Five household tricks for getting rid of skidmarks
No one is a fan of the skidmark.
Unfortunately, it happens; most UK homes don’t have a bidet and unless you squirt a bit of water on your bumhole after you wipe it, there’s a high chance there might be some, er, leftover marks from your trip to the toilet.
Let’s be clear – this is nothing to be ashamed of.
We’re human, shit happens (quite literally) and we’re not in the business of shaming people for their poo routines.
That being said, poo stains can be very difficult to get out.
You’re unlikely to notice it until you take your underwear off at the end of the day, and so the stain has effectively settled into the fabric – making it harder to get rid of.
Here are some household tips and tricks on how to get your undies back to their original, glorious state.
Try white vinegar
‘Any stains that are soluble with water can be rectified with white vinegar,’ Esther Temple, cleaner and cleaning expert at Gear Hungry, tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with 1.4 litres of water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the stain and leave to settle.
‘After a few minutes put in the washing machine on a high temperature.
‘This method also works well with apple cider vinegar.’
Give vodka a go
However, sometimes the stain itself may disappear, but a smell remains.
Don’t worry, Esther has a trick for that too.
‘To combat this, spray vodka over the area where the stains were,’ she said.
‘Do not be tempted to water down the vodka as this will dilute the spirit’s power to neutralise smells. Vodka works to collect the odorants properties together.
‘When the vodka is left to evaporate, it will also lift the smell. Always make sure that you use original vodka and not vodka that is infused with flavour.
‘Of course, the makeup of the stains can contribute to their staying power however, quite often it’s more the fabric that is the problem. For instance, removing stains from the likes of cotton is far harder than lycra.’
Scrape it off
According to the University of Illinois Extension, which has an entire website dedicated to ‘stain solutions’, all you need to get poo out of clothing is a few household items and chemicals.
First, scrape off any leftover poo (we’re fairly certain they are referring to animal poo as opposed to your own stains, but it might still work).
Then soak in lukewarm water, add liquid handwashing detergent and some ammonia – and rub.
Repeat, and then do a separate soak with an enzyme product.
Finally, if that doesn’t work, use chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach.
Be careful not to breathe in the fumes.
Sprinkle on some baking soda
If the stain is fresh (sorry), you could end up making it worse if you’re not careful.
Firstly, wash it with cool water to get rid of any excess poo.
While the underwear is still wet, sprinkle on baking soda and gently scrub with a soft brush – a gentle dishwashing brush is fine, just make sure you either sanitise it or throw it away when you’re done.
Rinse and throw into the washing machine.
Afterwards, use a stain remover on the same spot for around 10 minutes – or whatever the product instructions suggest – and throw the underwear back into the washing machine with a little bleach for round two.
Skip the bleach if it’s not a white wash or if the underwear is made from a delicate material such as lace knickers, for instance.
You can also add in some white vinegar, as above.
Squeeze a lemon onto the stain
Drop some lemon juice on the stain, and wait for about 30 minutes before throwing it into the wash.
The lemon will naturally bleach the fabric, so don’t use it on dark underwear.
Ethan Mechare from Coming Clean, has a special trick that includes both lemon juice and baking soda, as well as some dishwashing detergent.
‘Natural at-home stain remover for feces can be one fourth of a cup of lemon juice and one cup of water – spray or pour onto stain and scrub with an old toothbrush or cloth,’ said Ethan.
‘Then soak in a mixture of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (two parts hydrogen peroxide and one parts of dish soap and baking soda) for at least 30 minutes.
‘Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are natural stain removers.’
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