With children going back to school very soon, many parents are going to be once again faced with the stains that come from all of the wonderful art projects that are completed in the classroom. These projects can often include the use of glue, which can lead to glue on hands, tables, the intended project, and of course, clothes. What do you do when your child comes home with more glue on his or her clothes than on the beautiful artwork that is presented to you?
If your children are younger, there is a good chance that the glue they used was a washable school glue. If the glue has completely dried, soak the stain in water overnight. This should help to soften and loosen the stain. Then wash the clothing item as you would normally do. A great detergent option for younger children’s clothing, especially if you’re concerned about sensitive skin or hypoallergenic, would be Purex Free and Clear Detergent or Purex Baby Detergent. Before placing the article in the dryer, examine the stain and make sure it has been removed. If there are still remnants of the stain, repeat the process of soaking the item and then washing. Placing the item in the dryer before the stain is completely removed can set the stain and make it nearly impossible to remove.
If the adhesive is a stronger type, such as rubber cement or a spray adhesive, a solvent can often help to loosen the stain. As always, test the solvent on the inside hem of your item to make sure it does not cause any discolouration. For rubber cement, you can use rubber cement thinner or mineral spirits to soften the stain. Mineral spirits will also help with a spray adhesive. Wet a cloth with the solvent and gently wet the stain with it. Leave the cloth with solvent on the stain for a few hours to allow the stain to soften completely. Then launder the item as you normally do. If you are more of a fragrance lover when it comes to your laundry detergent, a good option for you is Purex After The Rain. As before, inspect the stain before placing the article in the dryer to make sure it was completely removed. If it was not, repeat the process.
Happy school days to all of the children headed back to school – and happy stain fighting to all of the parents!
