Alcoholic Beverages and Soft Drinks
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks may cause tannin stains. Fresh tannin stains are almost colorless, but if they are allowed to stand or are washed in soap and water or heated as in ironing and pressing, they turn brown and are almost impossible to remove. Fresh stains can be removed as follows:
Cold water and glycerine.—Sponge the stain with water or with a mixture of equal parts alcohol and water. Then pour glycerine on the stain and rub between the hands. Let stand for a half hour and rinse with water.
Acetic acid.—If the above treatment does not remove the stain, apply a 10-percent solution of acetic acid with a medicine dropper and let stand a few seconds. Rinse and repeat if necessary. Stop the action of the acid with baking soda or ammonia (see above) and spread the garment in the sun.
Bleaches.—The last traces of stains on white materials can sometimes be removed by bleaching. Use one of the following:
Hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.—Sponge lightly with hydrogen peroxide or with a mixture of 1 level teaspoon sodium perborate to 1 pint hydrogen peroxide. If this does not remove stain, cover dampened spot with powdered sodium perborate and let stand an hour. Rinse in water.
Javelle water.—For stains on uncolored cotton or linen material, dip in Javelle water for 1 minute (no longer), remove the chlorine from the cloth with a sodium thiosulfate solution, rinse well in water. (See [p. 6] for more detailed instructions.) Do not use Javelle water to remove stains from colored materials or from silk or wool.