Gouache
- one of the varieties of paints for artistic creativity, it is used by both adults and children. Compared to watercolor paints, it has a more saturated color and adheres more tightly to paper, which is explained by its composition.
There are varieties of gouache for different types of work: poster, artistic, fluorescent.
Creativity, regardless of its complexity, is inevitably accompanied by traces left not only on paper, but also on clothes, which the recommendations and advice offered will help you remove.
happy mother and kid girl painting together
Is it possible to wash gouache from clothes?
Gouache is a subspecies of water-soluble, dense, adhesive-based paints with the addition of white. In addition, manufacturers include oils, resins, dyes, and polymers in the composition. The listed components are not so easy to remove from clothing, especially if the paint has had time to dry. If the stain is very fresh, you can try rinsing the item in cold water. Dried or old dirt will have to be removed differently. In most cases, it is still possible to get rid of the bright mark.
Tips and recommendations for the sequence of actions
You should know that poster gouache is less bright and durable than artistic gouache. Therefore, getting rid of its traces on clothes is a little easier. But kids like it to be brighter and thicker. Therefore, a completely smeared item with gouache will have to be thrown into rags or thrown away, and if there are only a few stains, try to wash it off.
You should start by inspecting the stains. A thick layer of dried gouache should initially be carefully brushed off with a clothes brush and the grains should be shaken off properly. Then comes the turn of laundry soap and cold water. If the stain does not come off, you need to use one of the above remedies. Taking into account the type of fabric and color of the item.
Advice! Be sure to first look at the clothing label to see what can and cannot be applied to a given product from chemicals or types of exposure.
White synthetic items can be wiped clean with many substances. With natural fabrics everything is more complicated. You need to choose the most effective one, but one that will not damage your clothes. After using the chemical, the item must be washed in water not hotter than 30° C with powder and stain remover. Synthetic detergents (SMCs) and stain removers with active oxygen are very good for removing gouache from clothes. They clean the fabric efficiently without spoiling the structure and color.
If you cannot remove traces of gouache yourself, you need to turn to professionals at a good dry cleaner, if there is one nearby.
The best stain removers for removing gouache from clothes
The simplest, but at the same time expensive way to remove dirt is to use a ready-made product. The best household chemical products are listed in the table.
Table 1. How to remove gouache stains from fabric.
Name | pros | Minuses |
Spray "Eared Nanny" | Helps remove dirt from children's clothing without leaving an odor or causing allergies. It is cheaper than analogues and is highly efficient. | Suitable for fresh stains, but may not dissolve old ones. |
Bagi | It can clean not only clothes, but also upholstery, curtains, and carpets. Dissolves old paint. | Expensive, not suitable for soaking, use with caution on bright and thin fabrics. |
Vanish | Added directly during machine washing, suitable for soaking and removing fresh dirt. | Not suitable for delicate cleansing and dry stains. |
Laundry soap
Laundry soap is perfect for washing delicate fabrics, because it will gently remove dirt without damaging the fabric. It is important to know here that brown laundry soap will cope with this task, because a modern light-colored product with a pleasant aroma will not be able to cope with contamination from gouache. Application:
- It is necessary to rinse the contaminated area under running cold water.
- Soap the contaminated area with laundry soap.
- Use a sponge to wipe off the dissolved paint.
- Rinse the fabric under water and wash using the standard method.
Cleaning white fabric from gouache
Note! It is particularly difficult to remove bright stains from white items. The use of aggressive substances can lead to yellowing of the fabric or destruction of its fibers.
There are the following methods to return a blouse or other clothing to its original white color:
- treatment with laundry soap and prolonged soaking;
- boiling with Persol;
- using soap with bile;
- soaking and washing with bleach;
- cleansing with hydrogen peroxide.
All these methods allow you to both remove gouache from a white shirt and preserve the quality of the fabric. The disadvantage of the methods is the significant time costs.
We use a solvent
Solvent R-646 helps to wash white items. It should be applied to the stain in a thin layer and left for 10-15 minutes, then rinse the item. When using, it is important to be careful and act quickly. Kerosene or white spirit will also work. They are used separately or in combination 1:1 with white clay. The mixture is applied to the fabric, left until completely dry, and then brushed off. The stain can be completely removed by rinsing in cold water.
Solvent
You can try to get rid of gouache from white clothes using various solvents. Note that this method must be resorted to when all other methods are powerless against such contamination. To achieve the desired effect you need:
- Apply the cleaner to a cotton pad and spread it over the entire stain.
- Leave the treated clothes for half an hour.
- After this time, the clothes should be washed in the usual way.
Before using this product, you must make sure that the solvent will not spoil this type of fabric.
Hand washing delicates and colored items
Removing stains from thin and expensive fabrics using solvents is prohibited. You can try cleaning your clothes with dishwashing detergent. It is worth moistening the gouache stain with water, applying the product, lathering and leaving for 30 minutes. You should periodically check whether the gouache is washed off and repeat the procedure. When the stain fades, you should additionally wash the items with powder. Instead of dish soap you can use:
- Antipyatin soap;
- Stork soap.
Glycerol
Rules of application:
- Apply glycerin to the stain.
- Wash it in plain water without using detergents.
- After removing the crust, apply the product to the contaminated area.
- Wait at least 2 hours;
- It is necessary to wash the fabric several times with plenty of detergent. This is done to get rid of the oily trace of glycerin.
Folk recipes
Properly selected folk remedies allow you to wash off the most difficult stains. Some recipes will help cope with gouache stains, but are not always approved for cleaning delicate fabrics.
We recommend:
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Refined gasoline and vinegar
Refined gasoline is a powerful and aggressive stain remover. It is applied to the stain, left for 15-20 minutes, and then washed off from the fabric. However, it is more rational to use gasoline to get rid of traces of oil paint. Gouache is water-based, so it can be cleaned with gentle products. As for vinegar, it is recommended to use it to get rid of unpleasant odors. It will not be possible to remove gouache from clothes.
Soda
Baking soda is suitable for getting rid of stubborn dirt. It allows you to both remove stains from gouache and restore whiteness to clothes. It is best to use soda in combination with kerosene, for this:
- 50 ml of kerosene is heated;
- moisten the gouache stain with liquid;
- sprinkle the dirt with soda;
- rub until completely clean.
Important! It is prohibited to use this combination for washing silk, guipure, and chiffon. Kerosene and soda can negatively affect the brightness of the item.
Mustard
An inexpensive and effective remedy is mustard powder. It is diluted with warm water to a mushy state, applied to the item for 20-30 minutes, and the item is washed in powder. The mustard should not be allowed to dry out - this can complicate the task.
Alcohol
A combination of alcohol and glycerin allows you to carefully remove the paint. The liquids are mixed in equal parts and applied to the stain with a sponge for half an hour. Fresh gouache is washed from clothes with pure alcohol. The dirt is moistened, rubbed gently, then the clothes are rinsed.
Toothpaste
The whitening components in toothpaste are reliable allies in the fight against paint marks. How to remove gouache from clothes at home:
- apply the paste in a thick layer to clothing;
- leave for 15-20 minutes, not allowing it to dry out;
- wash off the paste;
- wash the item in the usual way.
Ammonia and acid
Ammonia is suitable for washing clothes made of thick fabric. Use it to remove stains from cotton, jeans, and linen. The liquid is applied to clothing, left for a while, then washed off with running water. The best results are obtained by mixing ammonia and oxalic acid. The composition is applied for half an hour, after which the clothes are rinsed and washed in the machine.
Getting rid of gouache stains can be very difficult. The size of the stain, its age, and the characteristics of the fabric should be taken into account. To clean clothes as quickly as possible, it is recommended to wash items immediately after soiling and not wait for the paint to dry.
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Toothpaste
In order to get rid of old gouache stains, you can use toothpaste. This product contains bleaching enzymes that will help remove stains. Application:
- Apply toothpaste to the stained area and rinse.
- Wait a little.
- Wash with detergent.
You need to know that in order to wash watercolors from white and colored fabrics, different methods are used. For colored items, it is necessary to use those cleaners that will delicately deal with contamination and at the same time the color of the fabric will remain unchanged.
Alcohol
Another way to get rid of watercolor stains is alcohol. Ammonia is suitable for this purpose. The stain must be treated with this product and soaked in water for better results. It must be remembered that it is better to do this in cold water, because in hot water the paint will simply roll off. As a result, it will not be completely washable from the fabric. You can also use a solution of alcohol and oxalic acid. For this:
- Prepare a solution in a 1:1 ratio.
- Soak the area contaminated with gouache and leave for several hours.
- We wash in any convenient way using laundry soap and powder.
Gloves must be used when using these products.
Vinegar
Using a cotton swab, apply vinegar to the stain, wait about an hour and then wash the clothes.
In this review, we looked at how you can remove gouache from white and colored clothes. This information will be useful for all readers, but mainly for those who have small children or who