Okay, you made a mistake. Maybe you pressed too hard. Maybe you accidentally sneezed on it. Now the stain has spread into a faint orange halo. Breathe. It’s not over.
Shake the fabric vigorously over a trash can. Get as much loose powder off as possible. Then, get yourself a dry, lint-free cloth (a microfiber cloth or a clean cotton t-shirt works great).
Use the corner of the cloth to blot the edge of the stain. Pull the powder from the outer edge toward the center. Like you’re rounding up sheep. This prevents the stain from expanding further.
The Water Step: When to Break the Rules
This is the part where we cautiously get the water. But only if you’ve lifted off ninety percent of the visible dust. If you can still see big clumps of orange, go back to the tape. I’m not kidding.
Once it’s mostly just a faint shadow, it’s time. Run cold water from the back of the stain. Push the remaining color out the front. Hot water will set it. Use cold. Cold is your friend.
