White jeans are the undisputed lightweight champion of the summer pants world. They look great, they reflect the sun's brutal rays, and did we mention they look great? Though they're not exactly stain-friendly, especially when most summers include things like ketchup-laden hot dogs, saucy tacos, and ice cream. You'd think to just throw them in the wash, right? Right. But the thing is, almost all stains occur when you're away from the detergent-filled comfort of home. So what do you do next time you find yourself be-ketuchp'd and up stain creek without a paddle? You send in the big guns (albeit the also extremely convenient ones).
What You'll Need
Think of it like urban foraging but for cleaning supplies.
Step 1: Get Rid of the Excess
Well, the real first step is taking your pants off if you can manage it. But if there's no private bathroom in sight, know that none of these cleaning remedies are going to kill you or burn a hole through your thigh. Anyway, don't just immediately start rubbing the stain in, which will only make it harder to get out. Any excess globs or gloops should be removed before the real work begins.
Step 2: Just Call You Mr. Seltzer
Because it's going to be your new best friend. If you're in a restaurant, buy a bottle of sparkling water. Otherwise, hit up the closest corner store for a bottle or can. We're not scientists, but can attest to the fact that the bubbles are much better for cleaning than regular-old tap.
Step 3: Salt Me Up...Salt Me Up I'll Never Stop
The real reason you want to use salt is for its abrasive qualities, which will get all up in the stain and grind it out of existence.
Step 4: Scrub, then Scrub Some More
Don't stop until your arm feels like it's going to fall off.
Step 5: The Sud-dy System
Salt, seltzer, and soap? You bet. The secret of stain removal is that there is no secret. You just have to throw the (literal) kitchen sink at the problem until its fixed. If you're at a friend's place, raid their dish soap stash (and pray they're not those type of people that use those "pods" in their dishwasher). Otherwise, regular hand-soap will do.
Step 6: Keep Scrubbing
As the great French Montana once said, "Don't stop."
Step 7: High Tide (to Go!)
Though it may not get out the whole stain, this thing is best saved for the details. It's got low amounts of bleach, meaning it will turn that now off-orange color back to a sparkling white. If you've got a bag, always keep one in there. If not, do your best to find one (corner stores, grocery stores, and friendly neighbors may have them).
Step 8: Wait, Dry, and Get Back to the Party
You can either hide out in the bathroom for another 20 minutes while your pants dry, or you can step outside and let the sun do the work for you. Sure, it might look like you peed your pants for a few minutes, but that's a small price to pay for revitalized summer style.
