have a tub used only for hand washing.
• If there is a stain, pre-treat with a gentle soap and rub lightly with a finger.  Submerge in the water to rinse, repeat as needed.
• If the item is extremely dirty it is better to let it soak overnight than risk over working the fabric.
• If washing more than one piece, only wash like colors at the same time.  If the items are different colors, wash one at a time using fresh water between color changes.

Most hand wash only garments will be delicate and expensive fabrics. Keep these treasures in the best possible shape by following the care labels exactly.  If you are determined to use the delicate cycle in your washing machine, placing the garment in a net bag will help minimize damage.  
Better yet, bring them to us at one of our three locations Comet Cleaners of Denton, Texas.   We hand wash fine garments all the time!

Karen asks: We have vinyl tile in our bathroom. A family member struggles with incontinence at times, and there is a dark brown stain around the toilet. I think if may be due to urine/feces being on the floor. Is there any way to remove the stain without damaging the tile? The rest of the floor is fine; it’s this one area that is the problem.

You Will Need

Rubber Gloves
Paper Towels
Broom
Vinegar, 1 cup
1 Gallon bucket
Liquid Dish Washing Detergent, 2 tsp.
Warm Water
Long Spoon
Brush with soft bristles
Abrasive Sponge
Multiple Washcloths
Rubbing Alcohol
Baking Soda

Steps

Wearing the rubber gloves, pick up any excess urine and feces with the paper towels
and dispose of properly. The gloves will help to protect against bacteria.

Sweep the area with the broom to rid it of any excess dirt and dust. This will
ensure you have the most direct access to any stains.

Mix together the cup of vinegar, the dish washing detergent, and warm water in a
bucket. Stir with the long spoon, and be careful not to create too many suds.

Dip the soft bristled brush into the mixture, and scrub the stain. Then, rinse with
clean water. If there is still a stain, use the more abrasive method described next.

Mix equal parts water and baking soda to create a paste. Spread the paste over the
stained area and allow to set for 10 to 15 minutes.

Scrub with the abrasive sponge, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Finally, scrub the area with a clean cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Additional Tips and Advice

Remove the stain as soon as possible, as letting it sit for too long may ruin your floor.
Just for the sake of clarity, never mix bleach and vinegar. Using bleach on your floor
is OK, but be sure to NOT add vinegar, as it will create a chlorine gas

Why Do Shirts Lose Their Buttons At The Shirt Laundry?

 

Does someone at the dry cleaners go around smashing buttons on all the shirts they clean...or is there another reason shirts come home without buttons?

 

 

 

It's not exactly a question for the ages, but it's certainly one that puzzles many Dry Cleaning regulars.  Like many of life's great mysteries, this particular mystery has several answers.

Why do shirts lose buttons?
First of all, buttons fall off clothing all the time, not just at the shirt laundry. For example, I find that whenever I buy a dress shirt from a certain retailer, I lose buttons the first or second time I wear the shirt and mumble under my breath that I'll never shop there again as I sew the button back on. These manufacturers simply don't sew buttons on very well. I also lose buttons over time as the thread wears down or I catch my shirt on something.

But it is true that the shirt laundry does cause buttons to break, crack or come off. This happens for a couple of reasons. First, shirt presses press the entire placket of the shirt at once, including the buttons. The presses have pads to soften and protect the buttons, but button loss can still occur. Also, if a dry cleaner doesn't change these pads regularly, they become hard and are more likely to break or damage buttons. The pressing step of the shirt laundry could also exacerbate already damaged thread, being the straw that breaks the camel's back.


The standard machine used to press the collars and cuffs of dress shirts:

• The peachy pads act as shock absorbers and help protect buttons as long as the pads are changed often. 
• The top metal part comes straight down on a hinge and applies heat to the cuffs and collars giving them a sharp, crisp finish. 

• Occasionally buttons are already cracked or weakened from age or from the cleaning process and the button comes off.  A reputable Dry Cleaners will check for missing buttons and replace them.

 Substandard thread in the manufacturing process is also a factor in the missing buttons epidemic.  Here at Comet Cleaners of Denton, we check each shirt individually and replace each missing button for free.  This isn't just for dress shirts either, but we also hand inspect every pair of pants, every ladies blouse, etc... 

Reputable dry cleaners will replace for free any buttons broken, cracked or lost during the shirt laundry process. We know lost buttons happen and we do what we can to prevent this loss. But as in life, a little rain will fall and you will lose buttons off your dress shirts at the shirt laundry.

Now to tackle another of life's great mysteries — how to pick the winning lottery number.

How To Remove Masking Tape From Clothes

Sharon asks: I found a sweat  suit with masking wrap around the outfit that had been taped together for organizing a garage  sale. It has been in a storage tub for several years. When I took the tape off, it left white marks where the tape had been. How do I remove the marks?

Removing tape residue from a table or other hard surface can be difficult enough, let alone an article of clothing. Since you can’t safely scrape off the residue on a piece of clothing with a razor, other options are required. Hopefully, with these tips, you will be able to get that sticky mess off of your clothing easily and without damaging your clothes.

Table of Contents:

1. You Will Need
2. Steps
3. Additional Tips and Advice

You Will Need

1. WD40
2. Paper Towels (dry)
3. Iron
4. Cleaning Cloths

Steps

1. Spray the affected area of the clothing with a very light layer of WD40, and allow to soak in. Approximately 10 minutes should be sufficient.
2. Plug in the iron and set it to low. This can be done while the WD40 soaks in.
3. Take a paper towel and wipe the area off. Be sure to do this gently.
4. Place a paper towel over any remaining residue on the fabric.
5. Run the heated iron over the fabric and paper towel with the paper towel side up. This will cause the residue to melt and stick to the paper towel, freeing your clothing from it.
6. With another clean paper towel or cleaning cloth, wipe the area. Then wash as usual.