Category: how to

Experiencing grease covered clothing is no walk in the park. Many different occupations out there are grease splash zones. Day in and day out getting coated in hard to clean stains. Whether you are a mechanic, factory worker, farmer, or any other position these stains are a disaster.

This is especially important when you’re required to wear specific uniforms. Lots of professions that deal with greasy stains need uniforms with fire retardancy or other such specialties. These types of shirts and pants don’t come cheap; which is why washing them is so important.

People have come up with a lot of different ways to fight grease. This article will go over how to wash your work clothing traditionally; it will also go over more unique ways of removing grease stains. Many of these tips and tricks are quickly done with things you already have on hand.

Traditional Cleaning Methods

Liquid Dishwashing Detergent

Many different dishwashing detergents are built to tackle greasy dishes, silverware, and pots or pans. This can be a perfect solution since it’s likely you’ll already have dishwashing detergent at the ready. Some brands work better than others, so you may want to buy a more expensive brand for the best results.

Many people and places suggest Dawn® liquid dish soap as a great go-to for tackling clothing stains. You can choose to target the specific area that needs a little more work with some hand washing before throwing it in the wash.

If you’re worried about the whole garment, you can soak it in soapy water in the sink for 5 to 15 minutes before rinsing it once the spot has been taken care of toss it in the wash for a full clean.

Fels-Naptha

Another go-to brand for getting out grease stains is Fels-Naptha®. If you haven’t heard of it, Fels-Naptha® is a heavy duty laundry bar soap that is known for removing poison ivy resin from clothing. Being a bar soup can help you pinpoint the areas of concern. One of the best things about it is the cost.

You won’t break the bank with this laundry bar soap. It has a great track record on hard to clean stains as well. Just wet the stain, rub the wet bar of soap over it, and scrub. We suggest using an old toothbrush, a great stain removing go to. The bristles are designed from removing pesky things from your teeth, so why wouldn’t it work on cloth. Once you’ve removed, the stain just throws it in with the rest of the washing.

Pine-Sol

Similar to using dishwashing detergent, Pine-Sol® is another option you may have on hand. This can be a cost-effective solution. It’s suggested when trying to remove stains from fabric to use scentless Pine-Sol®. If you don’t have scentless Pine-Sol® on hand, no worries the scented versions work the same.

Start by using a sponge to scrub the Pine-Sol® into the mark. This can work on other types of stains outside grease as well. After scrubbing with the sponge, follow the care directions and wash the garment.

Another option for using Pine-Sol® is to pour half a cup into your laundry load along with the regular laundry detergent. It can help brighten up lighter clothes and remove stains. If you use this method however make sure the load is white or colorfast.

Keep in mind that you don’t want to dry clothes with Pine-Sol® so hang the washed clothes up to dry after washing.

Fast Orange

Using Fast Orange can be a great cost-effective choice. Fast Orange® originally made as hand wash and lotion is available as a detergent. This is a definite solution to consider if these stains often happen at your full-time job. Fast Orange® works the same as any other laundry detergent out there.

It boasts the ability to take out grease stains and remove odor. This detergent can be used with regular wash items as well and helps remove build up in your washer. You’ll save money by not having to rerun the washer after cleaning greasy work clothes.

When using Fast Orange® shake well before use and add a full cap of detergent to your warm water load. If you have stains that are extra troublesome directly apply to the area and hand wash lightly. Though it’s specifically designed with mechanics in mind, it will clean up stains from any occupation.

The Strange But Useful

Soda Pop

This one sounds strange, but many people swear by using soda. Most people state that Coca-Cola® is the one for the job. Coke among many other sodas has a low pH level. This is one of the traits it has in common with regular cleaners. The acid in coke is one of the best ways it helps toward removing grease.

Though if you continuously deal with grease stains, Coca-Cola® might not be the most cost-effective choice. To remove stains, it’s suggested to put the clothing in a bucket or tub and add 2-4 liters of Coke. Once you’ve added the soda, then fill with water until covered, and let soak overnight. Give them a quick rinse in the morning before throwing them in with laundry detergent in the washing machine.   

Another method some people take is pouring a can of coke directly in your washing machine, with the regular laundry detergent. Then run the load just like any other normal cycle. Not only can this help with stains it also acts as a deodorizer! Be careful when washing greasy clothes as the residue may remain in the washer after the wash. To help simply run the machine empty with high heat to clean out the bowl.

 Cornstarch

One of the advantages of cornstarch over other methods is it can be used to treat old stains. Getting out stains that are long dried can be a disaster. This is especially the case for stains that are already difficult to remove when new, like grease stains. It also doesn’t require much work.

Plus, many people already have cornstarch on hand. Just place a layer of the cornstarch on the spot in question and leave it for an hour. Once the hour is up brush off the cornstarch and uses a damp rag to remove any remaining powder.

Sometimes you’ll need to do this a couple of times for a good result if you don’t want to do that try using the dishwashing detergent method after the cornstarch. Once the stain is gone, you can throw it in the wash. 

Baking Soda & Baby Powder

Both baking soda and baby powder work in the same ways for removing stains. These are both great solutions if you don’t want to dabble with liquids. Plus, most people already have baking soda on hand.

Or if you have a baby, then baby powder is easily accessible. Both of these powders are also great at odor removing as well. To start to place baby powder on the dry stain and rub it in well and let sit. The process for baking soda is the same though you’ll want to dampen the trouble spot.

Once they both sit, rinse them off and repeat if necessary. These methods can be built upon by finishing off with dishwashing detergent if the stain is still present.

Choose Your Battles

Keep in mind that even if you use a thousand methods, sometimes they still won’t work. Some stains are just here to stay, so don’t be disheartened when a technique doesn’t turn out. Just do the best you can! Many of these methods will work, but sometimes you need to pick your battles.

Don’t give up, though! The internet is a huge place full of resources and new washing methods to try. These are just a few ways to remove stains; there are more out there!

The morning is progressing too quickly. You were up late preparing for the big meeting. Traffic was horrible and put you in a rush to get to work on time. You prepare a cup of coffee to wake up and get your mind right. Then it happens.

You knock the cup over, and it spills into your lap when reaching for something at your desk. Or you bump into a wall when turning a corner and it splatters on your dress shirt or blouse. The meeting is only minutes away now — what do you do?

Coffee stains are annoying. Coffee stains at work are even more disconcerting.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to remove coffee stains from clothes at work. By preparing an emergency spill kit and knowing what to do in advance, you can save yourself the embarrassment and frustration of walking into a meeting or dealing with an important client, stain-free.

Preparing for a Coffee Spill

Every coffee drinker will eventually spill the beverage on their clothes. It is inevitable. Most people drink coffee daily, do so when they are tired and not entirely focused, and often rushed in a workplace setting where they cannot relax and enjoy it at a table.

Therefore, it is usually not if a coffee spill will occur but when.

Consequently, it is important to get prepared for the spill to quickly wipe up the coffee stain and not let it destroy your clothes. At home, coffee stains are not a problem because you have quick access to the washing machine and can swap out a shirt or pair of pants.

At work is an entirely different story. You need an emergency stain removal kit, kind of like a first-aid bandage. Considering putting together a kit and keeping these items at your desk for quick coffee stain removal:

• White cotton towels or cloths
• Cotton swabs
• Soft bristled toothbrush
• Blunt-edged kitchen knife
• Stain removal wipes
• Baby powder or cornstarch
• Denatured rubbing alcohol

If you collect all of these items in advance and place them in one bag, you will have quick access to an emergency kit that can quickly remove stains from clothes either directly at the desk, or with a quick trip to the restroom.

Different Types of Coffee Stains

In general, most people realize they spilled coffee on their clothes immediately. Since it’s a liquid, you will probably feel it first while also possibly burning your skin if the spill is too significant.

However, there are cases where a little bit of coffee may have splattered on a tie or pant leg, and you did not notice it until after the fact — after the stain has dried.

Are fresh coffee stains easier to clean than ones that have already dried? Do you remove the stains differently?

Like any stain, it helps to address it immediately. Plunging the clothing in water and letting it soak is the best option, yet at work, you are not granted the same privilege. You probably do not have another piece of clothing to change into, so you cannot afford to submerge the item entirely.

In fact, if you get to a fresh stain quick enough, a little cold water may do the trick, and you may not even need detergent or stain removers depending on how solid the stain is on the clothing.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Clothes at Work

Anyone that has ever dealt with a coffee stain at work can attest to how aggravating it is to deal with removing that light brown color from an article of clothing, especially if the fabric is white or another light color.

To remove coffee stains from clothes at work first decide if the stain is fresh or not, this should be obvious. If the stain is still fresh:

1. First, try rinsing out the stain with cold water. If possible, run the cold water through the back of the stain. It will prevent the coffee residue from penetrating deeper into the cloth.
2. Run cold water through the back of the stain for 10 to 15 minutes, if you have the time. If the water starts to turn more clear it is a good indication it is washing out the coffee residue. However, if this does not do the trick in 10 to 15 minutes (or you are running short on time) consider another course of action.
3. Add mild laundry detergent to the stain. Rub the liquid into the stain along with a little cold water. Liquid dish soap sometimes works as a substitute in workplaces if you have not already put together an emergency cleanup kit.
4. Let dry and see if the coffee stain diminishes or completely dissolves. You will need to wait three to five minutes at the minimum to notice a difference.

Remove Dried Coffee Stains from Clothes

While it is more challenging to remove coffee stains that have already dried, it is not impossible. If you happen to notice the stain later in the day and want to address it before an important meeting considers doing the following steps to address the issue:

1. Add liquid detergent to the stain before rinsing the material with water. It allows the soap to penetrate the stain deeper and try to break the residue free from the fabric.
2. After rubbing the liquid detergent thoroughly into the material, run cold water over the stain. Let soak for five minutes.
3. Periodically rub the stain again with a finger, cloth, toothbrush, or cotton swab to break up the residue. If the stain continues to remain after letting get close to thoroughly drying, try repeating the process with more detergent then letting it soak in water even longer.

Dealing with Especially Resistant Clothing Stains

Some coffee stains refuse to go away. After immediately dealing with a fresh stain, or trying to scrub one out after it has dried, here are some additional suggestions for especially resistant coffee stains:

1. If the stain remains, try mixing powdered laundry detergent with equal parts white vinegar and water. It will create a thicker paste that can be especially effective at eliminating difficult clothing stains. Before you apply the paste, however, test it on another garment to make sure it won’t discolor the fabric. Also, use a toothbrush to scrub the stain for more effective removal. Then rinse after applying the paste.
2. Consider investing in a stain remover spray or gel product. These items are relatively inexpensive and make excellent emergency aid, especially at work. Stain removers usually only need a few minutes to dry, and they can get washed normally. They are very effective to use at work after you spill coffee on your clothing.
3. Persistence is often the best approach. It may not go completely away the first time you wash and scrub, but repeating the process can eventually work out even the most difficult stains. It just takes a little more time and persistence so try not to get frustrated it the brown color is not immediately removed.
4. Always air dry over sticking the clothes in a machine dryer. Air drying is more gradual, and it helps not immediately dry the clothes as fast thus helping slowly wean off the effects of the stain. After the clothes are dried, you will be able to notice if discoloration persists. If so, you will need to repeat the scrubbing, soaking, air drying process.

Most Coffee Stains Are Removable

While you may falsely believe there is no hope in restoring stained fabric, you can try to repeat the dried stain removal steps, and with a little more elbow grease it may get entirely removed the second, third, or fourth time washing it.

So it is important not to lose faith. If you spilled an entire cup of coffee on a white dress shirt, it might be impossible to save entirely. However, in most cases, stained coffee does not need to remain a nuisance, and you can remove it from work clothes.

There are many advantages to working as a freelancer or independent contractor, though when it comes time for tax season many cringe at the thought of handling self-employment returns.

Since freelancers receive all their earnings straight away, unlike W-2 earners, the quarterly tax payments or end of year payments back to the IRS are often drastic.

The one advantage self-employed individuals have come tax season is the number of tax deductions that are available to them. There are many costs that can be partially or fully deducted as business expenses including food, lodging, mileage, rent, utilities, and office supplies. But what about clothes?

Are work clothes tax deductible if you have a small business? What about for independent contractors and freelancers?

Factors that Determine Work Clothes

According to the IRS, certain factors determine whether an article of clothing is defined as one for work or one that is for personal use.

The cost of clothes or uniforms for work, as well as the cost of upkeep (dry cleaning, etc.), depends on if:

• The job requires that you wear special clothing, such as a uniform.
• The clothes are not suitable for everyday wear. For example, an article of clothing with a company logo printed or sewn onto the attire would qualify as a deduction since you probably would never wear it outside of work.

In short, if the clothes are designed and only used for work purposes than they are tax deductible.

Work Clothes vs. Clothes for Personal Use

Part of the confusion with deducting clothing expenses for self-employed individuals is the wording the IRS provides.

For example, a uniform that you wear based on company standards is acceptable as a tax deduction. However, say you work an office job, and it is expected that you wear a suit every day. Unless that suit has a company logo sewn on it, the clothing is technically not work clothing because the IRS assumes you could also wear the suit for personal use, and outside company time.

So if you want to remain fully compliant with the IRS than you need to exercise caution when you deduct clothes as a work expense, especially if the items could be worn outside the job.

Work Clothes Related to Self-Employment Jobs

The problem is that people that work for themselves, such as those that are self-employed, have no company standard or policy they need to follow. For example, Wal-Mart will require you to wear a uniform. It’s part of their policy.

Yet when you work for yourself, you may need work clothes to perform a job as a plumber, yet there is no company policy in place that says the clothing is mandatory.

Once again, if you follow the IRS manual word-by-word than it will tell you the work clothes and accessories must be related to the job and not suitable for everyday wear.

Therefore, a plumber can make the argument that the clothes are necessary to complete the job and would not be worn otherwise, even if the items are missing a company logo.

Like a lot of tax deductions related to self-employment, some personal judgment and logic are necessary. If you need the items to complete your job professionally and appropriately, then they qualify as tax deductions. However, if you are using the items as an excuse to catch a tax break than it will likely eventually catch up to you.

Does the IRS Audit for Self Employment Tax Deductions?

Getting audited by the IRS is a noteworthy concern for the typical American. In fact, according to a recent study by NerdWallet, one in four Americans are worried about a tax audit.

Ironically, the risk of getting audited is far lower than you might expect. During the last several years the IRS has reviewed approximately one percent of all returns, and a considerable part of that has to do with limited IRS resources.

Therefore, the IRS will not target you merely because they question the amount you deducted for work-related clothes. Nor will it scrutinize every other dollar you claimed as business-related expenses and tax deductions for self-employed individuals.

Of course, the target on your back gets larger the more income you earn and report each year, but the IRS is so overworked that they do their best to trust self-employed earners are telling the truth about their deductions.

It is not to suggest that you can get away with murder, yet if you have some articles of clothing that you need to complete a job, and wouldn’t otherwise (or rarely use outside a job) — then using the clothing as work-related expenses is acceptable.

How to Correctly Deduct Work Clothes from Self Employment Tax?

People that work for another employer file a work-related clothing deduction differently than those that work self-employed. While traditional employees will report the deduction as a “miscellaneous itemized deduction,” self-employed individuals use what is defined as a “business expensive” on their returns.

The good news is unlike W-2 earners you do not need to itemize every single item and are also not subject to the two percent limitation of those that are seeking a work-related reimbursement from the IRS.

To protect yourself in the event of an audit, it is critical that you save every receipt related to a purchase for any business expense, work clothes included.

It doesn’t matter if you purchase the clothing with cash, a personal debit card, or a business card. What matters is that you have written proof of the transaction in case the IRS wants to verify that you did spend money on new work clothes.

Staying organized with your receipts and business expenses is not only important when you first purchase the clothes, but also if you spend money for upkeep.

For example, someone that works a particularly dirty or greasy job may get their work uniform professionally cleaned. These expenses are work-related if the clothing is only used for the job, so you may claim them as well on a return but make sure you have receipts as well.

Work clothes are 100 percent deductible from your return. So if you spent $20 on the outfit, and it qualifies under the IRS definition of ‘work clothes,’ then you may deduct the entire amount.

Does the IRS allow other work-related accessories and tools as tax deductions?

In addition to clothing or uniforms that are work-related, self-employed earners may deduct other accessories and tools that are required and used for the job.

A hard hat and safety glasses are two favorite work accessories that independent contractors claim all of the time. They are required to be worn by law, and the client you are working for will rarely provide them free of charge.

Tools apply to blue collar jobs where it is clear you are using the items for work only purposes, and not just blowing $100 on a new tool set that you can write off as a legitimate business expense.

The same can be said of white collar jobs. For example, a person that has a home office can deduct not only a portion of rent/mortgage payment, utilities, cell phone bills, and mileage, but also office supplies and other materials needed to complete the job.

Utilize Your Tax Deductions to Lower the Amount You Owe the IRS

The IRS taxes self-employed earners substantially. As a result, freelancers should have tools at their disposal to help cut down on the tax they will owe the IRS.

Business expenses like work-related clothes is a luxury you should take advantage of. Most jobs, regardless if you are employed by a company or work on your own, require some clothing, accessories, tools, or supplies that you would not otherwise use for personal means.

By taking advantage of these deductions, you can lower the amount you owe the IRS since they tax self-employed individuals far higher than W-2 earners.