Washer - Stain Removal for Clothes

There are many substances that can stain clothing. This article lists many common stains and the suggested proper removal procedure.

Removing Stains from Clothes

We cannot guarantee these tips will help to completely eliminate a stain. However, they are typically proven effective with stain removal.

Blood

Soak in cold water, then launder in warm water.

Chewing Gum

Rub with ice, scrape off as much excess as possible, sponge with a cleaning fluid, then rinse and launder.

Chocolate

Soak in cold water for 15 minutes, rub detergent into the fabric and launder in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Coffee or Tea

Soak in cold water, then use a bleach treatment with the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Launder.

Cosmetics

Apply undiluted liquid detergent to the stain or dampen the stain and rub in soap, forming a paste. Work the fabric until the stain is gone and rinse well. Repeat if necessary, use bleach for laundering if it is safe for the fabric.

Crayon

Loosen stains with cooking shortening, apply detergent, working it in until the outline of the stain is removed. Launder as usual.

Cream or Milk

Sponge or soak the stain with cool water for 30 minutes or longer, work detergent into the stain and launder as usual.

Deodorant or Antiperspirant

Scrub the area using white vinegar. If the stain remains, saturate it with denatured alcohol and scrub, rinse, and launder as usual.

Fruits, Fruit Juices, Wine

Follow the same procedure as for coffee. If the stain persists, blot with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Where hot water cannot be used, sponge well with cool water and work glycerin into the stain.

Grass

Rub detergent into the stain, launder in bleach, if possible.

Grease

Scrape off as much as possible, rub plenty of detergent into the stain, launder as usual.

Ink

Spray the stain with hairspray until it is wet looking, allow it to soak briefly. Hand scrub using a heavy application of liquid detergent. Launder and repeat, if necessary.

Ketchup

Scrape off any excess, soak in cold water, launder as usual.

Meat Juice

Scrape off any dried portion. Sponge with cold water. Rub with detergent, launder as usual.

Mildew

Pre-treat with detergent, then launder. If the stain remains, treat with hydrogen peroxide, then launder as usual.

Mud

Brush off the dried portion, sponge with cold water, then launder in the hottest water the fabric can take. If the stain remains, sponge with 1 part rubbing alcohol and 2 parts water, launder as usual.

Mustard

Work glycerin into the stain. Pre-treat with detergent, launder as usual. You should be able to obtain glycerin at drug stores.

Nail Polish

Do not use nail polish remover. Sponge with chemically pure "amyl acetate" (banana oil which can sometimes be purchased at local drug stores. Launder as usual. If the stain persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol and launder again.

Oil

Pre-treat with concentrated detergent. Let it sit for 1/2 hour, then launder in the hottest water possible, using bleach if the fabric can withstand it.

Perspiration

If the fabric color is affected, sponge a fresh stain with ammonia. For an old stain, sponge with vinegar. Rinse and launder in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. If the fabric is yellow, bleach it if possible.

Rust

Apply a rust remover, using the manufacturer's directions.

Soft Drinks

Sponge immediately with cold water and launder.

Transmission Oil

This is usually impossible to remove. The best possible treatment is detergent and the hottest water the fabric can handle.

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