How to remove iodine stains from clothes

Iodine works tremendously well in bringing you relief when you are suffering from flu or some other malady of the like kind. Yet the stains which it leaves behind are not that soothing. These stains look unsightly and can ruin your clothes for good. Moreover, iodine is used as a stain itself, therefore by nature it will be very difficult to remove. The sooner you act the better.

Hereby, we provide you with some easy, effective and inexpensive tips which will help you in the removal of these annoying iodine stains from your clothes.

However, just like many other such stains, the key for the removal of these stains is also ‘prompt and swift action.’ The quicker you act to treat these stains, the easier will their removal be. Follow the tips given below and experience the sheer ecstasy of clean and stain free clothes.

Method One (Using ammonia and detergent)

The following method makes use of the stain lifting powers of ammonia and liquid laundry detergent. If applied swiftly and adequately, these ingredients can help in removing iodine stains from clothes.

Things that you will require:

·      4 cups of cool water

·      1 table spoon ammonia

·      ½  tea spoon of liquid laundry detergent

·      1 table spoon of sodium thiosulfate

·      Clean white cloth

Steps that you need to take:

1.    Primarily, rinse the stain with cool water, making sure that the stain doesn’t spread any further.

2.    Next, mix 4 cups of cool water with 1 table spoon of ammonia and ½ tea spoon of liquid laundry detergent. An effective cleaning solution will be made.

3.    Soak the stained fabric in this cleaning solution for some time, approximately an hour.

4.    Afterwards, wash as you usually do. Before placing the fabric in the dryer, make sure that the iodine stain has gone otherwise the heat from the dryer will set it further.

5.    If the stain still hasn’t gone, then you ought to make a stronger cleaning solution. To make this solution, take one cup of cool water and one cup of sodium thiosulfate.

6.    Take a clean white cloth and blot the stain with this stronger cleaning solution.

7.    Lastly, rinse with cool water, making sure that all traces of the cleaning solution are removed from the fabric along with the iodine stain.

8.    Launder the garment as you usually do.

Precaution:

Do not use chlorine bleach to wash the fabric, as chlorine and ammonia together can create dangerous and poisonous fumes.

Method two (Using denatured alcohol)

Iodine stains can be very difficult to remove, as it happens to be a natural staining agent. However this method that deploys methylated spirits is worth a shot. If it doesn’t work, then you can always try consulting a professional dry cleaning agent.

Things that you will require:

·      Denatured alcohol ( methylated spirits)

·      Sponge

·      Soap/detergent

·      Warm water

Steps that you need to take:

1.   First of all, take some denatured alcohol and apply it on the iodine stain with the help of a sponge.

2.   Once you have applied this methylated spirit on the stain, soak the stained fabric in warm water for some time, approximately an hour.

3.   Detergent can also be added in this soaking water, as detergent can help loosen the stain particles. After the requisite hour, rinse it normally with cold water.

4.   Leave the fabric in the sunshine to dry off. It is better that you air dry this fabric instead of using the dryer. This is because, in case, despite the above mentioned process some stain remnants are left on the cloth then the heat from the dryer will set the stain further.

5.  Once the fabric has dried off, check for any stain traces. If they are still there, then seek professional help.

Tip:

Cool water is good for rinsing, but try to use warm water when it comes to soaking the fabric.