How to remove a greasy stain from paper with improvised means?
In the life of many people, it is necessary to clean the paper from greasy stains. Most often this has to be done by people who have accidentally soiled valuable documents. There are many ways to clean paper surfaces, so it is recommended to determine in advance how to remove a greasy stain from paper.
Characteristics of such pollution
Before you start cleaning, you should familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of stains, as well as how they affect the cleaning process.
Freshness
The easiest way is to get rid of greasy marks that appeared on the surface quite recently. These contaminants have not yet had time to be absorbed by the paper and therefore everyone can cope with their cleaning. Fresh stains are those that appeared 5-20 minutes ago.
Paper color and type
It is known that paper can differ in density and surface color. It is quite easy to degrease the dense paper cover, since it can be cleaned in any way. You will need to work more carefully with colored and thin paper. Too aggressive detergents can damage it.
Significance of documents
The choice of stain removal method directly depends on the importance of the documents. For example, if a school notebook has been stained, you can try to clean it using any method.
If it is a passport or other equally important documents, you will have to select more delicate methods for cleaning stains.
Features of working with paper
Paper is a material that must be handled with care. Therefore, experts do not advise cleaning it from stains by mechanical methods using a large amount of liquid.
What you can use to remove a fresh stain
There are seven effective ways to get rid of fresh and new stains.
Bread crumb
A product made from bread crumbs fights greasy traces well. To clean the paper liner, perform the following sequence of actions:
- tear off a small piece of bread and moisten it with warm water;
- wipe the surface with torn off and moistened crumbs until the traces of dirt disappear.
Salt
If smudges appear on printed materials, choose the cleaning method carefully. Common salt is suitable for working with such papers. Experts recommend using finely ground salt with small granules. If necessary, it can be additionally sanded with a wooden mortar.
Then the salt is evenly distributed over the surface of the stain, covered with a sheet of paper and pressed with a hot iron.
White clay
Many people think that white clay is only suitable for cleaning the skin of the face, but this is not the case. It is also used to remove greasy traces from the surface of paper. First, it is mixed with hot water in a one-to-one ratio. Then the resulting gruel is applied on the spot and left there for 20-25 minutes. After that, the clay is cleaned with a brush or a dry sponge.
chalk
Some people don't have white clay on hand, so often use plain chalk instead, which helps restore the surface of the paper and remove dry spots. First, small pieces of chalk are ground into a powder. Then it is sprinkled on the soiled area of the paper and pressed with an iron.
Flour
Oatmeal is an effective oil cleaner on documents. It is only effective against fresh stains, so it should be used immediately after the stains appear. The stain is covered with flour, which is gently rubbed into the stain.
Mashed potatoes
In almost every home you can find potato starch, which can be used to erase greasy stains. Sprinkle the dirty place with starch and wipe with a soft cloth.
Blotting paper
A special blotting paper will help remove grease. It is laid on a dirty surface and then ironed with a hot iron. If the piece of paper is wet with grease, it will need to be replaced.
How to remove old traces
To remove stubborn and dried stains, you will have to use more effective means.
Iron
Experts advise removing old grease with an iron.To do this, the dirty paper is covered with a blotter, which is pressed on it with a hot iron. Ironing is carried out for 5-7 minutes. This is enough for the greasy stain to evaporate.
powdered chalk
A chalk-based powder will help remove old marks and stains from documents. They are sprinkled with the problem area and evenly distributed over the surface. From above, everything is covered with paper and heated with an iron.
Blend of refined gasoline and magnesium
If the stain cannot be removed by any means, you can use magnesium and gasoline. These ingredients form a thick slurry, which is used to cover stained documents. When it hardens, it is carefully peeled off with a knife.
Toothpaste
Tooth powder is considered an excellent absorbent that absorbs fat particles quickly. Before use, it is mixed with gasoline to obtain a thick mixture. The product is gently applied to the paper with a brush. After 10-12 hours, it is cleaned with a sponge.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is known for its degreasing properties, thanks to which it is possible to get rid of traces of grease. To clean the documents, you must soak a cotton ball in hydrogen and wipe the stain.
Essence
Gasoline can be used to dissolve grease on the paper surface. It is carefully applied to the stain and rubbed with a rag until the grease dissolves.
Turpentine
It is better to use turpentine to clean dense surfaces. It is heated to a temperature of 60-70 degrees. Then the heated liquid is applied with a pipette to paper and ironed.
Use professional tools
When removing stains from the surface, you can use not only folk remedies, but also professional ones.Most often, special bleaching agents are used, which remove traces of grease from fabric and paper.
Special cases
There are several guidelines to help you get rid of dirt on documents and wallpaper.
How to remove grease from wallpaper
Some people think that it is difficult to remove grease marks from wallpaper, but it is not. When cleaning, you can use damp cloths soaked in a detergent composition of soap and water.
Important Documents
There are three tools to help you clean a thin sheet of paper.
chalk
A piece of chalk should be crushed, then powder the stain. After three days, it is rubbed on the surface with breadcrumbs.
Towels and heavy books
You will need two wipes to remove grease. One of them is placed under the spot, and the second is placed on top of it. A thick book or any other massive object weighing between 400 and 500 grams is placed on it. Towels are removed after 3-5 days.
A soda
The grease streak is covered with a thin layer of soda, which is left on the paper for 10-12 hours. If a grain remains after the soda, the procedure is repeated.
Useful tips
Here are some helpful tips to help you clean your paper:
- before cleaning, the quality of the paper coating must be assessed;
- use a sponge and a cloth with care;
- if the stain is invisible, it is better not to wash it;
- eaten grains are removed several times.
Conclusion
Sometimes valuable documents or plain paper get dirty and need to be cleaned. Before that, you need to understand the recommendations for removing old and new stains.