Each year, millions of tons of clothes wind up discarded in donation bins or, worse, the trash. A chunk of the clothing that gets donated or tossed is often still wearable — save for unsightly stains.
By Allyson Chiu
Learning how to take care of your clothes so they last longer is key to reducing waste and pollution. Apparel and footwear production is responsible for anywhere between 4 and 8.6 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions — an amount greater than what’s generated from flying.
“One of the best things that we can do is not buy a new product,” Joyner Martinez said. “Clothing longevity is certainly very important to slowing and better pacing clothing consumption globally.”
How do I prevent a stain from setting?
The sooner you deal with a stain the better.
Fibers are absorbent, Joyner Martinez said. Silk and wool, in particular, really hold onto color.
“The longer it’s there, the more it becomes a permanent part of the garment,” she said.
General tips for fighting stains from the American Cleaning Institute, a trade association for the cleaning products industry, include:
- Pretreat with a stain remover and let the product soak in.
- When in doubt, dab at a stain. This will increase your chances of removing it from the fabric.
- Wash using cold water, which is going to be the best option for most stains. Make sure to follow fabric care instructions and wash accordingly.
- For extra dirty clothing or very tough stains, use a little extra detergent.
- If the stain remains, repeat these steps.
- Do not put clothing in the dryer until the stain is removed. Heat can set the stain.
If you don’t have a stain remover handy, regular salt can work, said Elena Karpova, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who studies textile and apparel sustainability. Karpova recommended gently rubbing salt into a fresh stain.
“It quickly absorbs the wetness and that greatly helps to remove it later,” she said.
There are on-the-go stain removers, but be careful with applying them too liberally to your clothing, Joyner Martinez said. These products can be very strong and could damage delicate fabrics if not used properly.
“What it’s doing is it’s eating away at the stain,” she said. “What it eats away at can also be the fibers of your garment. … Some of these things are kind of like taking a hammer to a flea.”
Does the type of stain remover I use matter?
The American Cleaning Institute recommends using products designed specifically to treat the type of stain you have.
Look at the product ingredients for enzymes that can tackle your stain. For example:
- Amylases can get out starchy stains like pasta.
- Cellulases can work on dirt stains.
- Lipases can help with oil and fat-based stains.
- Proteases can remove protein stains like grass or bodily fluids.
Many common household products can also be powerful stain fighters, Joyner Martinez said. “One of the great unsung heroes of stain removal is white wine vinegar.”
It can effectively tackle tough stains such as coffee, blood or wine as well as sticky or gooey residues, she said. You can also safely use it on different types of fabric.
For spot treatment, don’t apply straight vinegar directly to your clothing, Joyner Martinez said. It needs to be diluted with water first. You can also soak your stained garment in a solution of vinegar in water.
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can also work wonders on stains, she said.
Whatever you use, it’s important to be patient, Karpova said, particularly if you’re dealing with a stubborn stain. If the first application of a stain treatment doesn’t work, keep at it.
What should I do with permanently stained clothes?
Resist the urge to throw them out.
Stains on a beloved sweater or pair of jeans can be covered with embroidery or appliqués, Joyner Martinez said. You could also dye your clothes, such as tie-dyeing old white T-shirts.
Certain items could be transitioned into different uses, she said. For example, a stained T-shirt you used to wear out might become a sleep shirt or something you reach for to wear while you’re cleaning or gardening.
“From the time that we purchase something, [we should be] thinking about what that reuse and re-wear plan is going to be as things wear,” she said.
