Yahoo News 'Game-changing' hack to remove stubborn clothing stains that’s totally free to do
When it comes to stains on your clothing, towels and bedsheets, some are certainly more tricky to tackle than others.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tips and tricks out there that can help you deal with difficult ones, as well as countless stain removal products on the market. But if you haven't got any to hand, there's something you can do that requires no ingredients at all - and it's totally free.
The trick has been loved by parents on Mumsnet, who say it's a real game-changer when it comes to getting out tough stains. It's said to work on all different kinds, and can also help to brighten up dull, grey clothes and make them white again.
In a post on the forum, one user - after hearing the tip and becoming inspired - decided to try it out for themselves and couldn't believe the results.
And it couldn't be simpler to do. All you need to do is lay the stained clothes out in the sun, and it'll work its magic. The user penned: "Put it to dry in the sun. It's magic. The stain has COMPLETELY gone.”
She then went on to say: "OMG, I am approaching 50 and never knew!” and that she will try the trick more often.
The comments are filled with people agreeing; “best way to get rid of stains,” says one user, while another claims that the sun will bleach greying whites as well. Some of the stains removed by sunlight in the thread include tomato and baby poo stains.
Owner of Pound a Metre Shadmaan Kader can confirm that this does in fact work - but you should be cautious when doing it, as some fabrics aren't suitable for being left out in the sun.
Shadmaan said: “Sunlight is an effective stain remover because the UV light emitted by the sun breaks down the molecules bonding the stain to the fabric. This is also the reason why sunlight works as a disinfectant and can destroy harmful bacteria on clothes as well."
However, the sun's rays are so powerful that they can actually break down the fibres of your clothes over time, making fabrics more brittle and more prone to tearing.
Because of this, it's recommended that you only use this trick on sturdier fabrics such as cotton and linen, rather than silk or wool. These can become rough and inflexible if they're placed in direct sunlight for too long.
Stains on these types of clothes should be dealt with at the dry cleaners, as the professionals will know how to get them out without putting any extra strain on the fabric.
