Before giving you a list of stain removers, let’s cover the basics. One key thing to understand is that treating a stained fabric as soon as possible is crucial. It’s the same advice you get when your car gets scratched: paint over the scratch to prevent corrosion. The longer you wait to treat a clothing stain, the harder it becomes to remove it later.
The best stain remover—and the most natural—is, of course, water. But sometimes, you need more than water. Some clothes were never meant to be washed with ordinary water and detergent. That’s why we have clothing labels. For example, while chlorine bleach is considered a standard stain remover, some manufacturers advise, “Do not use chlorine bleach” on their labels. For those of you who live in winter climates, many wool garments are labeled “dry clean only.” Therefore, the basic lesson about stain removers is: always read the manufacturer’s label before attempting to remove stains!
Types of Stains
After considering the type of fabric, the next step is to identify the type of stain. There are four general categories of stains:
Category 1: Protein Stains
Protein stains can typically be soaked in cold water and then laundered. You can soak the stained clothes and, if necessary, rub them vigorously. Do not use warm or hot water, as this could cause the stain to coagulate, making it more difficult to remove.
Examples of protein stains include blood, milk, mucus, egg, urine, ice cream, school glue, cream, cheese sauce, gelatin, and other protein-based foods.
If the protein stain has dried and is several days old, try scraping off as much of the stain as possible using your nails or another object (be careful!) and then soak it in cold water. After soaking, wash the fabric in warm water. If the stain persists, soak it again for another 30 minutes and then rewash.
Category 2: Oil Stains
Examples of oil stains include lard, car grease, suntan lotion, cosmetic creams and lotions, butter, margarine, bacon fat, mayonnaise, and other oil-based stains.
Oil stains can usually be removed with a strong, heavy-duty detergent and hot water. You can also pre-treat the clothing using petroleum-based aerosols or a pump-type spray, which are commercially available. These products, along with heavy-duty detergents, are effective. Simply load the stained clothing into your washer. If the stain is not removed in the first wash, repeat the pre-treatment and wash again.
Category 3: Tannin Stains
Examples of tannin stains include alcoholic beverages (including beer), coffee, tea, fruit juice, tomato juice, berries, and soda.
If the manufacturer’s label says “machine washable,” effective stain removers for tannin stains are detergent and hot water (as long as the label allows the use of hot water). Avoid using bar soap or natural soap detergents, as they can make these stains more difficult to remove. Older tannin stains may require bleach to achieve satisfactory results.
Category 4: Dye Stains
Examples of dye stains include those caused by felt-tip pens or markers, grass, Kool-Aid, tincture, India ink, mustard, and some tempera paints. These stains are usually the most difficult to remove. The use of a heavy-duty detergent with a thorough rinsing is recommended.
Common Stain Removers
Water – Water is Mother Nature’s gift to you. It’s one of the best solvents and stain removers. If you act quickly, water can be the only stain remover you need, depending on the type of stain. When your clothes get a stain, pat a kitchen towel over the stain to absorb any residual liquid. Soak the fabric in warm (not hot) water. You can also use soda water or sparkling water. Never rub too vigorously; gentle dabbing should suffice.
Glycerine – Glycerine is a by-product of soap manufacturing and can be effective in removing stains. You can find glycerine at your local drugstore.
Turpentine – Turpentine is a good stain remover, especially for oil stains. It works not only on fabric but also on paint brushes.
Borax – Many housewives swear by borax for removing tough stains, particularly those caused by eggs. You can buy borax or make your own. Alternatively, saltwater works as well. To treat an egg stain, first scrape off the dried stain with a dull blade. Then soak the fabric in borax. To make your own borax solution, mix 1 ounce of borax with 1 pint (500 ml) of cold water in a container. Shake the mixture well, then apply a few drops to the stain. Let it dry before washing the fabric.
Other Known Stain Removers – Saltwater is also effective. For fresh blood stains, soak the fabric in cold salty water. For other protein-based dried stains, mix a small amount of ammonia with cold water and soak the fabric. Ink stains, often found on your spouse’s or kids’ shirt pockets, can be treated by spraying hair spray directly on the stain. Wait a few minutes, then throw the garment in the washer.
For leather garments, petroleum jelly can help remove stains. Simply apply a drop of jelly over the stain, wait a few days, then gently wipe it off. The stain should disappear along with the jelly.
Chocolate stains, a common household issue, can be removed with warm soapy water, borax solution, or glycerine. Soak the fabric in glycerine for 30 minutes, then rinse.
As for those embarrassing yellow underarm stains, soak the fabric in an enzyme-based soaking product or rub it with white vinegar. Then, wash the fabric at the hottest but safest temperature. If the stains remain, try wetting the fabric and applying some meat tenderizer before washing it again.
