Clothing: Treating Stains

Adding just a few steps to your routine can help with household chores…no matter your level of vision. Here are a few tips that can make treating stains a little easier.

First, before using any type of stain remover, read the manufacturer’s cleaning label. Not all products are meant for all fabrics. Now those labels are often written in tiny print. So it may help to use a magnifier, ones with lights built in can be especially helpful here.

Once you’ve got that all down, for clothes with special care instructions, attach those instructions to the hanger using a large print card, an audio label or braille card. Remember to keep the card and clothing on that same hanger.

Now onto the question of “how do I find that stain I know must be there.” Some stains stiffen the fabric once they dry which will help you locate the stain later by touch.

Assistive technology, like cell phones can also be useful. One example is an app that uses your phone’s camera to describe what’s in front of it. Be sure to check out Hadley’s assistive technology videos and workshops for more information.

Once you’ve located the stain, place a safety pin in the middle of it right away to make it easier to identify later. If you don’t have a safety pin, try to make a mental note of the kind of stain and where it appears on the article of clothing so you can pretreat it once you get a chance.

You can also create a buddy system of trusted friends, coworkers and family that you can have check your clothing for any stains you may have missed.

Whenever possible, immediately apply stain removers or laundry detergent – moistened if it’s powder – to the stained area. If you have difficulty seeing a stain, apply the stain remover to

a larger area of the clothing to make sure you’ve covered the stain. Use overlapping strokes going left to right or right to left. And let the stain remover soak for about 5 minutes before washing.

And a few final tips. Carry a small stick style stain remover or wipes in your pocket or purse to help you remove stains as they happen. If you’re at a restaurant when the stain occurs, ask the server for club soda, an effective stain remover that can be applied immediately. It’s also a good idea to keep some at home.

Contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice and you’ll get there.