In order to keep your clothes looking amazing, it is important to know how to care for your clothing. As fabric experts, we have some tips and advice on how to get those pesky stains out of your favorite clothes! We have compiled a list of the most common clothing stains and will show you how to remove stains from clothes.
Some Important Stain Tips:
- The earlier you tend to a stain, the better chance you have of removing it!
- Never dry a stain before it is removed. It will just allow the stain to set into the fabric.
1. How to Get Blood Out of Clothing
Blood is a protein-based stain, like oil and sweat, and it is best to rinse or pre-soak these types of stains in cold water. After you have soaked the garment, you can wash it in cold water with your usual detergent. If you want to experiment with a different solution, soak the bloodstained garment in a pot of cold salt water for about 3-4 hours. Then you can rub the stain with liquid detergent and machine wash the garment.
2. How to Remove Coffee Stains
Coffee stains, or other dye stains like tea or food, are easiest to remove if they are fresh. First, sponge the coffee with cold water. Then, apply a pre-treatment solution before washing it in the machine in cold water. If you want to try a more natural solution, soak the garment in a solution of 1 quart water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon laundry detergent.
3. How to Remove Grass Stains
If you have a grass stain on your jeans or other clothes, pre-soak or pre-wash the clothes that have been stained in a bucket of warm water or in your washing machine with a detergent containing enzymes. Enzyme pre-soaks are included in most detergents. If it is safe for that particular fabric, use chlorine bleach when laundering. A more natural solution would be to soak the grass stains in full-strength white vinegar or to brush non-whitening toothpaste directly on the stain.
4. How to Get Ink Out of Clothes
Have you heard that you can remove ink stains with hair spray? Well it’s true! As long as your hairspray contains alcohol, simply spray it on the stain and wash in cold water. Because alcohol is the secret ingredient, rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer may also work. If you don’t have these items on hand, you can always try to pour salt on the ink stain while it is still wet. Then gently dab the ink stain with a wet paper towel and brush off the salt. If the stain does not come out on the first try, repeat as many times as necessary.
5. How to Get Mud Out of Clothes
Unlike other stains, it will be easier to remove a mud stain from your clothes if you first let the mud dry. After the mud is completely dry, brush off the excess from the surface of the fabric. This may be all you need to get rid of the mud stain, but if the stain is still apparent, you can sponge the area with water. Finally, rubbing the stain with a peeled slice of raw potato and then soaking the garment in cold water for about 15 minutes should completely remove the stain.
6. How to Remove Sweat Stains
To get rid of those embarrassing armpit stains or other sweat stains use a pre-wash stain remover, such as Resolve or Shout. If the stains are old, try applying pure white vinegar to the affected area. Rinse the garment out and then use oxygen bleach in the hottest water setting that is safe for the fabric.
7. How to Get Lipstick or Makeup Out of Clothes
If you find that your shirt is stained with lipstick or makeup, don’t rub it in! Mix up a solution of 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water to remove the smudge. Place the item (stain side down) over a paper towel or other clean surface and dab your solution onto the back of the stain. This method should push it off your clothes and onto the paper towel. Once the stain is removed, launder as directed.
