Family life
5 Common Clothing Stains, and How to Approach Each One
Coffee on a cuff, mud on a knee, ink beside a pocket: those marks call for different treatments. Look at the care label before doing anything else. A washable cotton shirt gives you options that a dry-clean-only jacket doesn't. If the label rules out washing, leave the job to a professional.
For clothes you can wash, the five methods below give you a place to start. Work on a fresh mark when possible and blot rather than scrub. Try your chosen product on an inconspicuous spot first, then follow the packet directions. Keep the bottles away from children, wash your hands afterward and use one cleaner at a time. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acids can release dangerous gases. An old stain may still stay put.
1. Oil and Grease
Lift away excess food or grease gently with a spoon or a blunt edge. Blot liquid with a clean cloth rather than scrubbing it across a larger area. A prewash stain remover or a little liquid laundry detergent may help prepare the spot for washing; check the directions for the fabric you're treating.
Let the product work for the stated time, then wash as the garment label allows. Inspect the mark before drying. If you can still see it, try the recommended treatment again rather than adding more products at once. Avoid putting greasy clothes straight into a hot dryer.
2. Coffee and Tea
For a fresh spill, blot up what you can and sponge or rinse the mark with cool water. Keep the rest of the garment out of the puddle while you work. Follow with an appropriate laundry pretreatment, then wash according to the label.
The old household recipe of layering vinegar and ammonia isn't needed here. Choose one suitable product and rinse as directed. Milk, cream, dyes and the age of the stain can affect how well it comes out, so don't promise yourself a spotless shirt after one attempt. Check it in good light before drying.
3. Blood
Start a fresh blood stain with cold water. Hot water can set the mark. For an older stain, use a suitable enzyme-containing laundry product if the fabric and product instructions permit it. These products aren't appropriate for every material, including some delicate animal fibers.
Handle someone else's blood with appropriate protection and avoid spreading it onto other surfaces. Wash as directed, then check the spot again. A garment marked dry-clean-only belongs with a professional cleaner; tell them what caused the stain. You don't need to experiment with household ammonia to try to save it.
4. Ink
Ink varies: a washable marker and a ballpoint pen may leave very different marks. Put an absorbent cloth or paper towel behind the stained area so it doesn't transfer to another layer. Use a fabric-safe stain treatment intended for that kind of ink and follow the instructions, replacing the backing as it absorbs color.
Don't assume hairspray is a reliable ink remover. Its ingredients vary, and it can leave residue of its own. If a treatment affects the fabric's color or finish, stop. For a valuable or delicate garment, asking a cleaner first may save further damage.
5. Mud
Let ordinary mud dry, then brush off the loose soil carefully. This is one stain where immediately rubbing the wet patch can spread the mess. Pretreat the remaining mark with a suitable laundry product and wash at the temperature allowed on the label.
Look over the clean, wet garment before it goes into the dryer. Repeat an appropriate treatment if needed and air-dry while you're assessing the result. Heat can make a remaining stain harder to remove. If the mark still won't shift, keep the garment away from further improvised treatments until you've checked what the fabric can tolerate.
