Outdoor Stain Removal Guide for Laundry in Chicago

Child with dirty jeans and clasped hands.

With the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had in November, like many others in the Chicago area you and your family may have found yourself outdoors lately enjoying some fresh air and sunshine. Whether you have been hiking through the forest preserves, visiting the park, running the lawnmower for the last few times, raking leaves, or playing a little football, your laundry might have picked up a few common stains from your outdoor adventures.

Before giving up and tossing your clothes away, we thought we could provide you with a few quick tips on removing stubborn stains from your outdoor wear.

How to Remove Grass Stains
Grass stains can be difficult to remove, and they can be found on pants, socks, shirts, and more. Kids playing sports or games or adults doing yardwork or outdoor activities can easily bring home grass-soiled garments.

  • Pretreat the stain.
  • Wash it in the hottest water possible that is safe for the fabric.
  • Use bleach if it is safe for the fabric.
  • If a stain remains, soak it in warm water with pretreat product, then rinse thoroughly and rewash.

How to Remove Mold or Mildew Stains
It is the season for rain and wet conditions. Clothing can come in contact with mold or mildew outside. Just as easily, if wet clothes are left unattended, they can develop mold problems. To remove mold stains, do the following:

  • Pretreat the stain.
  • Launder in the hottest water possible that is safe for the fabric.
  • Use bleach, if appropriate.
  • If the stain is not removed, use a sponge and apply hydrogen peroxide or an oxygen-based cleaner (available at most drug stores, grocery stores, or big-box retailers), then rinse thoroughly and wash the clothes again.

How to Remove Mud Stains
If your family enjoys tossing the “pigskin” for a Thanksgiving Day football game or you find yourself covered in mud from head-to-toe while picking up leaves and debris from the yard, mud stains are inevitable. Early detection and swift action can help save your garments from disaster.

  • Scrape off excess mud and dirt carefully with a dull knife or other dull wood, plastic, or metal scraper.
  • Soak in cold water.
  • Pretreat any remaining stain.
  • Wash using the hottest water possible that is safe for the fabric.
  • Use bleach, if applicable and safe for the fabric.

Following these tips should help you to make your outdoor adventures during Fall, Spring, and Summer worry free!

Let us do the work for you! Drop and Dash Laundry Service can pick up your dirty clothes, take it to our state-of-the-art facilities, and deliver your freshly laundered and folded clothes and linens before you know it. Ask us about our Ozone Power Wash – the only one in Chicago!