Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Road-salt stains are a hazard of winter. The salt that keeps steps and walkways clear can soak into the bottoms of your pants or splash up the back of your legs and cause unsightly white marks that do not come out with a basic wash and dry. The real damage, however, is in the corrosiveness of the salt itself on the material. By the end of the winter season, you can expect salt-stained pants to be developing holes and rips as the material gets eaten away, even after frequent washing. The solution requires an extra step when you launder, but is well worth the effort.
Make a mixture of one cup of white vinegar and one cup of warm water.
Pour the mixture directly onto the stains and allow it to penetrate for five to ten minutes, allowing the vinegar to neutralize the salt.
Wash the pants and allow them to air dry completely.
If any white marks remain, re-treat with the vinegar solution and wash again.