Summer Stains... YIKES! Our guide gives you some help with 5 common summer stains.

Summer food is delicious but messy

Summer is a wonderful time of year. Especially here on the Lakeshore! And summer isn't complete with out a beach or backyard barbecue. However, sometimes that delicious summer food comes with some terrible consequences. No, not heartburn, we're talking about stains.

When the stains strike, what do you do to keep your summer clothes looking clean? Well, one of the best options is always a professional cleaning from Acme Cleaners. We even offer FREE pick-up and delivery. But if home cleaning is your option of choice, here are some tips to help with common summer stains.

1. Fruit Juices: Juicy watermelon, fresh strawberries, and sweet blueberries are the perfect summer snack, but fruit juice can be one of the hardest stains to get out. If tasked with removing fruit juice, blot lightly with cold water. Pre-treat with an eco-friendly stain remover. Wash according to your clothing item’s laundry tag.

2. Cheeseburger: No cookout is complete without a giant, juicy cheeseburger. A cheeseburger is a combination stain, so you have to treat each ingredient separately. Cheeseburgers can include both plant-based and animal-based stains. Blot the spot with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to break down the oils. Flush out the rubbing alcohol and pour on some vinegar to break down the plant-based elements. Dab hydrogen peroxide on the stain to remove the animal-based elements.

3. Beer (a premium West Michigan brew of course): While beer is often a light colored liquid, it can certainly do damage to your clothes. Apply a mixture of cold water and eco-friendly laundry detergent. Let sit for at least five minutes. Repeat until the stain disappears (and grab another beer while you wait!).

4. Sweat: With 80 to 90 degree weather along the lakeshore throughout the months of June, July, and August, it’s common for sweat to build up under the armpits or inside the collar of your shirts, despite using deodorant! Soak your shirt in a mixture of vinegar and water for about 20 minutes. Use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and salt to create a paste and apply it to the sweat stains. Let it sit for another 20 minutes. Finally, wash the clothing item in your washer according to the care label.

5. Lip Gloss: Are you or your partner popping out the pink and coral lip gloss this summer? If you happen to find some on your shirt, scrape away as much as possible. Pre-treat with a stain remover and launder according to the garment care label.