The Ultimate Stain Guide

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Stains, the universal inconvenience that keeps us all a little humble. Whether you think they happen due to general carelessness or karmic retribution, stains do not discriminate and almost always seem to get us at the worst time possible. Though not all stains are created equal, we were able to reduce the stress of cleaning them by narrowing it all down to a few Dos and Don’ts:

Do:
- Act fast!
- Blot excess liquid before treating
- Use an oxi-grade stain remover

Don’t:
- Delay or put off treating stain
- Scrub or press hard into the stain
- Dry the stained item if stain is still present

Need the specifics? We also got into the nitty-gritty (and gross!) and created a comprehensive guide to getting out just about every stain in the book.

Blood

Rinse the stain with cold water immediately to prevent the stain from settling. Blot — don’t rub — to get as much of the blood out as possible. Then, dab with hydrogen peroxide.

Coffee

Run the stain under cold water and cover the stain in liquid laundry detergent. Let sit for 3–5 minutes and flush with warm water.

Chocolate

Remove any solid pieces from stain. Cover stain with liquid detergent and wash immediately.

Deodorant

Make a paste from three-parts baking soda and one-part water. Rub paste onto stain and wash item on warmest temperature allowable.

Grass

Apply a stain remover and let sit for 15 minutes. If stain persists, soak the stain in a solution consisting of one-part vinegar and two-parts water. Scrub with a brush (we suggest an old toothbrush) and launder as usual.

Grease

Saturate the grease stain in dish soap, let the spot soak for a few minutes, and then toss in the wash.

Ink

Dab the ink spot with either rubbing alcohol or a solution of vinegar and dish soap. Launder as usual.

Ketchup

Working from the backside of the stain, flush with cold water immediately. Pre-treat with a stain remover and launder as usual.

Lipstick

Scrape off as much excess color as possible. Spray the stain with hairspray and let sit for 10 minutes before wiping with a damp cloth.

Mud

Allow the stain to dry, then remove excess. Dilute a gentle detergent with water and rub on the stain to create suds. If stain remains after laundering, apply a 1:1 solution of water and vinegar to lighten.

Paint

Remove dried paint with a paper towel. Dab with a clean sponge using warm water and detergent. After paint softens, remove by scraping.

Pet Urine

Dab with detergent and let sit for 15 minutes. Launder as usual. Optional: launder with apple cider vinegar if odor persists.

Poop

Scrape off any excess. Rinse from the backside of the stain with cold water. Pre-treat by soaking in warm water and detergent for 30 minutes. To disinfect, launder with bleach: chlorine for whites, color-safe for colors.

Sweat

Use a pre-wash solution and let stain sit as directed. Wash item in the hottest water recommended for the fabric using an enzyme detergent.

Vomit

Scrape off any excess. Treat with any stain remover and let sit for 30 minutes before laundering.

Wine

Stretch the stained fabric over the opening of a bowl and secure in place with a rubber band. Sprinkle salt over the stain and flush with hot water. Launder as usual.

Did we miss a stain? Have another clothing care-related question? Let us know what you’d like to see next in The Clothesline by emailing your questions and comments to Sara@2ULaundry.com