How to remove melted chapstick stains on clothes.

When you pull out your clothes from the dryer, you get a sinking feeling when you see a lot of oily gunk on them.A lip balm stick was left in a pocket and melted over your clothes.

If the balm is tinted, it can be made from a combination of wax, oil, and sometimes dye.The key to successful removal is to tackle the components as soon as possible.It can be done at home with a few key ingredients.

Test any detergents or cleaning solutions in an area that isn't visible to the naked eye.

It will be harder to remove older stains.You might need to clean again before the stain is gone.

If your body heat warms up your pockets to the point that ChapStick has melted on a garment that is labeled as dry clean only, point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner.If you are going to use a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

Take a spoon, knife, or edge of a credit card and gently remove any semi-solid wax from the fabric.Don't rub.The wax will become more embedded in the fibers if they are scrapped.

Carefully check every area of the clothes to make sure they are free of stains.If you don't have a stain removal product, you can use a bit of heavy-duty laundry detergent which will cut through the oily mess and release it from the fibers.Allow the stain remover to sit on the stains for at least 30 minutes, by working it into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.

You need to wash the stained clothes in the hottest water recommended by the care tag after the stain removal has finished.Before tossing the clothes in the dryer, make sure the stains have been removed.