The Ultimate Guide to Removing Stains from School Uniform
Let’s be honest: school uniforms have a knack for attracting stains. Whether it’s a splash of spaghetti sauce, an ink mark, or a grass stain from PE, your child’s uniform always seems to end up with something on it. That's why we've created this ultimate guide to removing stains from school uniform.
Using fairly common household items, this guide will help you tackle those pesky stains and keep your child’s uniform looking fresh and presentable. With a few straightforward tips and a bit of effort, you’ll be able to remove most stains and save your child from yet another uniform disaster.
How to Remove Grass Stains
Commonly found on the knees of school trousers, removing grass stains from clothes can be a difficult task.
What you need: White vinegar, baking soda, toothbrush
Place the stained clothing in a bowl.
Cover with white vinegar, rub the stains and leave to soak for at least 30 minutes. Longer for tougher stains.
Remove from the bowl and wring, then place on a worktop.
Create a paste by mixing the baking soda and more white vinegar in a small bowl – keep adding the vinegar until you get a thick consistency but be careful as it fizzes. Use immediately as the paste will harden.
Take the toothbrush and rub the mixture on to any tough stains.
Wash as normal!
How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes
Ink stains are a common enemy to school shirts and blouses. Removing ink stains is not an impossible task.
What you need: Hairspray, damp cloth
Lie the stained top out on a work surface.
Spray liberally with hairspray – you’ll probably want to make sure you’ve got some windows open.
Take a damp cloth and carefully blot the stain.
Make sure you don’t rub as that will make things worse.
Repeat as many times as needed until the stain is lighter.
Spray with hairspray one more time, then wash as normal.
How to Remove Chewing Gum
Chewing gum can stick to anything. From jumpers to polo shirts to backpacks but this simple method will help to remove chewing gum from all fabrics.
What you need: freezer bag, blunt knife
Take the clothing item and place in a freezer bag, making sure that the chewing gum doesn’t stick to the bag. This method can be applied to all fabrics.
Place the garment in your freezer.
Leave the bag in the freezer for a minimum of two hours. Take your garment from the freezer bag and place it on a sturdy surface.
Peel the chewing gum off the clothing as soon as possible to prevent the chewing gum from warming up and reattaching to the fabric.
If you are unable to remove the chewing gum with your fingernails, apply a blunt knife or another blunt object as this will remove chewing gum from your clothes without damaging the fabric – as always, be careful when using potentially dangerous items and angle knives away from you.
The chewing gum should peel off smoothly and without any force. If traces remain, hand wash the item or place in the washing machine for a final rinse.
How to Clean Water Based Paint Stains
Paint stain removal is very time sensitive, but with a bit of urgency they can be dealt with relatively simply.
What you need: Warm water
While the paint is still wet, rinse the item with warm water and work the paint out by rubbing it. The stain will be permanent if you let the paint dry, so act quickly!
Rinse thoroughly and pop into the washing machine for a Quick Wash.
How to Clean Oil Based Paint Stains (trickier and best kept far, far away from kids!)
Oil based paint stains require a bit more heavy lifting. Here is your best bet for removing oil based paint.
What you need: Kitchen roll, paint thinner, stain remover
Remove as much of the paint as possible by placing the stain face down on some kitchen roll and pouring paint thinners through the fabric.
Pour some stain remover on to the area and pop into the washing machine for a Quick Wash.
How to Remove Mud Stains
PE is undoubtedly going to cause some mud stains on all sportswear but never fear! This simple guide for removing mud stains from clothes will have them looking good as new.
What you need: Brush, washing powder, warm water
Create a paste and pre-treat the stain with Washing Powder and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
For heavier stains, let it sit for at least an hour and use a brush to work the Washing Powder into the fibres on both sides of the stain.
Wash the item in warm water and check it before drying. Heat will set any mud that remains so repeat steps 1-3 if necessary.
Keeping school uniforms clean can be a daunting task, so we hope our guide to removing stains from school uniform has been useful.
At Price & Buckland we source the very best yarns and fabrics, ensuring they can withstand the rigors of school life which may include removing stains! The best thing that we can do to become more eco-friendly is to sell products that are durable and therefore long lasting. This is so they can be passed on to other pupils/siblings once they’ve been outgrown. If you would like more information on this please explore our Sustainability Pledge.
If you would like more information on how to care for your school uniform, please visit our Garment Care page.