Soot stains attached to clothing are among the most cumbersome residues to remove with. There is no doubt that this type of dirt needs to be handled differently, whether it comes from a charming fireplace, an atmospheric outdoor barbecue or your chimney. This article will guide you how to remove soot from clothes and get back them to the brand-new condition.
Soot: What is it, and why is it so hard to clean?
Soot is a black, powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon. It is created from the incomplete burning of organic matter, like wood or coal. Soot particles are oily and will adhere to the fibres of your clothing. However, standard washing methods may not be useful and could possibly make the mark worsen.
Steps to Get Soot Out of Clothes
Today we will show you how to wash your clothes in a way that wont push around soot or run colors and leave stains on your fabrics.
1. Shake Off the Loose Soot
Wrap a blanket up in the garment, then take it outside and shake it well, in order to dislodge the heavy grit before attempting to clean. Taking care not to accidentally shake off soot on furniture and such within your house when you do this. Before cleaning the flue, you must clean any soot that may be loose.
2. Use a Vacuum Cleaner
Suck up what remains with a vacuum. Add an attachment like a soft nozzle and carefully vacuum the area. This approach is most effective with heavier or more resistant soot spots. Use a vacuum with a filter to avoid releasing tiny dust particles in the air. This will stop the soot from embedding itself in the fabric and it will be much more easier to clean later on.
3. Apply Baking Soda
Baking soda is a saving product for grease pollution like soot. How you use it: Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the stain and allow to sit for 30 minutes. The Baking Soda will soak up the oil found in soot, which allows you to scrub it quickly. If not, just brush off the baking soda or take it out and shake outside.
See our washing machine using guide below for additional tips with baking soda.
4. Heavy-duty Detergent Pretreat
Once all the soot has been cleared away, it is time to pre-treat the stain. Heavy duty detergent sprayed on the soiled area to deal with greasy stains. Use your fingers or a soft brush to gently work the detergent into the fabric. Allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing again to ensure that any remaining soot and oil are gone completely.
You may find tips for the most difficult stains in our how to remove stains from clothes.
5. Cold Water Soak the Garment
Soak your garment in cold water for about 30 minutes after pre-treating the stain. This will keep the soot mark from getting stuck to the cloth. Do not use hot water. From here, using hot water will actually set the stain.
6. Wash as Usual
When the fabric is saturated, wash it in cold water just like you would when pursuing a normal laundering cycle. Do not use hot water as that may permanently set the soot stains. A quick note: Stick to your usual laundry detergent but feel free to add an enzyme-based stain remover if you have one in your home.
Learn how to wash by reading our first post on how to wash your clothes.
7. Check Before Drying
After you have washed the cloth, determine whether or not the stain is still present. If the soot stain is still visible, do not put the item on a heat cycle in your dryer because it can set the stain. Repeat the cleaning steps until the stain disappears completely.
8. Get Professional Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning works well on harder to get out stains and delicate materials. Contact Nearest Laundry to schedule your dry cleaning, and leave the rest up to our professional dry cleaning technicians who know exactly how get rid of every persistent soot stain without damaging your clothing. By utilizing specialized cleaning agents, we eliminate the oily soot and return your items condition for new.
Find out about our dry cleaning service to learn more of what we can do for you.
Professional Cleaning of Soot Stains
The most reliable do-it-yourself methods are often not strong enough and could damage more delicate, high-value textiles. If you are in this unfortunate situation, professional cleaners use specific products and tools to remove most soot from fabric.
At Nearest Laundry, our professional cleaners are well-versed in removing soot and a wide range of other types of stains. Furthermore, we guarantee to completely remove any airborne soot particles that may still be lingering on your garments.
More Tips on Cleaning Soot
Act Fast: The quicker you get to the stain, the easier it will be to remove it entirely.
Do not scrub: Do not vigorously scrub for you may push the soot particles further into the fibers, making it harder to remove.
Cold Water: Cold water prevents the soot of being absorbed by the fabric, making it a lot easier to clean later on.
For additional stain-removal resources, check out How to get permanent marker out of clothes!
Getting rid of soot on your clothes appears to be a real struggle, but it does not need to be. If it is just a small stain however, or one that has flared up from not taking your clothes off in time while sitting near the fireplace to keep it burning away throughout winter, you can also use methods and products that work like magic to rescue them as good as new! If you face heavy stains or delicate fabrics, it is better to ask for professional laundry services at stores such as Nearest Laundry. As the clothes washing can only remove some marks under water to make your clothes clean and fresh in colours without soot, only making a professional cleaning to deeply clear all items with every little spot.
