Removing Kool Aid stains from fabrics can be a seemingly impossible task. Many people have resigned themselves to living with unsightly stains on their carpeting, furniture, or clothing because they were unable to remove the stains by scrubbing with soap and water. In fact, doing so may have spread the stain without lifting it at all. The difficulty in this task is due to the fact that the food dyes used in products like Kool Aid- especially the red dye- have a chemical structure that bonds easily and strongly to the fibers in fabric. To remove the dye from the fabric, you will need to use some process to break those chemical bonds, and allow the dye molecules to be removed.
Your best bet is to use an enzyme-based stain remover, such as Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover. Cleaners such as these use natural enzymes to speed up the normal decay of those bonds, allowing the dye to be wiped away like a normal spill. Nature's Miracle and other enzymatic cleaners are easy to use, and relatively inexpensive- about $25 per gallon.
However, there are also home remedies you can attempt. One of the more successful ones goes like this:
1: In a bowl, mix two cups of water with five or six drops of Dawn liquid soap (the original blue kind).
2: Dampen a clean rag in this mixture.
3: Place the rag over the stain.
4: Take a clothes iron, and set it to the lowest heat setting. Place it on the cloth and let it sit, warming the stain. Do not press down on it, as this may cause the stain to spread out further.
5: Let the iron sit on top of the cloth for about fifteen minutes. You may want to check periodically to make sure the heat is not causing any damage to the color of the surface- this is possible, but fairly rare.
6: You should see the Kool Aid absorbing into the rag. As the rag becomes saturated, move it so a clean portion is over the stain, or replace with fresh cloth as necessary. Repeat until stain is removed.
Many users have found this method to be effective even on old, stubborn stains. Some users prefer to use a half-and-half mixture of ammonia and warm water, rather than dishwashing liquid. Also, some users prefer to use the iron on the highest heat setting, rather than the lowest, for a much shorter period of time. Be warned that this may have the unintended consequences of setting the stain, making it permanent.
It is also useful to know that certain common household products can help to prevent Kool Aid stains from setting in. Hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice will both help to weaken the stain when applied immediately.
Another method uses a similar process, but replaces the solution with borax.
1: Gently blot the stain to remove as much excess Kool Aid as possible, without pressing it into the fabric.
2: Spray the stain with ice cold water.
3: Spread a layer of borax out over the stain.
4: Lay a cloth moistened with cold water over the borax.
5: Use the bottom of a spoon to gently work the borax into the stain, running it from the outside toward the center.
6: You should begin to see the stain blotting into the cloth. As this occurs, move or replace the cloth so that a clean area is over the stain. Repeat until the cloth stops absorbing the stain.
7: Rinse with water and blot to remove the borax from the fabric. Repeat several times if necessary.
8: Cover stain with absorbent towels, and weight down heavily with large, flat objects- encyclopedias are a good bet. Let sit until all liquid has been absorbed.
9: Remove towels, and let air-dry. Vacuum to remove any residual materials.
If these methods do not produce the desired results, try a commercial, enzyme-based cleaner such as Nature's Miracle. We wish you good luck, and spotless carpets!
Autor: Andrew Massaro Andrew Massaro
Level: Platinum
Andrew Massaro has been involved in the Pet Industry for over 14 years and knows a whole heck-of-a-lot about dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and ... ...
I've found the easiest way to clean Kool Aid Stains on Carpet is with Nature's Miracle Stain Remover. It is safe for use around pets and kids plus it works quickly and naturally to thoroughly destroy all stains and odors (that are organic) on carpets, hardwood floors and many other types of surfaces. Nature's Miracle can be found at http://www.Natures-Miracle.com.
Added: September 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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