Many times, most bizarre things can stain your clothes, be it dish soap or Lysol wipes.
Since Lysol wipes are easily accessible and compact, they have become a staple in many cars, handbags, and briefcases, especially during covid 19, to disinfect frequently used surfaces.
Their use has become diversified and people use them to disinfect their hands or even wipe away stains from clothes. But can disinfectant wipes stain clothes?
Do Lysol Wipes Stain Clothes?
A stain doesn’t always refer to dirt or smudges on a surface. It can also refer to discoloration caused by chemicals that make a surface seem used, degraded, or permanently unclean.
Colored Clothes
Lysol wipes can stain colored clothes. If you leave the wet Lysol wipe on your garment for a prolonged period of time, some of the Color may fade away from that spot, making the fabric on that specific area look worn out. This is because Lysol wipes contain alcohol which can lift the color from clothing.
What to do: When wiping a stain off your clothes using Lysol wipes, make it quick, and don’t let the damp wipe rest on your fabric.
White Clothes
Lysol can stain white clothes. Even though white clothes react better to alcohol being applied to them than colored clothes, they may be more sensitive to some of the dyes present in the wipes. Depending on the wipe fragrance that you use, some of them may contain some dyes that will stain your white fabric. The stain will be dull brown or an off-white that is slightly noticeable.
Lysol wipes, despite the fact that they are associated with bleach due to their disinfectant and antibacterial properties, contain 0% bleach in them hence they cannot bleach clothing.
However, you have to be careful when using them on clothing.
What Kind of Fabric Can Lysol Wipes be Used on?
Despite the fact that Lysol wipes are not made to be used on fabric, some fabric reacts better to Lysol wipes being used on them than others. Lysol wipes can be used on cotton fabric, polyester, and satin. Remember not to rub the wipe aggressively on the fabric because you might ruin it.
Some fabrics such as leather cannot handle wipes being used on them and may be damaged by them. This is because the alcohol in the wipes may be too aggressive on the leather or may strip away the oils that give leather its natural shine, making it dull.
Do not use Lysol wipes on silk, wool, or rayon fabrics because they will stain or damage the fabric.
How About Using a Lysol Disinfectant Spray on Clothing?
Generally, Lysol disinfectant spray is not meant to be used on clothes. However, it can be used on couches, pet beds, and mattresses.
Lysol makes a fabric disinfectant spray that is used to disinfect soft surfaces such as beddings, pet play areas, and furniture surfaces. You can use disinfectant sprays on clothes, especially if the option of washing clothes isn’t viable such as in camping, military situations, or areas with water accessibility issues.
Spray the Lysol disinfectant spray on the inside of your clothing and let it dry completely (preferably overnight) before wearing it. It will eliminate odor from your clothes and disinfect the fabric.
Fastest Ways To Remove Stains on Clothes!
There are many ways to remove stains on clothes and each method varies depending on the type of stain you have. The main priority when removing a stain is to get rid of it before it sets on your clothes, otherwise, it will be harder to remove. Some of the stain removal methods include:
1- Using Alcohol
Alcohol and alcohol-based products such as hairsprays, hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol or even straight vodka can all come in handy when trying to get rid of stains.
Alcohol gets rid of grease, ink, grass stains, oil-based makeup products such as lipstick and foundation, or condiments such as mustard or gravy.
Place a small amount of alcohol on a cotton pad or on a paper towel and rub the stain on your clothing until it disappears. You can also run the fabric under some running water to get rid of the alcohol in case you are afraid of it bleaching your clothing.
It gets rid of these stains effectively while also lifting the color that the stain would have left behind. However, avoid using alcohol on acetate products and acrylic fibers such as some furniture, carpets, and acrylic sweaters.
2- Using Bleach
Try soaking clothes in bleach to remove stains, from both colored and white clothes. Bleach is a powerful stain remover that can eliminate stains from white clothes as well as colored clothes.
For colored clothes, use oxygen bleach since it does not drain the color from the fabric. Oxiclean versatile stain remover is a good option for removing stains.
For whites, use chlorine-based bleach for best results A good product to try is the Clorox disinfecting bleach, which removes stains and keeps clothes whiter for longer.
But if you don’t want the hassle of having to remember this, just purchase a hydrogen peroxide-based bleach which is safe to use on both white and colored garments.
For best results, put your white garments in a bucket with water as hot as the fabric can take and add bleach. Let it soak preferably for 20 to 30 minutes and rinse it out or run the clothes in the washing machine to properly clean them. The stain should be gone.
To avoid over-bleaching your clothes and ruining the fabric, only use the recommended (by the manufacturer) quantity.
3- Using White Vinegar
White vinegar is an easy-to-find ingredient whether you are at home or on the go and need to get rid of a stain.
Mix 50% white vinegar and 50% water in a bowl and apply it to the stain. Wait for 20-30 minutes (or until the stain has faded) then wash the garment with soap and water. The stain should be completely gone.
4- Using Baking soda & white vinegar
This versatile mixture can also be used to remove stains on clothes.
Mix a teaspoon of vinegar with a teaspoon of baking soda (or until the mixture forms a thick paste).
Put this mixture onto the specific stain spots and rub it in either with your fingers or with a soft brush. Rinse the garment thoroughly after not more than 10 minutes to get the white powdery consistency of baking soda off the fabric.
You should notice that your government is now stain-free.
5- Using Chemical Detergents
Soak your garments in your regular powder or liquid detergent and leave them soaking for 30 minutes to an hour. This will give enough time for the detergent to lift the stain.
If you are soaking clothes made of different fabric materials, make sure that you check the maximum temperature each fabric can take in case you decide to soak in hot water to avoid damaging clothes.
6- Cold Water
Plain cold water is great for removing blood stains commonly caused by nose bleeds or periods. You want to remove the blood on the clothes as soon as possible to prevent it from setting.
Do not use hot or warm water on a blood stain as it makes it easier for the red or brownish color of the blood to set. Running cold water over the spot with blood provides a quick and easy way for you to get rid of the stain
7- Club Soda
If you have a red wine stain on your clothes, buy some club soda and use it to clean the stain.
Put a small amount directly onto the fabric and rub it in, or put some club soda onto a napkin or cotton ball and dab it onto the area.
You can improve the effectiveness of this method by adding some salt to the area. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off. The stain should have significantly faded.
Note: Ensure that if your stain is thick such as a mustard or ketchup stain, wipe off as much as you can before applying any of the stain removal methods mentioned above. This will ensure that you’re not just rubbing in the stain or making it bigger.
8- Using a Stain Removal Solution
Stain Remover Pens are a good option to have with you to remove stains on the go. These pens are especially helpful when you have kids that are always getting stains on their clothes. Just press the pen on the stain and rub it gently.
When choosing a stain remover pen, ensure that it is bleach free so that you can use it on both colored and white clothes. A good option to consider is the Tide To Go stain remover pens.
Final Thoughts!
Lysol wipes have many uses but they may not be the ideal option for getting rid of stains on your clothes. They may not do a good job at removing the stain completely and may end up damaging your clothes. Only use the wipes if you have no alternative to get rid of a stain.
Consider finding wipes made specifically for removing stains on fabrics such as the shout Wipe and Go wipes that are tough on stains but gentle on clothes.
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