Common Clothing Stains and How to Remove Them

Getting stains on your clothing can be stressful, especially when you’re nowhere near home and can’t remove the stains right away. But even if you get a stain on your favorite shirt in the middle of a busy day, there is hope.

We’ve provided some helpful information on how to remove the most common clothing stains. Keep these tips in mind in case of emergencies, or just leave stain removal to your dry cleaning services.

The Easiest Option – Let the Professionals Handle It

The most effective and least stressful way to remove a stain involves searching for “wash and fold near me.” Such companies are typically equipped to handle any stain on most types of fabric. Once the stain is removed, your clothes will be cleaned properly and folded.

But what should you do if you can’t immediately take your stained clothing to the laundry delivery service?

How to Remove Common Clothing Stains

Blood

Start by soaking a blood stain in cold water. Avoid using hot water at all costs, as that will set the stain. After soaking the stained item, rub the stain with soap, and rinse it. Then, add a few drops of ammonia and a dab of hydrogen peroxide to the stained spot. Hydrogen peroxide should easily break up the blood stain on the fabric.

Coffee

Assuming the coffee stain isn’t on a work shirt that requires organic dry cleaning, start by blotting it using a paper towel or napkin. Then, rub the stain under cold water for about five minutes. Next, rub the stain using liquid laundry detergent. This method should greatly reduce the appearance of the stain.

If the stain is stubborn, combine water, vinegar, and powder detergent. Apply this paste and then rinse it off. You may have to repeat this step a few times.

Grass

Grass stains are common in kids’ clothes, and a laundry wash and fold service probably knows how to handle them. The best method is to combine one part white vinegar with two parts water. Rub this into the stain and lightly scrub the solution before rinsing it out.

For older grass stains, you can make a paste of baking soda and water. Leave it on the stain for 15 minutes before washing it out.

Grease

When it comes to grease stains, colorless liquid dish soap is the key. Start by blotting away any excess grease from the clothing. If you have dish soap on hand but it isn’t colorless, just dilute it in a bit of water. Put the soap on the stain and add cold water.

You can also add some baking soda to the mixture. Rub the stain with a brush before rinsing with white vinegar. Remember to rinse the stain with water if you added baking soda.

Ink

Before you even send the item to your local laundry service, blot the ink stain using a paper towel. Then, dab a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on the stain while you hold a paper towel behind the fabric. This will stop the stain from bleeding through the material. Finally, you can grab another cotton ball, dip it in cold water, and apply it to what’s left of the stain.

Sauce

The first thing to do if you spill sauce on your clothes is to remove any debris with a fork or knife. Then, run the clothing under cold water, starting on the back of the stain. This will help push out the stain. Now, you can rub some liquid laundry detergent on the stain and dab on peroxide.

Sweat

If your clothes have sweat stains you want to take care of before sending your clothes to a dry-cleaning service, just grab some baking soda. Add enough water to make it into a paste. Then, either dab or rub the paste onto the stain. Let it dry and rinse it off.

Don’t have baking soda on hand? You can also combine one part vinegar with four parts of water and soak the stain in this for about a half hour. Rinse it out.

Wine

Start by grabbing a towel to blot the wine stain with. Then, mix dish soap and hydrogen peroxide and dab the mixture onto the stain. Let it sit for two minutes before blotting the stain again.

Another option is to put a layer of salt on the stain before pouring club soda on top. Let it sit for an hour before brushing off the salt and blotting it.

The Basic Rules of Treating Stains

No matter the type of clothing or what caused the stain, the following basic tips can help.

Act Promptly

Assuming the item in question doesn’t require dry-cleaning services, you want to treat the stain as soon as possible. The faster you act, the less time the stain has to set. Try brushing off any debris before blotting at the stain with some water. In many cases, this can reduce the stain’s effect on your clothes.

Always Test Your Stain Remover

Whether you are using a stain remover pen, a special soap, or just a combination of ingredients, always test it before using it on the stain. Specifically, find an inconspicuous spot on the clothing item and test the stain remover there. This will let you ensure it doesn’t change the color of your clothing or damage it in some other way.

Don’t Put Stains in the Dryer – Make Sure They’re Gone First

If you are washing a previously stained shirt at home, always confirm the stain is completely removed before you put the item in the dryer. If necessary, treat the stain again. This is important because the heat of the dryer can make a temporary stain permanent.

With those basic rules of treating stains in mind, it’s time to look at specific methods for various stains.

Let Your Laundry Service App Take Care of Your Stains

An even easier option for dealing with stubborn stains is to just use your regular laundry and dry-cleaning service. Just be sure to let them know which item has a stain so they can pre-treat it and clean your clothes properly.

 Sources:

https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide#

https://www.armandhammer.com/articles/how-remove-common-stains

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-remove-clothing-stains-1387973

https://kellysdrycleaners.com/blog/6-most-common-stains-on-clothes-and-how-to-remove-them/