The Definitive Guide To Removing Stains

Baked Beans / Barbecue Sauce

Apply: From back of stain, wash with cold water. Gently scrub with laundry detergent in an up-down pattern.
Soak: Dab with white vinegar and rinse. Repeat detergent - vinegar process until as much stain is removed.
Wash: Wash off with bleach.

Bodily fluids

Apply: Wash with cool water.
Soak: Leave the garment to soak in cool water with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or liquid detergent booster.
Wash: Wash with sodium hypochlorite bleach or oxygen bleach.

Blood (Fresh Stains)

Apply: -
Soak: Soak in cold water. DO NOT use hot water, it will set the blood stain and make it even harder to remove.
Wash: Launder normally.

Blood (Dried Stains)

Apply: Add enzyme-based cleaner into warm water.
Soak: Leave the garment to soak in solution.
Wash: Launder normally. If stain remains, rewash using a bleach that is safe for the garment’s fabric.

Brown/Yellow Stains From Rusted Metals

Butter

Apply: Use a rust remover suitable for fabrics
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally. DO NOT use a sodium hypochlorite bleach because it may deepen discolouration.

Apply: Apply prewash stain remover on stain.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric.

Cosmetics

Apply: Rub liquid laundry detergent, prewash stain remover or bar soap with water.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally.

Chewing Gum / Rubber Cement

Apply: Harden surface with ice or cold water, then scrape off material.
Soak: Put into pre-wash stain remover.
Wash: Rinse off and then wash.

Candle Wax

Apply: Use a knife to scrape off wax. Place affected area between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels and repeat to absorb more wax. Apply prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid on remaining stain and leave to dry.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally. If stain remains, rewash using a bleach that is safe for the garment’s fabric.

Chocolate

Apply: Gently scrape off chocolate bits left on fabric.
Soak: Leave garment in cool water. Then pretreat with prewash stain remover.
Wash: Wash with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric).

Tips to remove chocolate stains

Gently scrape off chocolate bits left on fabric.
Leave garment in cool water. Then pretreat with prewash stain remover.
Wash with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric).

Crayon (A Few Spots)

Apply: Use a knife to scrape off crayon bits. Place affected area between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels and repeat to absorb more wax. Apply prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid on remaining stain and leave to dry.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally. If stain remains, rewash using a bleach that is safe for the garment’s fabric.

Crayon (Large Area Affected)

Apply: -
Soak: -
Wash: Add 1 cup (212 g) baking soda to hot water and wash with laundry soap. If stain remains, wash with sodium hypochlorite bleach if safe, or else soak in enzyme-based cleaner or oxygen-based bleach with hot water, then launder.

Dairy Products

Apply: Add enzyme-based cleaner into water.
Soak: Soak for minimum 30 minutes. Increase to several hours for older stains.
Wash: Launder normally.

Drinks (Coffee / Tea / Soft Drinks / Wine)

Deodorant (Heavy Stain)

Apply: Rub affected area with liquid laundry detergent. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with oxygen-based bleach.

Dye Transfer

Apply: Use commercial colour remover and follow product instructions.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally. If dye stain is still present, use sodium hypochlorite bleach if permitted for fabric. For non-colorfast fabrics, soak in oxygen bleach, then launder.

Egg

Apply: Add enzyme-based cleaner into water.
Soak: Soak for minimum 30 minutes. Increase to several hours for older stains.
Wash: Launder normally.

Fruit / Vegetable juices

Apply: -
Soak: -
Wash: Wash using a bleach that is safe for the garment’s fabric.

Tips to remove coffee stains

Wash with cool water.
Leave the garment to soak in cool water with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or liquid detergent booster.
Wash with sodium hypochlorite bleach or oxygen bleach.

Grass

Apply: -
Soak: Soak in an enzyme-based cleaner.
Wash: Launder normally. If stain remains, wash with sodium hypochlorite bleach if safe, or oxygen-based bleach otherwise.

Grease Or Oil

Apply: Place stain face down on paper towel. Rub cleaning fluid on the back.
Soak: Replace paper towel under stain regularly.
Wash: Let fluid dry, then rinse and launder using hottest water permitted.

Ice Cream

Apply: Add enzyme-based cleaner into water.
Soak: Soak for minimum 30 minutes. Increase to several hours for older stains.
Wash: Launder using warm water (as warm as permitted by fabric).

Ink

Apply: Sponge alcohol or cleaning fluid around stain, before applying directly to affected area. Place stain face down over paper towel and continue applying alcohol or cleaning fluid on back of stain. Replace paper towels regularly.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally. Note that some inks (e.g. ballpoint, felt tip) may not be possible to remove.

Ketchup

Apply: Remove excess ketchup with clean spoon or knife. DO NOT dab the stain, this will spread the stain.
Soak: -
Wash: Run cold water under the stain as soon as possible.

Maple Syrup / Corn Syrup

Apply: Use a clean spoon or knife to remove excess syrup. Rinse with cool to warm water from the back of the stain. Pretreat with a stain remover or liquid laundry detergent and let sit for several minutes.
Soak: -
Wash: Wash normally and repeat as necessary. DO NOT tumble dry until stain is removed.

Mayonnaise

Apply: Apply prewash stain remover on stain.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric)

Mud

Apply: If mud is dried, brush off as much as possible. Rub prewash stain remover, laundry detergent or a paste of powder detergent and water onto stain.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally.

Mustard

Apply: Rinse under cold water and rub prewash stain remover over stain.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric). Add bleach to the wash, preferably chlorine bleach (check if fabric permits this first).

Nail Polish

Apply: Apply nail polish remover on stain but do not use on acetate or triacetate fabrics. Place fabric face down on paper towels and apply nail polish remover on back of stain. Change paper towels regularly.
Soak: -
Wash: Repeat until stain disappears. Note that nail polish may not be possible to remove.

Paint (Water-Based)

Apply: -
Soak: -
Wash: Rinse fabric in warm water while stains are still wet, then launder normally. Dried paint cannot be removed.

Paint (Oil-Based)

Apply: Apply suggested solvent as listed on the label of can. Otherwise, use turpentine. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, bar soap or laundry detergent.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally.

Perspiration

Apply: Rub prewash stain remover or bar soap onto stain. If perspiration has changed the color of the fabric, apply ammonia to fresh stains or white vinegar to old stains.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric). Stubborn stains may require oxygen-based bleach or enzyme-nased cleaners.

Shoe polish (Paste)

Apply: Remove residue using a dull knife. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid, and rub detergent onto affected area.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder with a bleach permitted by the fabric.

Tips to remove wine stains

Pretreat with prewash stain remover and soak in cold water.
Launder normally and add chlorine bleach if permitted.

Soft Drinks

Apply: Pretreat with a prewash stain remover.
Soak: Place garment in cool water.
Wash: Launder normally and add chlorine bleach is permitted.

Tar

Apply: Scrape residue with a dull object.
Soak: Place stain face down on paper towels and apply cleaning fluid. Replace paper towels regularly.
Wash: Launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric).

Tobacco

Apply: Rub soap and water onto stain.
Soak: Soak in an enzyme-based cleaner.
Wash: Launder normally. If stain remains, use a bleach that is permitted by the fabric.

Typewriter correction fluid

Apply: Let stain dry, then gently brush excess off with a clothes brush. Send to professional drycleaner and mention the type of stain.
Soak: -
Wash: -

Watermelon

Apply: -
Soak: -
Wash: Watermelon stains may disappear easily, but over time, the affected area will oxidise into pale brown or yellow stains. To prevent this, launder with hot water (as hot as permitted for fabric).

Wine

Apply: Pretreat with a prewash stain remover.
Soak: Place garment in cool water.
Wash: Launder normally and add chlorine bleach is permitted.

Wood Stain (Water-Based)

Apply: Lay down layers of paper towels and place fabric on top of the paper towels, stain facing down. Pour a capful of acetone onto the stain and dip a clean, white rag into the acetone. Blot the stain with the acetone-soaked rag. Press the stain into the paper towels. Rub the stain beginning at the outer edges and working your way toward the center. Continue to blot and rub until the stain disappears.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally and check that stain is removed, before putting into dryer.

Wood Stain (Water-Based)

Apply: Lay down layers of paper towels and place fabric on top of the paper towels, stain facing down. Dip a clean, white rag into mineral spirits. Blot the stain from the outer edge of the stain. Push the stain into the paper towels to transfer the wood stain from the fabric onto the paper towels. Move the stained fabric around on the paper towel surface and continue until it is removed.
Soak: -
Wash: Launder normally and check that stain is removed, before putting into dryer.