How to care for silk sarees between wears
Air them, fold them differently and keep them away from plastic: simple habits that save a dry-clean.
Turmeric, oil and lipstick: first aid for stains at home
What to do in the first hour after a stain, by type, and the common home remedies that make stains harder to remove.
The best time to treat a stain is in the first hour. The worst thing you can do is often what comes naturally: rub it hard, pour hot water on it or press it with an iron. Here is what we suggest for the stains we see most.
Turmeric and haldi are the most common in Indian homes. Scrape off any paste, then rinse the back of the fabric with cold water. On cotton, a little dish soap and sunlight will fade the yellow over a day. Never use hot water, which sets the colour. On silk, do nothing except blot and bring it to us.
Oil and ghee spread if you add water. Sprinkle talcum powder or cornflour on the stain, leave it for 30 minutes to soak up the oil, brush it off, then wash with dish soap rubbed in gently with your fingers. Lipstick and kajal are oily too; dab, never rub, with a cotton bud dipped in a little coconut oil, then wash with soap.
Tea, coffee and food with tomato should be rinsed in cold water from the back as soon as possible, then washed normally. Blood needs cold water only. For wine or ink, blot well and bring the garment to us. A few things to avoid: bleach on coloured clothes, salt or lemon on silk, toothpaste on anything, and ironing a garment before you are sure the stain is gone. When you bring a stained piece in, tell us what it was and what you already tried. It changes how we treat it.
