Stain Removal Guide: How to Get Stains Out of Clothes

Stains always seem to show up at the worst moment. Coffee on the way to work or pasta sauce on a white shirt or a pen that leaked in your pocket. The good news is most stains come out if you deal with them the right way. Here's a simple stain removal guide for the stuff that happens most often.

The Basic Rules of Stain Removal

Before getting into specific stains there are a few rules that work for almost everything.

Act Fast

The sooner you treat a stain the easier it is to remove. Fresh stains sit on the surface and old ones soak deep into the fibers.

Blot Don't Rub

Rubbing pushes the stain further into the fabric and can spread it. Use a clean cloth or paper towel and blot gently from the outside in.

Use Cold Water First

Hot water can set some stains for good especially anything with protein in it like blood or egg or milk. Start with cold and only switch to warm if the label and the stain allow it.

Test on a Hidden Spot

Before you use a new product try it on an inside seam or hem. Some fabrics fade or react badly to certain cleaners.

Don't Put It in the Dryer Yet

This one matters a lot. Dryer heat can lock a stain in place. Always check that the stain is gone before drying and air dry if you're not sure. We also put together a full list of what can't go in the dryer if you want to play it safe.

How to Remove Common Stains

Coffee and Tea

Rinse the back of the stain with cold water right away. Then rub in a little liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for a few minutes before washing as usual. For older coffee stains a short soak in cool water with detergent helps a lot.

Oil and Grease

Grease stains need something that breaks down oil so dish soap is your friend here. Lay the fabric flat and blot off what you can. Work a few drops of dish soap into the stain with your fingers and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash in the warmest water the fabric can handle. If you can still see a dark spot after washing repeat before drying.

Blood

Always use cold water for blood. Run cold water through the back of the stain to push it out. Then gently work in a little detergent or a bit of hydrogen peroxide on white fabrics only. Hot water cooks the protein into the fibers so stay away from it.

Red Wine

Blot as much as you can first. Rinse with cold water from the back then treat with detergent. Some people swear by a sprinkle of salt to draw out the wine while it's still wet and it can help on fresh spills.

Grass

Pre treat with liquid detergent or a stain remover and let it soak in. A soft brush can help work it out of tough fabrics like denim.

Ink

Dab a little rubbing alcohol on the stain with a cotton ball and blot with a clean cloth underneath. Keep switching to a clean part of the cloth so the ink doesn't spread then wash as normal.

Sweat and Deodorant Marks

Mix a paste of baking soda and water and rub it into the area. Let it sit for about an hour then wash. Washing these soon after wearing keeps the yellow from building up.

What Not to Do

• Don't mix cleaning products together especially bleach and ammonia
• Don't scrub hard on delicate fabrics
• Don't use bleach on colors or on wool and silk
• Don't iron or dry a stained item before it's clean

When to Call In Help

Some stains are just stubborn and some fabrics are too delicate to experiment on. If it's a favorite piece or something dry clean only it's usually worth letting a pro take a look rather than risking it. The same goes for bulky bedding and here's how to wash a down comforter without ruining it.