Hair cream, body lotion, hand gel - what the f*$@!

[Ben205]

We've been hosting for 4 years now. First 3, we never had this problem but in the past 12 months I've had to throw away 2 single duvet covers, 2 pillow cases and a couple of sheets (maybe more) all because of stains left by oily body lotions!

I just can't get them out. I've tried different wash powders (including biological), hot washes, Vanish stain remover and the like, and good old white spirits. Nothing shifts them.

Please, has anybody got anything else to suggest?

I should probably ask guests what they do at home to remove the stains but I expect the answer will be, we don't get them at home!

All suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Ben

[Sarah977]

@Matt682  Blood comes out by first soaking in cold water, then pouring hydrogen peroxide directly on the blood stain. It's actually one of the easiest stains to remove, unless its been dried on there for a long time.

[Matt682]

@Sarah977 @Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to try and find some so I have it in store for when it’s needed.

I’m assuming that it will take the dye out of anything that isn’t already white though, right?

[Sarah977]

@Matt682  Not necessarily- you'd have to test it on some hidden corner. And you don't leave the hydrogen peroxide on it-you pour it on, and rinse it right off again after like half a minute. 

Also, sometimes just the soaking in cold water for a few hours does the trick if the blood hasn't dried, and rubbing some regular laundry detergent into the stain after the  soak might also be enough. The main thing is never to use anything other than cold water on a blood stain.

[Laurelle3]

@Ben205 you can give it another try with tge wahup detergent and do it for an experiment and give us your valuation report.😀

[Emilia42]

@Ben205 Do you use dryer sheets? I was having a very similar problem until I realized the "oil stains" were caused by the dyer sheets leaving a residue. 

[Ben205]

@Emilia42 Even though we're in England I still manage to dry everything on the line! Which says it's cold and wet here...

[Ben205]

@Laurelle3 tge wahup? Don't think we have that brand in the UK.

[Laurelle3]

@Ben205 sorry bad typing it should have been try with washup detergent. Any brand will do.

[Sarah977]

@Laurelle3  FYI "wash-up" is not a term used in North America. No one in Canada or the US calls it that. It's called dish detergent, and what Brits or Aussies, I guess, call "the washing up" is called "dirty dishes". Just thought you might like to know.

There are other terms that aren't universal in English. It took me quite awhile to realize that when Aussie's refer to "the bench" they are talking about the kitchen counter. In North America, a bench is a long seat- something you sit on 🙂

[Laurelle3]

@Sarah977 Thank you for this great information it is amazing that we are able to exchange different terminology of different words used in countries around the world. This is one of the benefits of Community Centre being able to exchange and learn.

As you said words mean different things to other people, my example was when I was travelling with my 10 yr old daughter over 30 years ago, when visiting her pen friend in USA and we stayed with them.

We were putting on our "Bum bags" (Australian word) which USA family stayed with called "Fanny Bag". My daughter and I  looked at each other thinking what is that? Then realised, and we explained that word "Fanny" meant **bleep** area on females (common slang word used) and still is today. We still chuckle about that experience and often mention it when we discuss travelling with others.

Australian is a multi cultural country, currently represented by 270 cultural groups and so we are open minded with excepting different words and meanings. You could say Australians are blessed with being able to share different foods and cultures.🌻

[Ben205]

@Laurelle3 I fear these sheets are past saving but will definitely try this next time. Thanks. 

[Susan990]

I suggest you NOT provide them.  Hotels do not provide such products. They offer miserly packets of soaps so small not enough to make a mess .   Some of the many recent additions to the amenities list are clearly created by ABB staff who have No working knowledge of how the hospitality industry works.  Similarly the recent Upfront Pricing debacle which crashed and burned and caused loss of incomes  is a stark example of same.

[Sarah977]

@Susan990  Do you think that just because a host doesn't provide certain toiletries, that guests don't bring their own? 

[Susan990]

NO that is not what I think. We all know guests bring their own toiletries and like a hotel it is nice to be offered the basic things incase you need it, like a disposable tooth brush, but not everything listed in the amenities is expected and certainly not in the host best interests to protect and preserve their property.

[Anonymous]

@Susan990   Fortunately, the amenities list is not an instructions manual. Everything with a tickbox next to it is optional. The only things at are required are the "essential amenities":

• Toilet paper
• Soap (for hands and body)
• One towel per guest
• One pillow per guest
• Linens for each guest bed