Practical recommendations on how to effectively and without consequences remove stains from paper

At least once in their life, every person is faced with the need to clean paper from stains.

They may have a different nature of origin, but each type of pollution has its own recipe.

Read the article on how to remove blood, paint, coffee, tea, and oil stains from paper without ruining it.

Universal recipes

Dealing with stains on paper is difficult, since the material itself in most cases does not tolerate contact with any liquids well. The choice of product largely depends on what exactly the sheet was stained with. However, there are also universal substances that can cope with various types of pollution. Top 5 effective recipes:

1. Hydrogen peroxide. With its help, you can not only remove, but also discolor the stain. For treatment, you can use pharmacy peroxide, or purchase 2 tablets of hydroperite, which are dissolved in 50 ml of warm water.

   Soak a cotton swab in the liquid and carefully work it over the contaminated surface on both sides.

   A blank sheet of paper is placed on top and bottom so that the document appears to be sandwiched between them. Once dry, the stains will disappear.

2. Whitening toothpaste. It perfectly absorbs dirt and discolors the pigment, which makes the stain on the paper especially noticeable. The paste is applied with a brush in a thin layer and distributed evenly over the surface. After 1-2 minutes, remove it with a cotton pad and allow the sheet to dry.If the contamination cannot be removed the first time, the procedure is repeated.
3. Refined gasoline. It acts as a solvent so it can easily remove most types of stains. The only condition is to process only paper that does not crumble when in contact with liquid. Gasoline is applied to a cotton pad, which is carefully passed over the entire surface of the stain. If after cleaning there is a greasy mark left on it, it should be sprinkled with starch and left overnight. In the morning the powder is cleaned off.
4. Acetone. When processing paper, it is better to use nail polish remover, since the concentration of acetone in it is minimal. It is applied to the dirty mark with a brush, left for 2-3 minutes, wiped with a damp cotton pad and left to dry.
5. Vinegar 9%. Acid can deal with many organic and inorganic types of stains. It can be used diluted or pure. It all depends on the intensity of pollution. Vinegar is applied to a cotton pad, applied to a dry sheet for 10 seconds and lifted. If the trace disappears immediately, then stop processing. There is no need to wash off the vinegar; it will dry and disappear on its own.

Features of removing different types of contaminants

The choice of cleaning agent is largely determined by what specific substance caused the stain on the paper. For example, to remove oil traces, you first need to absorb fat, and in the fight against smudges from watercolor paints, the splitting of the color pigment comes to the fore.

How to remove oil traces?

You can get rid of oil marks on paper using such compounds and improvised means as:

1. Bread crumb. Roll the crumb of white bread into a small ball, lightly moisten it with warm water and wipe the contaminated surface with it until it becomes absolutely clean.
2. Salt. It is a first aid remedy for combating greasy stains not only on fabric, but also on paper. The smaller its granules, the better.

   Sprinkle the stain with salt, cover it with a clean sheet of paper and iron it with a warm, but not hot, iron.

3. Chalk. It acts as an absorbent, absorbing fat from any surface. A single piece is crushed into powder using a mortar, sprinkled onto the stain and gently rubbed in a circular motion. After 10-20 minutes, shake off the chalk. If the stain remains, then repeat the procedure, but using an iron.
4. Flour. It helps get rid of fresh traces of fat. It is used by analogy with other bulk substances.
5. Turpentine. If a greasy stain gets on strong white paper, you can try to remove it with turpentine, which is applied to a cotton pad and gently wiped over the problem area.

He will tell you how to remove an oil stain from paper. this article.

Watercolor

If a watercolor stain has dried out, you can try to dissolve it with water and lemon juice. Procedure:

• add juice squeezed from half a lemon to 100 ml of water;
• pour it into a spray bottle;
• spray the stain, blot it with a clean, dry cloth;
• repeat the procedure until completely cleansed.

If splashes of watercolor get on dense washable wallpaper, you can deal with them with a soap solution. It is prepared using dishwashing liquid or laundry soap. After treatment, the surface is washed with clean water.

From coffee

Accidentally spilled coffee can ruin not only a school notebook or book, but also an important document. To rehabilitate it, they use the following compounds:

1. Hydrogen peroxide. It can lighten coffee, making it almost invisible. Apply it with a cotton swab or sponge. After processing, allow the paper to dry naturally.
2. Ammonia. They treat the stain until it completely disappears, after which they wipe the area with a slightly damp cotton swab.
3. Bleach. You can use oxygen bleach or White. Use them carefully. Only durable, thick and light paper can be processed.

If, in addition to liquid, coffee grounds get on the stain, you need to brush them off with a brush before the main treatment.

From the dirt

Dirty stains on paper can be removed using such improvised means as:

1. Alcohol. A cotton pad is soaked in it and the problem area is wiped several times.
2. Hydrogen peroxide. It is used in a similar way to alcohol.
3. Laundry soap. Before use, it is crushed into shavings and diluted in a small amount of water. The resulting composition is used to treat the contaminated area. When the stain disappears, gently wipe the paper with a damp cloth. This method is suitable for dense material. A thin sheet will not withstand repeated contact with liquid.

Fingerprints

Fingerprints can be removed with hydrogen peroxide. It quickly dissolves various organic contaminants. After applying it to the paper it will appear. This is a natural reaction that should not be alarmed. When it's finished, the fingerprint should disappear.

Ammonia copes well with fingerprints. When working with this substance for the first time, you need to remember that it has a pungent odor, so you need to take care of ventilating the room in advance.

Soak a cotton swab in ammonia and gently treat the stain. After cleaning, there is no need to rinse off the substance; it will evaporate on its own within a few minutes.

Tea

You can remove traces of tea using such improvised means as:

• lemon juice - if the paper is strong, use it in its pure form, soak a cotton swab in the juice and treat the problem area with light blotting movements, remove excess moisture with a paper napkin;
• ammonia - it makes the dye molecules less durable, so they easily transfer to the material being processed;
• if the stain is fresh and has not yet dried, it is generously sprinkled with starch, covered with a clean sheet of paper, which is passed over with an iron several times; if necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

How to remove blood?

Blood quickly absorbs into the paper and dries, making it difficult to remove. Compositions such as:

1. Liquid stain remover, for example, Vanish. Soak a cotton pad with it and touch the stain several times with dipping movements.When the blood begins to transfer from the paper to the sponge, it is changed. You need to work with clean discs so that the stain does not spread or smear.
2. Hydrogen peroxide. It destroys organic molecules, including blood. To get rid of minor stains, just a few drops of peroxide applied to a cotton swab are enough.
3. Boiled egg. If the stain is fresh, you can roll it with a warm boiled egg without the shell.

Putty or corrector

The corrector is used to mask ink, but sometimes situations arise when it needs to be removed from the paper. As a rule, this is easy to do with the help of substances such as:

1. Alcohol. A cotton swab is moistened with it, applied to the stain and left for about a minute. After this procedure, the putty layer can be easily removed with a wooden file or even a fingernail.
2. Nail polish remover. It contains a solvent that softens the putty. It is used in the same way as alcohol.
3. Glass cleaning liquid. It contains several active components that can soften the corrector. Irrigate a cotton swab with the liquid and apply it to the white mark for 10 seconds (if necessary, the exposure time can be increased). When the putty becomes soft, remove it with a ruler or toothpick.

Do not attempt to clean off dry concealer. Using sharp objects will cause the paper to tear.

Helpful information

Tips that will come in handy When removing stains from paper:

• You need to start removing the stain immediately, the longer it stays on the surface of the paper, the deeper it is absorbed into the structure; dealing with an old stain is much more difficult than dealing with a fresh one;
• you need to remove the stain from the edge to the center so as not to smear it over clean areas;
• if the stain was not removed the first time, the procedure can be repeated, but only after the paper has dried;
• To remove small stains, use a cotton swab; if the contamination is extensive, use a cotton pad;
• in order not to go beyond the boundaries of contaminants, they are outlined with a wax candle;
• Before you begin to remove stains from an important document, the selected product should be tested on a sheet of paper similar in structure to the original.

Conclusion

You can remove stains from paper using improvised means. The main thing is to choose the appropriate composition and use it according to the instructions. The sooner treatment begins, the better.