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Food & bev. services News South Africa

Tips to get festive food stains out of staff uniforms

During this time of the year, it is common for your hotel staff to enjoy a festive meal or two, possibly while still in their uniforms. While stains are a common problem, they can ruin clothes. Using the right fabric cleaner or bleach is important, not only to remove the stains, but also to keep the clothes in good condition. The internet has a surplus of solutions on how to remove stains and some, as you can imagine, are pure myth, whilst others are real.
Image source: all-free-download.com
Image source: all-free-download.com

Well-known festive activities include a large table with enough food to drive you into a food frenzy, and unfortunately that is invariably accompanied by those dreadful stains. Difficult stains caused by, for instance, wine, wax, cranberry sauce etc. are regarded as a nightmare to remove. In attempt to clean the stain, consumers try all sorts of concoctions that either damage the fabric or make the stain spread even more. However, removing what would be considered dreadful stains caused by the different types of scrumptious festive food is relatively easy. Each stain can be removed by the consumer in an easy and unique way.

Type of stain and removal method

Chocolate: As soon as you can, wipe the stain with a dry cloth and then cover the stain with a damp cloth. For washable fabrics, start with a solvent for the grease and follow up with digestive protein. For non-washable fabrics, start with the solvent, then dab the stain with vinegar followed by cold water.

Wine: As is done with the chocolate stain, the wine stain has to be wiped with a dry cloth, and then covered with a damp cloth as soon as possible. For washable fabrics, simply flush the stain with water. For non-washable fabrics, dab the stain with cool water, but remember to tell the dry cleaner about the stains, because the sugar that remains can caramelise when dry cleaned.

Grease: Try and treat the stain as soon possible by blotting it with a clean dry cloth, thereby absorbing the grease. For washable fabrics, dab with a solvent like Vanish, and flush with cold water. For non-washable fabrics, dab with an oil solvent, followed by flushing with water.

Cranberry sauce or any other berry sauces: You will need vinegar to effectively remove this type of stain. Dab the washable stained fabric in denatured alcohol such as methylated spirits. To remove any remaining colour, flush with white vinegar, and to remove any residue, use washing detergent.

Wax: This stain can be treated either straight away or when it has hardened. It is easier, however, to do the latter option. To harden the wax, place an ice cube over it. Using the blunt side of a butter knife, scrape off the hardened top surface of the stain. Iron over the stain using a low heated iron to melt any remaining wax. Use mineral spirits to remove any remaining residue.

Don't let stains erase the beautiful memories that will be created on the dinner table this festive season.

For more information on how to remove stains, visit the Vanish website.

Source: Howtocleanstuff.net

About Stephen Sandmann

Stephen Sandmann is a Senior Digital Strategist at Quirk. He has a keen interest in everything digital.
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