Back Door

[chrisnrob]

I cooked a rather splendid (even if I do say so myself!) veggie cobbler last week when my sister came round for dinner.

 

Unfortunately, in serving it up, some managed to get spilt on the white tablecloth.

 

The sauce was tomato-based and I'm not having much luck removing it using Ecover washing liquid or Ecover stain remover Anyone got any sure-fire ecological tips for removing tomato-based stains?

 

Rob

[Eyren]

Have you washed it in the washing machine yet? If you have, it's probably too late to remove it, as the warm water will have "cooked" the food into the fabric.

 

If not, my ancient copy of "Home Ecology" suggests boiling water poured onto taut fabric, preferably from a height (stretch the stained area over a bowl, put the bowl in the bath and pour water on). Also, I don't know what the weather forecast is for the West Midlands today, but if it's sunny it might be worth hanging the shirt outside where the sun will shine on it - UV is quite effective at bleaching!

 

Good luck

[chrisnrob]

Have you washed it in the washing machine yet? If you have, it's probably too late to remove it, as the warm water will have "cooked" the food into the fabric.

 

Oh dear - yes I have Once just on a normal wash and once with Ecover stain remover. It's not as bad as it was but it's still there...

 

If not, my ancient copy of "Home Ecology" suggests boiling water poured onto taut fabric, preferably from a height (stretch the stained area over a bowl, put the bowl in the bath and pour water on). Also, I don't know what the weather forecast is for the West Midlands today, but if it's sunny it might be worth hanging the shirt outside where the sun will shine on it - UV is quite effective at bleaching!

 

Good luck

 

Thanks - I think I might need it! It's sunny here at the moment but the forecast is for rain later and I'll be out all day so I might not risk it. Plus, our neighbour's conifer hedge blocks most direct sunlight to our garden at this time of year - but that's another story!

 

Rob

[Egluntyne]

What about soaking the stain in Ecover Laundry Bleach, or lemon juice?

[chickencam]

I used to find when the children were small and they got tomato stains on everything hanging them out in the sun when they had just been washed made a big difference and if they were really bad i would rub washing up liquid into the stain first because most tomato stains are mixed with oil in some way and this helped to shift them, and with the cloth being white you should be able to use laudry bleach to good affect.

[chickencam]

Oh and another thing I once saw a tip that I have tried with success for removing tumeric stains when curry has been spilt because it is oil based use some vegetable oil on the stain because the stain will further dissolve in the oil and then when washed will come out with the detergent. The same would apply to your stain but maybe not now it has been washed once

[chrisnrob]

Thanks for all of the tips - I'll give them a go (well, maybe not the sunlight one as it's decidedly 'overcast' here now!)

 

Rob

[Charlottechicken]

Also, I don't know what the weather forecast is for the West Midlands today, but if it's sunny it might be worth hanging the shirt outside where the sun will shine on it - UV is quite effective at bleaching!

 

 

I will also add that I have tried this on blackcurrant and other foodie stains on a beautiful white crocheted tablecloth, and it does work as the stains are hardly noticible now. I was amazed as I didn't think it would I hasten to add I am not a messy eater, a neighbour threw the tablecloth out as it was so badly stained, and I asked to have it.

[The Dogmother]

NAPISAN!

[chrisnrob]

NAPISAN!

 

That sounds like something from a Victoria Wood sketch!

 

I'll give it a go though. We have some in the cupboard. I have no idea why we have it - must've bought it from something similar as we have no 'real' need for it!!

 

Rob

[Egluntyne]

NAPISAN!

 

Brilliant stuff.

 

Gets dingy white towels looking lovely.

[The Dogmother]

I always soak stains in it first and add it to white washes.

[Tina C]

So do I now Clare...

 

Sunlight does amazing things as well.

[The Dogmother]

Yup, I always try to dry washing outside too. When I can that is - the number of times I've hung a wash out, at lunchtime, gone back to work and it's rained!!!

 

The tumble drier is a godsend in the winter though.

[Egluntyne]

Infuriating!

 

I can guarrantee that it will rain if I hang washing out and then go out.

[Charlottechicken]

Infuriating!

 

I can guarrantee that it will rain if I hang washing out and then go out.

 

Have you informed the met office, this could be where they are going wrong

[Egluntyne]

Keep trying to get through...but the line is always engaged.

 

Probably people attempting to tell them that a hurricane is on its way!