Stain Removal Tips That Are Spot On

So, if you’re wondering how to remove really set-in stains, keep reading! 

Helpful Hints To Remove Stains From Clothes

• Have patience. Removing stains may take a little extra time, muscle, and effort.

• Fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones.

• Read care labels to see if the item is dry-clean only. Not exactly sure what those symbols mean on care labels? Be sure to check out our Simple Guide to Fabric Care Symbols.

• Always test for colorfastness. Spot stain removal can lighten or fade clothing.

• Always launder washable items after treating to remove residues of the stain and stain remover.

• Use cleaning products according to manufacturer’s labels and never mix stain removal products, such as ammonia and chlorine bleach, because they can produce hazardous fumes.
• Regardless of the stain, make sure the spot is gone before you place the garment in the dryer. Otherwise, you may set it.

Spot Stain Removal Tips: What To Do If A Stain Won’t Come Out

Here are our favorite stain hacks for laundry day’s most stubborn enemies. Study these if you want to know what removes stains quickly!

• Wine Stains
• Blueberry Stains
• Dried Stains
• Oil And Butter Stains
• Baby Food Stains
• Tomato Sauce Stains

Fresh Wine Stains

Best products for removing wine stains:

• Salt
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Laundry spot stain remover
• Enzyme detergent 

How to Remove Wine Stains

Spilled some wine at the family reunion? No sweat. Follow this checklist to get that stain out (and then change into another shirt): 

1. Blot immediately. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to blot as much wine as possible. Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the fabric.
2. Apply salt. Sprinkle salt generously over the stained area to absorb the wine. Let it sit for a few minutes. It sounds weird, but the salt helps absorb some of the liquid before it sets. 
3. Rinse with cold water. Run cold water through the back of the stain, flushing out as much wine as possible. Temperature matters here: Cold water is gentler on fabrics and is less likely to cause the color to fade. 
4. Apply liquid detergent. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain and let it stand for several minutes.
5. Rinse and repeat. Rinse the back of the stain with cold water. If the stain remains, repeat the detergent application and rinsing process.
6. Use a stain remover. If the stain persists, apply a laundry spot stain remover and let it sit for a few minutes.
7. Soak in vinegar solution. Soak the fabric in a solution of one part white vinegar and two parts water for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well.
8. Launder with enzyme detergent. Wash the garment in the hottest water safe for the fabric using an enzyme detergent.
9. Sun-dry if possible. Air dry the garment in sunlight, which can help further break down any remaining stain.

Fresh Blueberry Stains

Best products for removing blueberry stains:

• Knife or spoon
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Laundry spot stain remover
• Liquid enzyme detergent
• Vinegar

How to Remove Blueberry Stains From Clothes

Fresh blueberries are a delightfully sweet treat, but they can also get messy. Thanks to their high level of anthocyanins—an antioxidant that also gives them their deep blue color—blueberry juice has a tendency to stain after it drips down your arm onto your pant leg. 

Use our proven strategy for blueberry stain removal: 

1. Damage control. Remove as much as possible with a dull knife or spoon. If you can’t treat the stain immediately, sprinkle it with salt.
2. Rinse well with cold water. Cold water is gentler on fabrics and helps flush the stain away. 
3. Apply liquid detergent. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain, then let it stand for several minutes. 
4. Rinse with hot water. Rinse the back of the stain well in hot water, which will help increase the detergent’s efficiency.
5. Rinse with really hot water. If the stain remains, stretch the stained fabric stain-side down and run under water that’s as hot as possible.
6. Spot treat and use special detergent. If the stain still hasn’t disappeared, apply a laundry spot stain remover and wash with liquid enzyme detergent.
7. Use vinegar and water. Stain still there? Sponge it with equal parts white vinegar and water. Rinse well and let air dry (ideally in sunlight). Repeat as needed until no more stain can be removed.
8. Try again. Apply laundry presoak and re-launder with enzyme detergent.
9. Try a soak. If the stain is still not gone, work in enzyme detergent and soak the garment in water up to one hour or until the stain is removed. Rinse well and launder.

Dried Stains

Best products for removing dried stains:

• Borax Glycerin
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Laundry spot stain remover
• Liquid enzyme detergent

How to Remove Dried Stains

Sometimes we’re not able to tackle stains as soon as they happen. Instead, they set into the fabric and become stubborn, dried messes that seem impossible to remove. 

Don’t panic—and definitely don’t give up on your favorite top. Try this strategy first: 

1. Use Borax or glycerin. Make a paste of Borax and water (at a ratio of about 3 to 1) and spread onto the stain. If Borax isn’t available, rub glycerin into the stain. 
2. Let it stand. If you used Borax, let it stand for 15 minutes, then rinse. If you had to use glycerin, let it stand for an hour. 
3. Rinse. Rinse the Borax or glycerin out of the fabric. If the stain persists, use the following steps:
4. Apply liquid detergent. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain, then let it stand for several minutes. 
5. Rinse with hot water. Rinse the back of the stain well in hot water, which will help increase the detergent’s efficiency.
6. Rinse with really hot water. If the stain remains, stretch the stained fabric stain-side down and run under water that’s as hot as possible.
7. Spot treat and use special detergent. If the stain still hasn’t disappeared, apply a laundry spot stain remover and wash with liquid enzyme detergent.
8. Use vinegar and water. Stain still there? Sponge it with equal parts white vinegar and water. Rinse well and let air dry (ideally in sunlight). Repeat as needed until no more stain can be removed.
9. Try again. Apply laundry presoak and re-launder with enzyme detergent.
10. Try a soak. If the stain is still not gone, work in enzyme detergent and soak the garment in water up to one hour or until the stain is removed. Rinse well and launder.

Oil And Butter Stains

Best products for removing oil and butter stains:

• Knife or spoon
• Dishwashing liquid
• WD-40
• Laundry spot stain remover
• Liquid enzyme detergent

How to Remove Oil and Butter Stains

Did mixing up your latest batch of cookies get a little messier than expected? We have the solution right here: 

1. Scrape the excess. Use the back of a knife or spoon to scrape off any oil or butter on the fabric surface.
2. Use dishwashing liquid. Treat with undiluted dishwashing liquid (check to be sure it doesn’t contain bleach), then rinse and dry.
3. Use WD-40. Yes, you read that correctly: If the stain is old, spray on a small amount of WD-40 to regenerate the grease, then work in undiluted dishwashing liquid as above and wash in the hottest water possible.

If that doesn’t work …

1. Apply spot stain remover. Apply a laundry spot stain remover and let stand for several minutes.
2. Use liquid enzyme detergent. Rub liquid enzyme detergent into the stain and let stand for a few minutes.
3. Use hot water. Launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

Baby Food Stains

Best products for removing blueberry stains:

• Knife or spoon
• Vinegar
• Combination solvent
• Bleach

How to Remove Baby Food Stains

Baby food is messy. It’s bound to wind up in your baby’s hair, all over the high chair, and even on your clothes. Regardless of whether you’re tackling fruits, veggies, jams, or juices, here’s how to tackle those baby food stains:

1. Scrape the excess. Gently scrape off any excess food from fabric.
2. Use cold water. Run the fabric inside-out under cold water to flush out as much as possible.
3. Pre-treat. Pre-treat with a solution that’s one part vinegar and two parts water. Let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Use a solvent. Apply a combination solvent and wash in your regular cycle.
5. Use hot water. Launder in the hottest water the fabric will tolerate, with either chlorine bleach or color-safe bleach, depending on your fabric.

Tomato Sauce Stains

Best products for removing tomato sauce stains:

• Knife or spoon
• Liquid detergent
• White vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Stain remover
• Normal detergent

How to Remove Tomato Sauce Stains

Tomato sauce might be the perfect complement to noodles, pizzas, and even meatloaf, but it sure gets messy. Still, some spilled tomato sauce on your shirt doesn’t mean you have to start wearing it under a sweater. 

Use our strategy for removing tomato sauce:

1. Remove the excess. Remove excess tomato sauce from the fabric.
2. Use cold water. Run cold water through the back of the stain as quickly as possible.
3. Use liquid detergent. Rub a liquid detergent into the stained portion of the fabric. Working it in a circular motion from the outside of the stained area toward the center.
4. Try a mild bleaching agent. If the garment is white, or colorfast, use a sponge to apply a mild bleaching agent, such as hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. Rinse well.
5. Use detergent. Repeat with detergent followed by mild bleaching agent until the stain no longer appears.
6. Use stain remover. Apply a stain remover stick, gel, or spray. Allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes.
7. Use detergent again. Wash normally with detergent.
8. Soak it. If it remains, rub detergent into the tomato stain. Next, soak in warm water for 30 minutes. Rinse well.
9. Try again. If the tomato stain is still stubborn, apply stain remover stick, gel, or spray and launder according to directions. 

Find Additional Coverage With A Home Warranty

All of this emergency laundry means extra strain on your appliances, especially your washer and dryer—but don’t let that wear and tear drain your wallet or elbow grease.

Save yourself the hassle and high costs of repair or replacement with an AHS® Home Warranty. Find out what’s covered and see how much you could save on covered household breakdowns and cleaning products and products through our partner discounts and offers.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.