We’ve all had it happen- you’re enjoying a cup of coffee when some of it accidentally gets on your shirt. If anything, this goes for all foods from ketchup to pizza- they can all leave unsightly stains on your clothes.
But did you know that water can also stain your clothes? Not just any water, but hard water.
What is hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Not only does it taste better but it has a number of health benefits as well.
For one thing, it can help improve digestion, heart function, and blood sugar. Not only that but the calcium also helps with the growth of teeth and bones.
However, these minerals can also leave deposits on your clothes. For example, they can cause your white shirts to look dingy. Other clothes may develop chalky white or rust-colored stains.
The good news is they’re not permanent- you can wash them out so you don’t have to throw away your clothes just yet!
Removing Hard Water Stains From Colored Clothes
White vinegar is highly effective at removing hard water stains. A mild acid, it will physically break down the mineral deposits on your clothes so that they’ll look new again.
Start by filling the sink with cool water. Mix in one cup of distilled white vinegar and combine to create a solution. Once it’s thoroughly mixed, lay your colored clothes in the sink so that they’re completely immersed in the liquid.
Let them soak in the vinegar-water solution for 30 minutes. After soaking, transfer them to the washing machine and run a normal wash cycle. By the end of it, any white residue on your colored clothes should be gone.
Removing Hard Water Stains From Other Garments
Fill the washing machine with water. Make sure to use the hottest possible water setting. Once the tub is filled up, add one cup of fabric softener. Next, add your laundry detergent- you want to use four times the normal amount.
Add your stained clothes and make sure the fabric is completely saturated with the detergent solution. For the best results, let them soak for at least 12 hours.
Drain and spin the clothes afterward. Add one cup of fabric conditioner and run a normal wash cycle. There’s no need to add any laundry detergent.
Check to see if there are any suds during the rinses. If it’s still soapy, run an additional cycle.
Alternatively, you can use cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. The two will work together to break down magnesium and calcium, whitening your clothes in the process. If anything, it’s especially effective for white and yellow stains.
Start by adding hydrogen peroxide to a small bowl. Mix in the same amount of cream of tartar and you should end up with a thick paste.
Using your fingers, cover the stained area with the paste and wait 20 to 30 minutes. From there, gently rub the paste into the fabric before rinsing it with clean water.
Launder with a normal laundry cycle afterward.
Protecting Your Clothes Against Hard Water Stains
Wouldn’t it be great if you could prevent the hard water stains from happening in the first place? Why deal with them when you can stop them altogether, right?
Well, as it turns out, you can! In fact, there are several things that you can do to keep them at bay (other than filling your wardrobe with shades of gray and yellow so that you won’t be able to see the stains).
Use White Vinegar Regularly
Add 1/4 of a cup of white vinegar to the tub every time you do the laundry. That’ll dissolve the minerals and prevent them from building up inside the machine. That way, they’ll be less likely to get on your clothes.
It’s also a good idea to run an empty load with 2-3 cups of white vinegar every now and then. For the best results, use the hottest possible water setting.