Would you take a chance on a stained item?

@dawnald (85129)
Shingle Springs, California
July 27, 2012 12:20pm CST
So I took the kids to the California state fair yesterday. I let them loose with $20 for sodas, and ride wristbands, and I took off and explored the fair on my own. There was this purple tank top that I really liked, but it was the last one in my size, and it looked like somebody with ketchupy hands had handled it. The vendor offered me an $8 discount, so I figured, what the heck, I can probably get it out with Oxy. Only his math was bad. Posted price was $19.99, he charged me $10.99, so I got a $9 discount. Anyway, when I got it home, I saw "hand wash separately in cold water". Yikes, how am I going to get that out in cold water? But I slapped some Oxy-clean on it, let it soak for a few minutes, and then ran it through the washer on cold/delicate. Didn't quite 100% come out, but at least now it's hard to see. Would you take a chance like that that you could get the stain out on a discounted item that you really liked? PS They had some solar nail polish there. I polished my nails blue, and in the sun they turn purple. Cool!
9 people like this
29 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
27 Jul 12
Probably not, as least not now with our finances, but it also depends on the shirt too. For example I purchase some shirts primarily to go under another shirt and if I really wanted that color, knowing that if I couldn't get the stain out, and that the stain would be hidden, then yes.. As for the nail polish, awesome..I am going to keep my eyes open for the "solar" nail polish..Did they have various colors?
• United States
16 Aug 12
Oh, I forgot about this, I should look this up online, I am sure I can purchase it from ebay or something..
• United States
16 Aug 12
http://www.solaractiveintl.com/blaze-uv-color-changing-nail-polish-now-ruby-wing-ezp-2.html?zenid=3dc163ae993a76c821fcff58afd5ed2f Wow, found the link to the site and it has a video that shows how it works..Cool!!!
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
There were 5 or 6 different shades.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
27 Jul 12
I would but depending on some factors. First, what is the item and how bad do I really want it or need it? How bad is the stain? What is the price? The top that you loved so much was $20. I would have considered it only if the vendor had come down to $8 or less. But since the stain more or less came out, it seems like you did get a good deal. I think with some more soaking in other products, it might become invisible or come out altogether. Mostly everything I purchase is at yard sales, so I am used to getting imperfect items.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
28 Jul 12
Like you I purchase at yard sales, resale shops or off the really cheap rack at Wal Mart. It seems to be okay and if I cannot make something look good, I have not lost much.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
I could probably get the entire stain out in warm water, but the top has to be washed in cold...
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
27 Jul 12
the nail polish sounds really cool but as for the stained shirt, i wouldn't go for it unless it was super cheap and i knew i could get the stain out.
4 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 Jul 12
I thought it was super cheap...
2 people like this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
28 Jul 12
Now a days lots of stain removers are available and I would suggest you to try some of them and most probably this will help you to remove the stain.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
27 Jul 12
If I REALLY wanted it I would certainly buy it and do as you did, negotiate a discount. Otherwise I'd leave it. I don't know much about nail polish - should I start to wear it? Do youi think that it would suit me? I do have a perpetual split nail....
3 people like this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
16 Aug 12
Sounds good. Send some over please.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
How about the pea green nail polish that turns magenta? :D
• United States
27 Jul 12
I wouldn't have taken a chance on the top at that price. It would have had to be really amazing, and the discount would have had to take it down to $5 or less. I have so many clothes in my closet--well, since we're moving, now in boxes, suitcases and bags--that I really don't need any more. In fact, I'm packing this stuff up and realizing that I don't even remember owning some of it... I'm not certain if that's something I will be admitting to my boyfriend, though. He already thinks I have too many clothes.
3 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
aw but it's beautifully hand embroidered....
• United States
27 Jul 12
I dont think i would risk it, the nail polish sounds really cool though!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 Jul 12
It's very cool, and I got enough of the stain out to be happy with the top...
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 12
well thats whats important that your happy with it.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
2 Aug 12
If the stain was something I thought I could get out and I really really liked the item and I got a good price for it, I would buy the item. Hey...the nailpolish sounds cool. Never heard of solar nail polish. Wonder when it would be available in India. I'd love to try it.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Don't know if you can get it in India, but I did find it online: http://www.delsol.com/eSource/ecom/eSource/items/items-2-S1-lV12-lV215.aspx?gclid=CJGawa7N7LECFcNrKgodjSoAJw
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
28 Jul 12
I bet if you put it out in the sun the rest of it will come out, unless it fades the color. Otherwise, just another round of oxy should fix it. I have also had good results with stains on clothes by using Resolve Carpet Cleaner( I was a wardrobe mistress for some college plays). So yes, with a good discount, I would take a chance on a stained item. I bet that nail polish looks awesome with the tank top. Did the kids have a good time?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
16 Aug 12
I find that very true, most of our kids need to exercise more.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Loved the nail polish. Alas, I finally had to remove it. Yeah, they had a good time. Dearra was really tired by the end of the day though. That girl needs to exercise.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
13 Aug 12
I might. Heck, I'm just as likely to take if and if it doesn't come out, paint or sew over the stain.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
paint or sew, hmmm...
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
27 Jul 12
Ive heard of nail polish that turns a different color in the sun. It seems neat. I would never buy something with a a stain on it. Even if it was free I probably wouldnt bother to try to take the stain out of an item that I didnt get the stain on to begin with because I would assumessume whiever stained it up probably already tried to get the stain out and so gave it away. I definitely wouldnt pay $9 for a stained shirt.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Naw, it was new, they hadn't tried to get the stain out...
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
29 Jul 12
That solar nail polish sounds neat. I would have to really think I could get that stain out if I was going to buy it.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Yeah I have to go look and see if I can buy the nail polish anywhere.
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
27 Jul 12
If the tank top has only one colour, I´d forget about the cold water and would use likewarm water. I´d handwash it anyway, because that way I would be around to rinse it quickly if something was happening. Oxy is wonderful, but it does not replace a nice hand scrub.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
The color was bleeding in cold water, so I don't dare use warm...
• United States
16 Aug 12
I'd Oxy-clean it again, and if that doesn't take it out, try Spray-N-Wash or some other stain remover. It'll come out eventually! Lol. I'd have gone for it too, but my mom would've KILLED me, because she's the stain-removal person in our house. Btw, the polish sounds awesome! What brand?
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Don't know what brand nail polish they used at the fair, but I found this online: http://www.delsol.com/eSource/ecom/eSource/items/items-2-S1-lV12-lV215.aspx?gclid=CJGawa7N7LECFcNrKgodjSoAJw
• United States
16 Aug 12
Oooh, just thought of this! Mom did this to a shirt once, and it turned out looking really cool. Ball up the shirt, pour a LITTLE bit of bleach/water mixture (probably about 30% bleach, 70% water) over it, and throw it in the wash. When we did this, the shirt came out kinda tie-dyed. (We threw in a blue shirt, and it came out blue and a light bluish-pink. Looked awesome.)
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Jul 12
I would be willing to take a chance on a stained item if the discount that the merchant was willing to give to me was 50% or more off of the price that they had in the first place. With ketchup, it is a little bit more difficult to get out than other kinds of stains, but I have found that with Oxy made into a paste and sitting on the stain for a couple of hours, it does tend to get stains most of the way out. By the way, that nail polish sounds like something that I would have to have.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
must try that with the Oxy
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
28 Jul 12
Maybe. Sometimes is a matter of using the right stain remover. Some stores sell specific stain releases. Personally, I don't find that oxyclean works as good as spray & wash or tide stain release on most stains. $10.99 isn't lw enough for me to take a stined shirt. I buy my v-neck tees from Target when they go on sale for $3-$5 so $10.99 isn't very cheap for an every day shirt.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Oxy works better than either of those on blood, not sure about other stains.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 12
Yes if it was the same circumstances What you want to try and do is put more Oxy on the item and leave it to soak over Night then rub it and wash again you never know it might come out totally
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
must try that, but don't have the patience for overnight lol
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
28 Jul 12
I think there are lots of things that we might like and might have some damaged or stain, etc. I think here also most of them give discounts. Sometimes I buys things that I like and if it has good discount and if I do not have enough money to buy the original without damage or discount. I think it is okay to buy things that do not have lots of damage to it.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
this stain is a bit tough though
@Hazelme (647)
• United States
28 Jul 12
That nail polish sounds way cooler than the purple tank top lol , I will buy a shirt if its stain a little, and if i know the stain will come off. Many times i find good clothes at Ross or Marshalls, then theres a stain and people just leave it and don't buy it, but if it's a good price and i know the stain will come off I tell the cashier to give me a small discount, most of the time they agree.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
Both cool, but I still have the tank top, and the nail polish is all gone.
@ridzzz0 (131)
28 Jul 12
i think if i was there in your position i would have done the same. anyway nice nail polish choice.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
The nail polish was cool. Going to have to try and find myself some more.
@kulisap (70)
28 Jul 12
I would definitely buy an item if I really like it. I'm a sucker for discounts too so doing a little soaking and washing is not a big thing for me. It's a good thing that you took your chance and now you have a cool top! I hope the stain would be totally gone after a few more washing.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 12
will have to soak it overnight and see