Does cologne stain clothes

The wonderful scent of cologne can help set the perfect mood for any event or occasion. But, things can take a quick turn of events if you end up spilling your favorite cologne on your clothes. Does cologne stain clothes?

What is the main ingredient in cologne

In its most basic sense, cologne is a diluted or watered down type of perfume. This was originally produced by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 in Cologne, Germany. Since cologne doesn’t have the same strong scent as that of perfume, this can be more freely used.

This is also sold as body splashes or after shave aside from being used as fragrant sprays. You need to keep cologne with a closed lid in a cool place so that its fragrance doesn’t dissipate or evaporate too fast into the air. Alcohol, water, and fragrance are the main ingredients of cologne.

Is it bad to spray cologne on clothes

A lot of people are not aware that even clear cologne stains and leaves residue on different types of clothes. Since colognes are still alcohol-based, they often leave behind some spots that look oily on fabrics once these products are directly sprayed on them.

This is the reason why it is always recommended to apply cologne way before you get dressed. But, if ever your cologne ends up staining your favorite clothes, it is not the end of the world yet. There are different methods that can be used and applied to completely get rid of the stain and make your clothes look as good as new all over again.

What happens if you use expired cologne on clothes

Cologne doesn’t expire similar to how food products expire. However, applying expired cologne might lead to an unpleasant smell, skin irritation, or even an allergic reaction in extreme cases. Starting from the time it is produced, the average shelf life of a typical bottle of cologne lasts 3 to 5 years.

The shelf life might be longer when the bottle remains unopened and is stored properly. The shelf life may also fluctuate based on the product’s quality. Colognes with higher concentration of water or alcohol may disappear faster through evaporation, for example.

The fragrance is among the most obvious ways of detecting a change in cologne. If the cologne contains vegetable oils, this may turn rancid after some time. Essential oils, on the other hand, is a common ingredient in most natural and commercial fragrances that don’t contain fat that helps the cologne last longer.

Once cologne deteriorates, this may develop a vinegar-like smell or the original scent’s concentration may fade. There may also be a change in the cologne’s color although it will depend on the original liquid’s color, the color of the bottle that contains it, and how you store the bottle. This change in color may also leave behind some stain marks on your clothes if you spray an expired cologne on them.

Does cologne damage clothes

When using cologne, one of the most common fears of most people is whether or not the product will stain or damage their clothes. It is only natural to feel this way since cologne contains alcohol and fragrance oil.

Even big cologne brands are also known to leave stains on clothes. This is why you need to be extra careful every time you spray cologne on your clothes.

Cologne may not necessarily damage clothes but it might cause some unwanted or even irreversible changes in the fabric. One important tip to remember is to avoid spraying cologne on your silk clothes.

Colognes don’t just change the silk’s color properties but this might also affect your silk clothing’s mechanical properties. It is because silk clothes are among the easiest to change color and get damaged once exposed to cologne.

The good news is that not all colognes stain clothes. Even if there is no way for you to determine if cologne will cause stains or not, darker-colored cologne tends to leave stains more than those with lighter color.

Cologne may also leave stains on cotton fabrics. These stains might be more visible or prominent on light or white-colored clothes. This is why you should also be wary with using cologne on your expensive cotton shirts, or better yet, avoid using it on them altogether.

Do cologne stains easy to clean

Many types of cologne are found to stains. Darker colognes have higher staining potential. Cotton and linen are often more prone to staining. It is recommended to spray cologne on clothes at a distance of 15 cm to ensure that you don’t create or leave any unwanted marks.

Majority of cologne stains on clothes may appear as dark yellow-brown patches that look like grease stains on fabrics. However, such stains are often more visible with colognes of higher concentration. Colognes that are more undiluted have more attributes for causing deep stains on clothes.

The good news is that cologne stains can be cleaned and removed with ease, especially if you take action right away.

Can dry cleaners remove perfume stains

If you tried all your might to remove perfume stains on your clothes but to no avail, it might be time for you to take them to the professional dry cleaners. Your local dry cleaner has the necessary experience and knowledge on how to deal with all types of stains, including perfume. They can save the garment if it is still salvageable.

How to get rid of cologne stains from clothes

There are actually many methods for getting rid of cologne stains from your clothes and the following procedure is just one of them.

1. Prepare a large bowl of plain water and add one big tablespoon of white vinegar and one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Mix everything softly together using a sponge or soft cotton cloth. Dab this on the cologne stain.
2. Let the solution sit on the stain for up to 10 minutes. 
3. After the stain breaks down, use a paper towel and gently dab this on the fabric to absorb the stain.
4. If the cologne stain has settled or dried off or the water and white vinegar solution didn’t work, you can try dabbing 3% hydrogen peroxide on it.

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