Why You Should Use Salt To Remove Your Toughest Fabric Stains
Salt is that one kitchen ingredient that has all of the bragging rights. Beyond taking a bland meal from zero to 100, it has countless uses in the home. We've previously told you how to eliminate burns and crack stains on your iron using salt. And we have another trick to try with the kitchen staple.
It has to do with laundry. Not a fun activity for most people. A survey by Study Finds shows that 68% of people dread doing laundry, with many noting that it's boring and they're afraid of damaging their favorite clothes. However, with this life hack, laundry might become a less-tasking chore. For all of the toughest stains like blood, rust, and even color bleeding, salt solutions using everyday table salt might be your answer! Want to learn how and why? Read on to understand why you should use salt to remove all of your toughest fabric stains.
Remove blood stains quickly
Ever had a nosebleed or a brush burn that ruined your favorite fabric? These stains seem almost impossible to remove because blood has a property known as hemoglobin, and when hemoglobin mixes up with air, it clots and binds, according to Crime Scene Clean-Up. If blood spills onto fabric, it sticks; even bleach cannot get it all out most of the time.
However, according to Keen Clean, your everyday kitchen salt has agile dehydrating properties that can lift blood stains from your clothes. You first want to get to the stain as quickly as possible; when blood is left to set and dry, it becomes much harder to remove. Next, you'll want to rinse it with cold water. Cold water is key when removing blood from fabric since heat can cause the blood to bind more. Blot the stain with salt and cold water to prevent binding; afterward, you can wash off the stains normally.
Prevent color bleeding
Have you ever had a new t-shirt or sweater bleed in the washer and ruin the rest of your clothes? Almost everyone can relate to how painful that can be; not only do your new clothes get faded and ruined, but in the same vein, you have to do laundry all over again to get the color off your other clothes.
Laundryheap writes that colors run when textile makers do a haphazard job attaching the color to the thread. Another cause could be hot water opening up the dye. Whatever the case may be, there's a solution. The experts at How Stuff Works say that to prevent color from running in the wash, mix the wash solution with 1/2 a cup of salt, and you should be good to go afterward. Apart from preventing color run, this method can also restore the vibrant colors of your fabrics.
Remove rust stains
Rust stains on clothes can happen for a variety of reasons. Old pipes, water heaters, or washing machines can be the culprit. And while these stains are notoriously difficult to remove, salt can help when you're in a bind.
Tips Bulletin writes that to take a rust stain out of fabric, simply mix salt and lemon juice and rub it on the stain. You can also sprinkle the salt on the fabric and spray it with lemon juice. Next, dry the fabric in the sun, covering it with a sheet or towel to prevent bleaching. When the clothes are dry, you can hand wash them or run them in the washing machine, and they'll be as good as new!
They also note that white vinegar can work as an alternative to lemon juice. However, this method can be harsh on some materials like leather, wool, or silk. You're better off taking sensitive fabrics to professional dry cleaners when dealing with rust stains.
Remove yellowing sweat stains
Ever imagine what it would be like if we didn't sweat? Think about always having perfect makeup, not having to shower after jogging, or even having clean white shirts that would never yellow at the armpits. While it is impossible not to sweat, you can always find a way to deal with the pesky yellow stains that plague your clothes at the armpits.
Laundry Zone writes that you should dissolve 4 tablespoons of salt into a liter hot of water and then dab the stain with the mixture over and over again until it is gone. You could also create a stain-removing blend using salt and baking soda, according to How Stuff Works. They recommend boiling your yellowed fabrics in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of salt, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and water and letting it soak for an hour. Afterward, your clothes should be sweat-stain-free.