A Cleaner World Blog
Removing Ground-In Dirt
I have a love/hate relationship with gardening. I love walking outside, seeing what looks good, and deciding to use it in a dish for dinner. I hate that my husband plants too much of everything, it all comes in at once, and suddenly I am canning and making loads of marinara and salsa.
In honor of National Gardening Week, I thought it would be appropriate to address ground-in dirt. Now if you garden regularly, then you likely wear old clothes while gardening. But I have been known to wear something nice to the garden, only planning to pick just one or two things, and suddenly I’ve been outside for an hour and my cute khaki skirt is covered in dirt.
But gardening isn’t the only culprit for ground-in dirt. Do you have a child that plays baseball? Or a child that’s simply drawn to dirt and mud? Then this post is for you.
1. Don’t just throw the dirt covered item into the laundry basket and let it sit. You need to address it right away.
2. Scrape off any excess dirt or mud, then spray the area with a laundry pre-treating product or cover the area with some liquid laundry detergent. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
3. Fill a bucket or sink with water and place the garment to soak. After letting it soak for 10-15 minutes, try working the material around the stain to loosen the ground in dirt. Alternate flexing and soaking until the stain is removed or you no longer see progress.
4. If necessary, pre-treat the area again, then launder according to the care label’s directions.
5. Check the area before placing the garment in the dryer. If the stain is gone, then go ahead and dry it. If it’s still there, repeat the cleaning process.
6. If after the second time the stain is still there, you many want to consult with a professional. Too many attempts could lead to color loss or fiber damage.
7. If you do take it to a professional, be sure to point out the area at drop off and let the CSR know what methods you’ve used to attempt to remove the stain.
Stain removal can be a difficult task. If you are struggling with a stain and need help, drop it off at one of our locations, and we will be happy to put our expertise to work for you.
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