stain! help!

[LadyMeg]

Alright, so I finished my sewing of my new noble outfit, pulled out the olive skirt that's my staple and there it is!  The Stain!  I have no idea where it is from since it's been hanging in my closet all year and nothing around it is stained.  I've washed it a few times, treated it in the usual stain-be-gone ways and yet... it is still there.  Faded but there.  I have to wear it tomorrow (I don't have other options, stupid me).  There is a petal styled laced skirt similar to the chemise in the picture I could wear over it, but how will that look?  Weird?  I could make a little sheer apron a la Sleepy Hollow, but that's not the right period and won't that look weird too?  *cries*

[gem]

Yikes, that's horrible!  I would probably cry.

Can you maybe dye it?  You should be able to grab a packet of Rit at Walmart or even your grocery store; otherwise you could try tea-dyeing.  It won't get rid of the stain, but it may minimize its appearance.  Here's a link to Red Dawn's tutorial: http://www.reddawn.net/quilt/teadye.htm

Good luck!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

I can't really tell from here, but that looks oily...  Maybe it happened when camping stuff spilled on the way home?  I soaked a silk dress in full fat cream once!  Yikes!

Try getting some liquid wash for delicates and rub it into the stain neat, then throw it through a slightly warmer wash than you usually go for.  I've known things like milk take 3 or 4 washes to come out fully.

[Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard]

my best laundry friend is a bottle of dawn and a brush, it always takes out  grease and stains with a little scrubbing. good luck!

[Tipsy Gypsy]

If that doesn't work, some grocery, fabric and craft stores sell a product called Stain Devils. There are different formulas for different stains (grass, lipstick, wine, rust, oils, etc.). It's in a funny-shaped little yellow bottle and costs about $3-4 for maybe an ounce or so. I don't know how well the oily formula works, but holy moly, the rust remover is a-freakin-mazing. Good luck, hope you can save the skirt.

[LadyMeg]

I hope so too!  Thanks guys for the tips.  I'll certainly try them and then let you know what one got it out... 'cause that might just tell me what got on the thing.

[captmarga]

Mona Lisa Pink Soap (Sold at places like Michaels).  It's used to get oil paints out of artist's brushes.  I've used it for hundreds of other things, including getting latex paint out of a satin Cavalier gown. 

I've also used Oxiclean in strong solution with luck on some oily type stains.  Also, clean out the trap and softener-pour in your washing machine.  Mine, for some strange reason, always backs up into the sink, and some washes back up.  Talk about horrid stains...

Capt Marga

[DonaCatalina]

I have to warn you...definitely don't try to dye it before you get the stain out or you will have
a two-tone stain.
The cleaning agents suggested here are all ones I would have suggested.
I have had my best luck with liquid dish soap.

I know that gets citronella oil out of garb, and that's one tough oil.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

If it be an oil based stain, I recommend a product by AMWAY called Gel, Bug, and Tar Remover. It works great on oil based stains. Spray it in, rub it a bit, let it set a while, then wash. Stain gone. It gets bugs and tar  off cars in no time. It works well on oil based stains on fabrics as well. It does on mine.

[Auryn]

I was wondering how your stain removal went?
Successful I hope.
If not I have another option for you that might work.
Its gonna sound weird but Suave shampoo.
Yup the $1.19 bottle you can get anywhere.
I have successfully used it to remove blood (fresh and dried up), sweat (almost a year old and washed many times), engine oil, and pee stains. I have even used it to get old hair dye stains off of ceramic sinks and bath tubs.

You pour a good dollop size glob onto the stain- let it sit at least 20 minutes (dont let it dry onto the fabric, it will create its own stain). Preferably on both sides of the stain if possible.
And then wash it out with a tooth brush if its fabric, just wipe it away with a paper towel if its a hard surface.

[Bonny Pearl]

oh wow...

i have used the old pour a can of coke in the laundry trick for grease stains and it works.  best of luck to you!

[tigerlilly]

I was wondering how your stain removal went?
Successful I hope.
If not I have another option for you that might work.
Its gonna sound weird but Suave shampoo.
Yup the $1.19 bottle you can get anywhere.
I have successfully used it to remove blood (fresh and dried up), sweat (almost a year old and washed many times), engine oil, and pee stains. I have even used it to get old hair dye stains off of ceramic sinks and bath tubs.

You pour a good dollop size glob onto the stain- let it sit at least 20 minutes (dont let it dry onto the fabric, it will create its own stain). Preferably on both sides of the stain if possible.
And then wash it out with a tooth brush if its fabric, just wipe it away with a paper towel if its a hard surface.

That's awesome, but makes me think twice about putting it on my hair!

I've had really good luck with Fels Naptha bar soap (it's in the laundry aisle) and greasy stains.  Greased Lightning also supposedly works well, but I haven't tried it myself.

I hope you can get it out!

[dreamfarie]

Real soap, made with lye will remove grease stains really well.  I usually cut some off a bar and mix with water to make a paste and let it sit on the stain for at least 10 minutes and toss it in the wash with detergent as normal. 

[Tixi]

ooh what a bummer!

you can also try the power of oxygen or whatever they say in those infomercials

some of those "oxy" laundry sprays work really well - i always have a bottle around. from the grocery store. i did not pay s&h

i like the dye idea - if all else fails, you could maybe even bleach it and then re-dye it, depending on the material.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Any luck with that stain, Meg?