Don't let stains run rings around your laundry
Last Friday, I received a call from longtime clients, Helen and Don.
Helen said they just got back into town and found their downstairs basement bathroom flooded with what looked like raw sewage. I immediately dispatched one of my Journeyman (Tamara).
On arrival at the property Tamara surveyed the problem and called me. She suspected the sewer main had become dislodged from the septic tank because the drain line appeared to be above the frost line. Freezing and thawing broke the line loose causing the back up.
I called the plumber we usually work with; however, they were swamped and couldn’t come that day. I told Tamaura that I would be there shortly and start the clean-up process. On arrival at the home, I got out my shovel and started digging up the septic line, it was easy to spot because of the large wet spot in the yard.
While digging near the house Helen stuck her head out the window and said, “Ed, you sure are dirty, how do get your colors clean? I have one heck of a time getting Don’s collars clean.”
Not wanting to be rude, I looked up and asked Helen to get one of Don’s shirts which she promptly did. I rinsed my hands, took the shirt and looked closely at the collar. It was a cotton shirt that had impacted body oil, which is normal especially for men.
One of the things that all of us do during the summer is perspire. When we do, our body oils become trapped in different parts of our clothing. I’m sure most of you remember the television commercial that made a huge issue of “a ring around the collar.”
That ring is body oil and dirt trapped in the fibers of our collars and cuffs of the shirt and blouses that we wear. To get rid of that ring try this technique: Get a small toothbrush and brush hair shampoo into the soiled collars and cuffs of that you want cleaned. Give it some time, probably about 5 to 7 minutes before you launder. After laundering, you should see a noticeable difference. Shampoo is designed to remove and dissolve body oil.
All of us leave perspiration marks on our clothing. Depending on the type of deodorant and cosmetics that we wear will determine the color of perspiration marks or rings left. If you are having difficulty removing these underarm marks try this little trick: Soak the marked spots in a solution of 1 part of vinegar and 3 parts of warm water. Let time work its magic, about 5 to 8 minutes should work to dissolve the salts and oils in the fibers of the cloth. After laundering the stains should be gone.
At the end of the day I felt pretty good, we cleaned up an environmental problem and help a very nice lady with a cleaning issue.
When cleaning with any cleaning product, always wear eye protection and rubber gloves to protect your hands. If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), email them to madan@nwees.com or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church street, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What would Ed do? For more information about Ed, check him out at nwees.com or at nwesinc,com.
• Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.