Grass stains on your favorite pants? Oil or grease splatter on your top while cooking? Luckily, you don't need to throw out your clothes -- not with our handy stain removal tips, which use simple household items you probably already have on hand.
No matter what type of stain you want to remove, from blood and grass to wine, oil and more, there's hope beyond resigning yourself to finding a new favorite clothing item.
In fact, with this guide, you can remove just about any stain if you act quickly enough. The trick is all in the process and the items you use. We've got a comprehensive list of stain removal tips and tricks you can follow below.
For more cleaning tips, explore how to clean workout clothes and how to clean your running shoes.
How to remove oil and grease stains from clothes
A splatter of cooking oil on your favorite outfit is no problem. Grab some corn starch. The powder will absorb the grease.
Oil and grease stains are tricky to remove but not impossible. Dab some laundry detergent on the stain and wash the garment according to the tag instructions, or try a dish soap and white vinegar combo for stubborn stains.
The method outlined below is one that cohorts of online advice-givers swear by and requires only dish soap and baking soda. And remember, time is of the essence when it comes to oil and grease, so tackle the stains as soon as you notice them.
- For any stain, first blot the mark, removing any excess.
- Apply a few drops of gentle dish soap to the stain. Rub the soap with clean fingers until the detergent completely coats the stain.
- Next, apply a tablespoon of baking soda over the soap and scrub it into the fabric for 2 minutes (you can use a soft bristle toothbrush for a more efficient scrub).
- Once the mixture forms a paste, leave the solution and garment to sit for an hour.
- Rinse the garment in the sink and then machine wash.
How to remove grass stains from clothes
Soccer parents are all too familiar with the toughness of grass stains.
Grass stains are almost inevitable on kids' clothing and can be stubborn to remove. You may be able to machine wash them out or use a stain remover, but if that doesn't do the trick, you can find a go-to solution here:
- Soak the garment in a stain-fighting mixture for 30 minutes. You can use a solution of 2 cups of white vinegar or a mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide.
- Gently scrub the spot with a soft brush.
- Thoroughly rinse the mixture from the clothing with cool water.
- Machine wash according to the tag.
How to remove blood stains from clothes
When it comes to blood stains, it's best to act fast.
Blood is notoriously tough to get out of clothes and may require several treatments. But it's easiest to remove when it's fresh, so act as fast as possible. Here's one method:
- Soak the stained garment in cold water in the sink as soon as you notice the stain. (Make sure water is cold since hot water will encourage the blood's proteins to set the stain into the fabric.) If the stain is very recent, blot out all the excess with a paper towel or even run the garment under the faucet to remove as much as possible.
- Coat the stain with a hydrogen peroxide (20%)mixture (one part hydrogen peroxide to six parts cold water) or apply a baking soda paste (two parts baking soda to one part water).
- Rinse the garment in cold water before machine washing.
How to remove sweat stains from clothes
Sweat stains can be tackled with a quarter-cup of white vinegar with one cup of water.
It's unfortunate, but it happens. Even in the hottest climates, though, you don't have to let sweat ruin your clothes with this method:
- Make a solution of a quarter-cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water.
- Drench the sweat stain with the mixture or fully submerge the garment.
- Allow the garment to soak for 30 full minutes.
- Rinse with cool water and machine wash.
How to remove coffee stains
Every coffee drinker will need these tips at some point.
I drink coffee like it's my job. I love it. But I don't love the coffee stains that inevitably get on my work blazer or favorite pair of business pants when rushing in the mornings. Here's how to get those coffee stains out:
- Fully submerge the stained garment in warm water.
- Dab gentle laundry detergent or a diluted white vinegar mixture (a quarter-cup of white vinegar to one cup of water) onto the stain.
- Machine wash on the hottest setting your garment will allow.
How to remove red wine stains from clothes
A glass of cabernet sauvignon is a great pleasure in life... until it ends up on your favorite dress shirt.
After a night out, you might be shocked by the sight of red wine on your favorite blouse or collared shirt. While it may look dramatic, you can easily and effectively remove red wine stains:
- Blot the stain with a paper towel to remove any excess.
- Mix an equal parts solution of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap and lightly work the mixture into the stain with your fingers.
- Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes to an hour before rinsing.
If you prefer not to use hydrogen peroxide, you can instead apply white vinegar and dish detergent, and follow the above steps as listed.
Bottom line
With any case, a little effort and some time will go a long way to making your clothes look brand new. Just remember to refrain from putting the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely gone (so the stain doesn't set) and feel free to repeat any of the above processes as needed to get the stains out.
For more laundry tips, explore why it may be time to ditch your favorite laundry project and the most energy-efficient way to do your laundry.
FAQs
Does it matter how quickly I try to get the stain out of my clothes?
Yes. If you want to scrub a stain out of one of your favorite pieces of clothing, you want to act fast -- especially if you're fighting a grease or blood stain. Though the tips included within this article are effective at fighting these stains, that effectiveness drops off the longer a stain is able to settle into the fabric of your clothing.