Removing Stains

Removing Stains

If you’ve spilled it, we’ll help you figure out how to clean it.


Removing Stains

Clothes get dirty. It’s a fact. And a stubborn stain can ruin a perfectly good garment.

The good news is that most stains can be cleaned up. We've compiled a guide that will help you deal with almost any stain.


 

 

DrinksDrinks<div class="ExternalClassE58F474F50264A3E877F2C0AB872D3D4"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Coffee</div><div class="table-column">Boil some water and stretch your fabric over a bowl. Carefully pour the water through the stain. Pre-treat with stain remover and let sit for about 30 minutes before washing.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Juice</div><div class="table-column">Use a dish soap solution (approx. 1 tablespoon of clear soap in 1 cup of water). Blot to remove the stain and soap residue. If stain remains, try using a warm towel to blot on an ammonia solution (1 part ammonia to 2 parts water).</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Wine</div><div class="table-column">For red wine: Coat the stain with salt. Boil water and stretch fabric over a bowl. Carefully pour the water through the stain. For white wine: Run cold water over the stain, then spray with dish-soap solution (see Juice above) and dab with stain remover.</div></div></div></div>
OutdoorsOutdoors<div class="ExternalClassB8DAE931CDA84FFBB62E12C3B713736A"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Grass</div><div class="table-columnn">Treat with stain remover and let sit for 15 minutes. Rub in stain remover using a clean toothbrush.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Dirt or mud</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess once the stain is dry. Dilute detergent with water and rub it on to form suds. Rinse. If any stain remains, apply a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water to lighten it.</div></div></div></div>
Household materialsHousehold materials<div class="ExternalClass49801F4CD012417DBDEEA3E6C6642740"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Candle wax</div><div class="table-column">Rub an ice cube over the spot to freeze the wax, then chip away as much as possible. Boil some water and stretch it over a bowl. Carefully pour the water onto the spot.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Ink</div><div class="table-column">For pen: Open a window for ventilation. Apply rubbing alcohol with a clean toothbrush. Dab with a cotton ball. Let dry. Rinse with dish soap solution (see Juice). For permanent marker: Use a toothbrush to rub stain remover into the spot.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Paint</div><div class="table-column">Use a paper towel to wipe away any dried paint residue. Sponge on a solution of detergent diluted with warm water. After the paint softens remove the excess with a spatula. Rinse and repeat as needed.</div></div></div></div>
OtherOther<div class="ExternalClass4E72A8C591EA4A5F8295C3DAD5DB8608"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Poop</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess. Turn the fabric over and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Pretreat by soaking in warm water and detergent for about 30 minutes. To disinfect, add chlorine bleach or colour-safe bleach to your wash and launder in warm or hot water.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Blood</div><div class="table-column">For a wet stain: soak in water, then dab on ammonia with a cotton swab. For dry stain: soak in salt water for a few hours. Rinse. Treat with ammonia solution (see Juice).</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Vomit</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess. Treat with stain remover and let sit for 30 minutes.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Collar ring</div><div class="table-column">Pretreat with stain remover. If the discolouring remains, apply ammonia if the stain is fresh or white vinegar if the stain is old. Rinse.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Urine</div><div class="table-column">Dab with detergent and let sit for 15 minutes.</div></div></div></div>
FoodFood<div class="ExternalClass952DE91764CD489C8CDA5B33EE64DF46"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Berries</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess carefully. Apply a hydrogen peroxide formula (1/2 teaspoon dish soap and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide). Rinse.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Chocolate</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess. Spray with dish-soap solution (see Juice) and dab with detergent.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Gum</div> <div class="table-column">Rub an ice cube over the spot to freeze the gum, then chip away as much as possible. To loosen remaining residue, apply a lubricant, like glycerin, then scrape it off. Rinse. If any gum remains, dab with dish soap.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Ice Cream</div><div class="table-column">Rinse thoroughly with cool water, then pretreat with stain remover. Fill the sink with more cool water and a few drops of detergent and let soak.</div></div></div></div>
Sauces & condimentsSauces & condiments<div class="ExternalClassD896B5C3F65146C4A996B3A6F91CDC10"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Tomato sauce</div><div class="table-column">Scrape off any excess, then apply dish-soap solution (see Juice). Blot with a damp tower to remove any residue. If the stain persists, apply a few drops of white vinegar.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Mustard</div><div class="table-column">Flush the stain with white vinegar, the apply a dish-soap solution (see Juice) and let sit for 15 minutes.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Ketchup</div><div class="table-column">Treat with stain remover. If any of the stain remains, use an eye dropper or a clean toothbrush and apply white vinegar to lighten it.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Salad dressing</div><div class="table-column">Sprinkle cornstarch on the spot and let sit to soak up the oil. Rinse with cool water. Apply stain remover and let sit for 15 minutes.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Soy sauce</div><div class="table-column">Rinse with cold water. Blot with ammonia solution (see Juice) then rinse again. Pretreat with stain remover.</div></div></div></div>
MakeupMakeup<div class="ExternalClass1AA5D49ADAA547FB901AD077AFCEA92A"><div class="table"><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Nail polish</div><div class="table-column">Place stain face down on a clean paper towel. Apply nail polish remover to the back of the stain. Replace paper towel as needed to soak up the liquid. Repeat as needed. Rinse in cold water.</div></div><div class="table-row"><div class="table-column">Lipstick</div><div class="table-column">Spray the spot with hair spray and let sit for 10 minutes. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue and remaining stain.</div></div></div></div>

 

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