Chaska Laundry Center
2540 Chaska Blvd | Chaska, MN 55318 | 952.368.7252
Mon-Fri, Open at 7am • Last Load at 7pm • Close at 8:30pm
Sat-Sun, Open at 7am • Last Load at 7:30pm • Close at 9pm
Hours are the same for coin laundry and dry cleaning

Stain Removal Tips

First a few rules:

  1. We are experts in stain removal. If you prefer not to try the remedies provided, bring it into us as soon as possible.
  2. No matter how bad you want to, do not rub a stain - pat only. Rubbing will push the stain further down into the fabric. Patting will move the stain into the rag or napkin you are patting with. Rubbing damp silk will damage the material.
  3. Do not spray hair spray on a stain. Hair spray is harder to get out than most stains. Using water or soda water will usually dilute a stain and make it easier to remove later.
  4. If you have a surface stain (like spaghetti sauce), place the garment stain down on a towel or rag and pat the stain removal liquid (i.e. water or liquid detergent) from the back side so as to move the stain on to the towel. If you pat from the stained side you will push the stain further into the fabric. Some stains (such as coffee with cream and sugar) may have many different components all taking a different stain removal process, so be patient.
  5. Never machine dry a garment before removing stains. They will be permanently set. The older the stain, the more difficult to it is to remove. Don't procrastinate - get it out as soon as possible. Oily type stains must be removed at once as they will yellow with age.

Beverages

Such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, alcoholic drinks, fruit juice, be sure to rinse stain in cool water. Preferably before the stain dries.

Pre-treat with pre-wash stain remover or a mild laundry detergent and white vinegar. If the stain is still there after laundering, try an enzyme detergent (like ERA) or go back to the first step.

Presoak if possible.

Blood, egg, urine, vomit, feces and animal stains

Scrape off any reside then soak freshly stained garment in cold water for 30 minutes and rinse. Gently rub detergent into any remaining stain. Rinse and then launder.

If any stain remains or the stain is dry, soak in lukewarm water with an enzyme product (like ERA) and then launder.

Fruit, mustard, grass, tobacco or other plant type stains

Rinse with cool water and treat with a mild detergent and white vinegar before washing or presoak in an enzyme product (like ERA) in the warmest water safe for the fabric. Then launder as usual.

May need to repeat if stain is not completely gone.

Grease, motor oil, salad dressing, butter, cooking oil, cosmetics, crayon

Light stains can be pretreated with a spray stain remover. Heavier stains require a mild laundry detergent mixed with household ammonia, or detergent mixed with a detergent booster.

Launder in hottest water safe for the fabric. Remember pat only, no rubbing. Will have to repeat several times for heavy stains. Very heavy oil may require a solvent based stain removal product (see candle wax below).

Perspiration

Treat with pre-wash stain remover, or dampen stain and rub with a bar of soap. If the color of the fabric has changed slightly, apply ammonia to fresh stain or white vinegar to old stain, rinse.

Launder in hottest water safe for that fabric. Stubborn stains may respond to pre-treating (soak) with an enzyme product (like ERA) then launder using an all-fabric bleach.

Candle wax, lipstick

Gently lift off larger pieces. Treat with a solvent based stain removal product. Again, pat from the back side into a cloth. Then wash in the hottest water safe for that fabric. Test colored items first.