Let’s face it, life can get messy. And, no, we’re not talking about your last Bumble date. We’re referring to food. That glorious source of energy that keeps us going even on our busiest and most stressful days. But when you’re constantly on the go (or when you’ve had one too many martinis at happy hour), it can be a challenge keeping our clothes stain-free. It’s time you learned a few tidying-up tricks to pull out when disaster strikes.
Enter Nick Ciccone, one of Rent the Runway’s masterful dry cleaning pros specializing in tough stain removal. Nick shared a tried-and-true technique for taking care of stains on the spot, a surprisingly simple method that will undoubtedly come in handy the next time you spill rosé on your white dress. Follow along to learn how to knock out a pesky stain in a pinch.
Step 1: Grab 2 white towels and head to your nearest sink.
First, gently remove whatever remains of the cause of the stain from the surface of your clothes. This might be excess avocado, a piece of a popsicle, a watermelon slice… you get the picture. Next, place a dry white towel underneath the stained portion of the garment. Nick stresses the importance of using a white towel here: “White is used so as to see if there is any dye transfer when beginning the process.” If you notice the towel changing color, get the garment to a dry cleaners ASAP. This is more likely to happen with natural fibers, such as silk or rayon.
Step 2: Begin gently blotting.
Next, grab your second white towel. Dap a portion of this towel in water and begin blotting the stain. Continue this process until you notice the stain fading away. The key here is to avoid a back and forth rubbing motion. “Never never never rub the fabric in a back and forth motion, as this tends to chafe the fabric,” explains Nick. When a fabric’s fibers have been overly stretched or weakened, light patches will form over time with each cleaning.
Step 3: Add a little detergent if the stain won’t budge.
If you notice the stain isn’t go away with water, add a little mild detergent to the towel and continue dabbing. Often times oilier stains require this extra push. If you try this step, make sure you follow up with more water to remove any excess soap. This step may not do away with the stain altogether, but it will certainly make your outfit far more wearable.
For best results, let the garment air dry for a few minutes. If you’re in a real hurry, you can use a hair dryer to speed things up. Do not let the hot air get too close to the garment, however: “Dot get too close [with the hair dryer], as you can burn the fabric or set what little bit of stain that may not have been removed.” Once you’re finished, you can get back to having fun, mess-free.
