Good Housekeeping's 'Stain Rescue'

ByABC News via logo
April 25, 2007, 2:11 PM

April 26, 2007 — -- From ink spills to splatters of cooking oil, "Stain Rescue" from the Good Housekeeping Institute offers an A to Z guide on removing your toughest marks from every type of fabric. The following is an excerpt.

Here is a general guide to choosing the right cleaningmethod for your garments. Care varies based oncolorfastness, weight, trimmings, linings, specialfinishes, and fabric and garment construction. Alwaysread and follow the manufacturer's care labelrecommendations before cleaning garments.

ACETATE: Synthetic fiber. Dry-clean.

ACRYLIC: Synthetic fiber. Machine wash knits inwarm water on gentle setting. Wash inside out toreduce pilling. Roll in a towel to absorb extra moisture,and dry flat; or dry at low setting in a dryer. Dry-cleanwoven acrylic fabrics.

BLENDS: Fabrics of combined fibers: cotton/polyester,cotton/linen, silk/polyester, wool/polyester, and so on.Follow care guidelines for the more delicate or mostprominent fiber in the blend.

CANVAS: Heavy, firm, tightly woven fabric,originally cotton or linen, now also made of syntheticsor blends. Machine wash in cold water and tumble dryon low setting. Dry-clean if not colorfast.

CASHMERE: Undercoat hair of the cashmere goat.Treat as wool, and follow the care label. Sweaters maybe hand washed with care, but it's best to dry-cleanboth knits and wovens.

CHIFFON: Thin, transparent fabric, usually silk; canbe made of synthetic fibers. Hand wash for best results.

CHINTZ: Glazed cotton, often printed. Dry-cleanunless label states that glaze is durable and fabric canbe washed; if so, wash as directed on labels.

CORDUROY: Ridged-pile fabric that may be cotton,cotton/polyester, or rayon. Turn inside out and usewarm water. Dry at regular setting; remove from dryerwhile slightly damp; smooth pockets and seams withhands. Hang until dry.

COTTON: Natural vegetable fiber woven andknitted into fabrics of many weights and textures.Hand wash lightweight fabrics, such as batiste,organdy, and voile, and hang to air-dry (or iron dampwith a hot iron). Machine wash light-colored andwhite medium- and heavyweight cottons with warmor hot water. Use cold water for bright colors that maybleed. Dry at regular or low setting. Remove fromdryer while still damp. Iron damp with hot iron.Cottons like towels and underwear can be washed anddried on hot settings if desired.