Solving Stain Emergencies in Style

You've probably gone through the situation before: you're walking around in a killer outfit, only for your style to be ruined by some errant drop of catchup or glass of wine. Those instances usually mean the end of the evening for you, but the stain can also be the end of your shirt or jacket if it's not addressed properly. In the age old war between food stains and fashion, knowing what to do in every situation already wins half the battle.

Find Something Clean
One of the time-honored traditions in men's fashion is that every true gentleman must go out bearing a handkerchief. Aside from something to offer damsels in distress, the hankie also gives you a clean cloth to work with when a food stain has you in a pinch.

Should you find yourself without a hankie or pocket square, though, any clean piece of fabric or absorbent material will do. Whether that's a scrap of tissue paper or the napkin of the person seated beside you is your call. Don't underestimate even the smallest square inch of material, as it could be your first line of defense when stains come a knocking.

As soon as you discover the stain on your clothes, attack it with your clean cloth right away. You should, however, resist the urge to wipe off the offending substance; that only serves to spread the stain even further. Apply the fabric on a liquid stain and let it sit to absorb the moisture from your clothes. For semisolid stuff like sauces, crease the material and try to 'lift' the tangible bit of the stain from your clothes to avert the worst damage.

Quick Solutions
It's inevitable that you'll find yourself in those situations where it'd be impossible for you to sneak out and change outfits. Although fashion could come before comfort, it's convenience that usually trumps both of them. Given the chance, most guys would have the stain removed right then and there anyway.

A little bit of water, for example, could be all you'd need to solve a waterbased stain on your style pieces. Just dampen the affected area with clean water and then pat it dry with a clean cloth. Note, though, that this very rarely works completely; chances are good that you'll come out of the restroom with some kind of a mark on your shirt or jacket. At any rate, a little bit of pink or orange on your necktie is always better than a fullon stain.

Time is of the essence when stains get to your fashion pieces. That's because the chances of the stain setting and thus doing some permanent damage becomes greater the longer it stays on the fabric. Chuck the stained items into the laundry right away or send it as soon as possible to your dry cleaner. If your wash day hasn't rolled around yet, at least hit the stain with a bleach or stain pen and then soak the affected item in cold water.

Wash It Away
Of course, nothing deals with a stain like a good old wash cycle. Cold water and suds can usually be relied upon to save your fashion at the end of the day. For some other stains, though, just H2O and Tide won't be able to cut it.

Vinegar, about a cupful in your regular wash cycle, helps soften most stains and knock out a lot of persistent pigments. For truly stubborn stains on white fabrics, a bit of lemon juice applied directly on the affected area should fade it out right away. Be cautious with the latter method, though, as the juice can seriously screw up the dyes in your clothes.

If you're ever unlucky enough to end up in this kind of fashion mishap, remember that the most important thing for you to do is remain calm. Don't panic, as all the movement and missteps will likely only make the stain even worse than it already is. Keep your head, stick to a plan and keep your composure.

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