How to Remove Common Stains From Clothes

The most common hard-to-remove stains on our laundry are red wine, coffee, oil, blood, grass, sweat, and ink. While a good laundry detergent will take care of most of the dirt and grime, these stains require more treatment. Fortunately, doing it yourself is easy.

Commercial stain removers work well, but if you don't have them on hand when an unexpected stain strikes, common household products can often remove stains. Here's how to remove common stains from clothes with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and other household products.

How to Remove Oil and Grease Stains

Treat oil stains as soon as possible by sprinkling the fabric with a thick layer of cornstarch, baking soda, or baby powder to help absorb the oil. This often makes the stain disappear or makes stain removal later much easier.

1. Blot the Stain

   • Use a paper towel to blot oily drips.
   • Lift any greasy solids away with the edge of a credit card or a dull knife.

2. Treat with Dishwashing Liquid

   • Lay the garment on a flat surface and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the stain.
   • Rub the stain remover into the fabric with your fingers or an old toothbrush until the fabric is completely saturated.
     
   • Let it sit for at least 10 minutes though up to an hour is even better to give the dishwashing liquid time to break apart the stain molecules so you can flush them out of the fabric.

3. Rinse and Wash

   • Toss the item in the washing machine or rinse the fabric in warm water if you can't wash the garment right away.
   • Check to see if the stain is completely gone after washing before putting it in the dryer. The high heat can permanently set the grease stain.

How to Remove Red Wine Stains

Remove red wine from clothes by treating this stubborn stain immediately. Do not put a wine-stained fabric in the dryer because the heat will set the stain and make removal almost impossible.

1. Blot and absorb the stain. Blot the fresh stain with a paper towel, sprinkle table salt generously onto the stain to help absorb the wine, and let the salt sit on a fresh wine stain for at least an hour.
2. Mix a vinegar and laundry detergent solution. Mix 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent in a small bowl, apply the mixture to the stain with a soft-bristled brush, and slip the garment or table linen into a plastic bag and let it sit overnight.
3. Rinse and wash. Rinse the area with cool water, and wash the garment as you usually would only if the stain is gone.
4. If the stain remains, repeat.
   

How to Remove Grass Stains

Eliminate grass stains with vinegar or baking soda. Grass stains are a mixture of proteins from the dirt but mostly they are made of chlorophyll from the plant, which produces that stubborn green stain.

• Soak the stain in vinegar. Pour enough white vinegar into a small bowl to submerge the stained area of the garment, and allow the stain to soak for 30 minutes.
• Scrub with baking soda paste, if vinegar did not remove the stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water, spread the paste on the stain, scrub it with an old toothbrush, and let the paste work for at least 15 minutes.
• Rinse and wash the garment. Rinse the area with cool water, and wash the garment as you usually would.
  

How to Remove Ink Stains

Get out ink stains, like washable markers and ballpoint ink, easily but more effort will be required to remove permanent marker stains.

1. Protect the rest of the garment. Place a piece of cardboard or an absorbent microfiber cloth underneath the stained portion of your garment, whether you are working on jeans, leather, or another type of fabric. This stops the dissolving ink from staining other areas of the garment.
2. Treat the stain with rubbing alcohol. Place a small amount of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on a paper towel or cloth. A cotton swab works great for treating small stains.
3. Use a clean part of the microfiber blotting cloth, as you continue transferring the ink stain to prevent re-staining the garment. Add more alcohol to the cloth as needed.
4. Rinse the fabric. Rinse the fabric in cool water once the ink is gone.
5. Apply a little detergent. Rub a small amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent into the treated area, and let the detergent sit and work for 5 to 10 minutes before washing the garment.
6. Wash and repeat. Wash the garment, and repeat the steps if needed. Do not place an ink-stained garment in the clothes dryer until the stain is completely gone.
   

How to Remove Coffee and Tea Stains

Use methods that remove oily stains to lift the tannin from coffee and tea and the greasy stains left from cream.

• Blot and rinse. Blot the stain immediately with a white paper towel or cloth, and hold the stained area under a faucet of cold water and rinse the area.
• Pretreat the stain. Dab the stain with heavy-duty liquid detergent or dishwashing liquid, and gently work the detergent or dishwashing liquid into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush, allowing it to work for at least 10 minutes before washing.
• Wash the garment. Wash the garment as usual, and check the stained area before placing the item in the dryer and repeat the steps if necessary.
  

How to Remove Blood Stains

Act quickly to easily remove most blood stains from clothing, bedding, and even carpet. It is best to wear protective gloves when treating blood stains to reduce your contact with bacteria.

1. Flush the stain. Flush the fresh or dried blood stain with cold water by holding the fabric inside out directly under a faucet.
2. Treat the stain. Place a small amount of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent on the stain, and work the detergent into the stain with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Allow the detergent to work for 15 minutes and then wash as recommended on the care label.
3. Wash and check. Check the stained area after washing, and do not place it in the dryer if the stain remains.
4. Apply hydrogen peroxide, if the stain remains. Dab traces of blood on white or light-colored clothes with a white cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide, blot well, and then rinse the fabric under cold water. Wash again using a heavy-duty laundry detergent.
   

How to Remove Sweat Stains

Remove yellow underarm stains and stiff underarm build-up on dark clothes with the following easy steps. These stains are caused by the interaction between the aluminum in deodorants and body oils and salts.

1. Prepare a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide solution. Mix 1 part baking soda, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part water in a small bowl. (A 1/4 cup of each ingredient is enough to clean one shirt.)
2. Apply the solution. Work the mixture into the stained area with an old toothbrush, and allow the paste to work for at least 30 minutes.
3. Wash the garment. Wash the shirt as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in the warmest water setting that is safe for the fabric.
4. Or, try white vinegar. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl, turn the shirt inside out, and dip an old toothbrush in the solution and scrub the armpit areas thoroughly.
5. Soak the garment. Fill a sink or large bucket with cool water, add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar, and let the shirt soak for at least 30 minutes.
6. Wash the garment. Wash the shirt as usual in cool water using a heavy-duty detergent.
   

Additional Tips for Stain Removal

• Don't rub any stain and avoid the temptation to wipe it away because that pushes the stain deeper into the fabric. Instead, blot liquids and lift away solids with a spoon or the edge of a credit card.
• Resist treating a stain with hot water: Rinse the stained area with cool water first because hot water makes some stains more difficult to remove.
• Act swiftly to treat a stain for the best results.