A Parent’s Guide to Tackling School Stains
Having two kids of our own, we know firsthand that school has a special way of sending your children’s clothes home very different from when they left, whether it be grass-stained knees, lunchtime spills, or leaky markers.
The good news is that most school stains don’t have to become permanent, and with the right treatment and a little bit of patience, you can take on any of the stains school throws at you! It’s one of the reasons why we decided to develop a product that not only effectively removes stains but does so in a manner that is natural and safe for your family and the environment.
In this guide, we will walk you through the most common school stains you might encounter as you enter the school year, how to tackle them, and how using oxygen bleach can make your life a little easier.
THE STAIN-REMOVAL BASICS
Before you treat any sort of stain, remember the basics of stain-removal:
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Act quickly. The longer you leave a stain sit, the more difficult it will be for you to remove it.
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Check the care label. Different fabrics will call for different water temperatures and treatments. If the symbols on the care label look like jibberish, check out our guide on deciphering laundry symbols!
- Only use the dryer AFTER the stain is removed. Heat has the potential to set in stains, making it even harder for you to remove them. After washing clothing, give them a good inspection and repeat the treatment if the stain is still noticeable.
WHAT IS OXYGEN BLEACH?
Oxygenated bleach can kill bacteria and brighten and whiten clothes, just like chlorine bleach but without the toxic drawbacks of traditional bleach. From a chemical standpoint, oxygen bleach is a natural, plant-derived product called sodium percarbonate. It’s made from sodium carbonate, sometimes called soda ash, and good old hydrogen peroxide. Once this product is exposed to water, it releases oxygen, lifting out stains and dirt, resulting in a more effective and safer bleach.
Our formulated Oxygen Bleach is fragrance-free, color-safe, and made without the need for chlorine, phosphates, or dyes to achieve the same or sometimes even better results than traditional chlorine bleach.
HOW TO REMOVE COMMON SCHOOL STAINS
Depending on the type of stain, it may need a different treatment. Below is a quick guide on how to tackle the three most common stains your kids may bring home.
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Grass Stains: Treat the stain by mixing half a tablespoon of oxygen bleach with 500mL of warm water. Apply the solution directly to the stain and give it five minutes before you wash the piece with Powdered Laundry Detergent.
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Tomato Sauce, Berries, and Juice: Remove any excess food before you attempt to clean the stain. Then flush the stain from the back with cold water. Pretreat the stain using a Natural Liquid Detergent, rub it in gently, and leave it for five minutes before you wash it on a cold cycle. If the stain persists, apply an oxygen bleach solution and rewash.
- Mud: Mud is one of the exceptions to the rule of “Act Quickly”. Instead, leave the mud dry and then brush off as much as you can. Pretreat the remaining marks with some liquid detergent and wash normally. If you need some extra cleaning power for heavily soiled pieces, use a little bit of oxygen bleach.
If the stains have made their way from the clothes to a chair or sofa, follow the steps detailed in our guide on how to remove stains from upholstery.
HOW TO USE OXYGEN BLEACH AS A BOOSTER VS. AS A STAIN REMOVER
Our Oxygen Bleach can be used as either a laundry booster or as a stain remover. For your convenience, below we’ve detailed how you can use the oxygen bleach for both purposes.
As a laundry booster:
- Add one tablespoon of oxygen bleach directly into the washing machine drum before you add any clothes. For heavily soiled loads, we would recommend that you up the dosage to two tablespoons.
- Next, add your everyday laundry detergent.
- Wash the load with warm or hot water for the best results, provided that the temperature is safe as directed by the care label.
As a stain treatment:
- Mix half a tablespoon of oxygen bleach with 500mL of warm water and stir until the powder has completely dissolved into the water.
- Apply the solution to the stain and leave it to sit for five minutes.
- Wash the garment as usual.
If you’re looking for a more convenient solution, our Unscented Laundry Pods contain oxygen bleach and enzymes that can help tackle everyday stains. If you’re torn between using pods over liquid detergents, check out our comparison of both formats.
WHY CHOOSE OXYGEN BLEACH OVER CHLORINE BLEACH?
Traditional chlorine bleach can discolor fabrics and should never be mixed with any household cleaners. Chlorine bleach also produces strong toxic fumes and can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs when handled incorrectly.
Oxygen bleach offers parents a fragrance-free, color-safe option that tackles stains and brightens clothes. Here at AspenClean, our mission is to make products that are completely free of any toxic or harmful chemicals and are safe for those who use them and the environment!
