Wise Words from a Washerwoman...

Spot Cleaning is Spot on!

Source: mujer.starmedia.com

There is no need to machine-wash an entire garment every time it suffers a splash of ketchup, coffee or curry. Keep at hand a small bowl, laundry bar soap (and maybe ammonia for really bad marks), and simply sponge off stains and blotches before they cause embarrassment or worse, set into permanent stains. Lighter marks can be removed while the garment is still being worn. More serious marks will need attention at the sink.

Use a blunt knife to scrape off any solid material such as chocolate or tar, or any dollops of fallen sauce, before moistening your sponge with cold water and rubbing it onto the soap to pick up a good amount of soap. Use this to gently massage out the mark and then rinse the sponge in clean water before again massaging the fabric to remove the soap, along with any remaining traces of the soiling material. Gently squeezing the affected area in a clean, dry towel will dry it out to such an extent that the garment will then be ready for anything else the day might throw at it!

(From the book How to Take Care of your Clothes, C. Leavey)