TACTICAL STAIN REMOVAL GUIDE

In Alphabetical Order For Laundry Guys

Adhesives Stains

Baby Food and Baby Formula Stains

Blood Stains

Butter Stains

Candle Wax Stains

Chocolate Stains

Coffee and Tea Stains

Cosmetics Stains

Crayon Stains

Dairy Products Stains

Deodorants Stains

Grass and Mud Stains

Grease and Oil Stains (Food)

Grease, Gas, and Oil Stains (Mechanical)

Gum Stains

Ink Stains

Mildew Stains

Mud Stains

Nail Polish Stains

Paint Stains

Perfume Stains

Perspiration Stains

Permanent Marker Stains

Pine Resin Stains

Shoe Polish Stains

Tomato-Based Stains

Watermelon Stains

Wine and Fruit Juice Stains

Wood Stains

Wool Care

You’ll see product references below. See our Ultimate Laundry Setup Guide for details.

Adhesives Stains

1. Harden the residue on the stain by freezing the garment or applying ice.
2. Use a dull knife to scrape away any solids.
3. Apply a stain removal product or cleaning product that’s specifically designed for removing stickers, glues, and other adhesives.
4. Rinse off any remaining residue and launder as usual.

Baby Food and Baby Formula Stains

1. Scrape off any solid food with a dull knife.
2. Use a pre-treating product with enzymes for formula stains, or an oxygen-based cleaner on baby food.
3. Soak for at least 30 minutes before laundering.

Blood Stains

1. Blot away any excess blood, and soak immediately in cold water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Treat blood stains using an oxygen-based cleaner, enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide.
3. Launder using bleach for white fabrics and repeat the process if stains remain.

Butter Stains

1. Pre-treat with a stain remover product for clothes.
2. Wash normally, using the hottest water recommended for that type of fabric to help remove butter and similar oils.

Candle Wax Stains

1. Scrape off as much wax as possible using a dull knife.
2. Sandwich the stained area in layers of paper towels and iron over the area, using a warm setting to melt away the wax.
3. Replace the paper towels often to prevent melted wax from bleeding through to the iron or other places on the fabric.
4. With clean paper towels under the stain, blot with a stain remover or pre-treatment of choice and let dry.
5. Wash as normal. If any stains remain after washing, use a colour-safe bleach or oxygen-based cleaner and wash it again.

Chocolate Stains

1. Allow any melted chocolate to dry and harden. Hot tip: if you want to speed up this process, place the garment in the freezer.
2. Using your finger, gently scrape off as much of the hardened chocolate as possible.
3. Soak in cool water.
4. Use a drop of laundry detergent or a stain remover on the spot.
5. Wash on a hot water setting.

Coffee and Tea Stains

1. Blot as much of the liquid as possible, and then soak in cool water.
2. Apply a pre-treatment or stain remover product to the stain. Alternatively, try a soak with a small squirt of dish soap and vinegar in lukewarm water.
3. If it’s safe for your fabric, wash using bleach or an oxygen-based bleach.

Cosmetics Stains

1. Place the stain face-down on a clean paper towel.
2. Gently rub the back of the stained area using a stain remover for clothes or laundry detergent for lipstick and mascara or rubbing alcohol for makeup.
3. Rinse and soak for 30 minutes then launder as label suggests 

Crayon Stains

1. Follow directions for candle wax, especially for melted crayons, or
2. Dampen any affected areas and rub bar soap over the stain.
3. Wash using hot water and one cup of baking soda.
4. Rinse again and launder normally, using bleach for white fabrics. 

Dairy Products Stains

Dairy products like milk, yoghurt and ice cream might not seem like a problem at the time, but can create sneaky stains that turn yellow later.

1. Pre-treat milky stains by rubbing detergent or enzyme cleaner into the spot.
2. Work the product into the fibres of the cloth with your fingers or a soft brush.
3. Soak in cold water for at least 30 minutes, or longer for dried and set stains.
4. Wash. If a stain remains, repeat the process before drying.

Deodorants Stains

1. Apply liquid laundry detergent or a stain-removing product directly on the stain. For heavier stains, let this sit for a few minutes.
2. Wash as usual.
3. You can also try:
1. Soak the garment in white vinegar and gently brush the stain with a toothbrush. Wash in hot water.
2. Rub dry deodorant stains with a clean sock or nylon stocking to remove the residues before washing.
3. Make a paste with water and baking soda—or 1-2 tablets of crushed aspirin for whites—and rub the paste into the stain before washing 

Grass and Mud Stains

1. First things first: remove any solid bits. For mud, wait for it to dry and then scrape or brush off as much as you can. Put some liquid laundry detergent on the mud stain and allow it to sit for 15 minutes, before washing as usual. 
2. Grass stains loosen up nicely with a good overnight soak in room temperature water and detergent overnight before washing. If it's a particularly stubborn stain, soak it in a solution of water and oxygen bleach (not chlorine bleach!) following the label directions, then wash as usual. 

Grease and Oil Stains (Food)

1. You don't necessarily need a stain remover to get rid of oil stains—good old-fashioned dishwashing liquid is a great option for removing these greasy guys.
2. If you're doing a pre-wash treatment anyway, Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action Colour Safe powder and Sard Superpower Stain Remover Spray gave the best results on cooking oil stains in our labs. (Source: Choice)
3. Simply dissolve the powder in water and soak your laundry. For extra stain-busting power, make a paste and apply it directly to the offending area. Follow with a regular wash. 

Grease, Gas, and Oil Stains (Mechanical)

1. Dish soaps have great grease-cutting abilities. Drip cold water and dishwashing liquid onto the stain. 
2. Gently rub the stain with a toothbrush to work in the soap.
3. Rinse and wash with hot water.
4. NOTE: Clothing with gasoline, oils, and grease can be a fire hazard in the dryer. Not to mention that you don’t want to get your non-greasy stuff greasy too. Wash these items alone, then check for remaining stains or gas smells before drying. Wash again if needed.

Gum Stains

1. Remove as much gum as you can from the spot.
2. Apply ice to the area, or place the whole garment in the freezer for 30 minutes to harden the gum.
3. Scrape the gum off with a butter knife, then rub the spot with a toothbrush to remove all traces of the gum.
4. Wash normally after all gum is removed.

Ink Stains

1. Cover the stain with hand sanitiser. 
2. Dip a clean, soft toothbrush in a bowl of cold water, and brush the fabric from side to side and top to bottom using small yet firm strokes. Do this repeatedly until the stain lightens or vanishes.
3. Rinse the brush in the bowl of water at intervals, and repeat the steps if needed.
4. Launder the clothing item in a regular wash cycle.

Mildew Stains

1. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt, and rub the paste into mildew spots.
2. Wash using hot water and a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle. For white items, use a cup of bleach.
3. Dry in the sunlight if possible. Repeat the process if mildew remains.
4. NOTE: We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but severe mildew damage may be beyond repair.

Mud Stains

1. Let clothing dry, and brush off any dried mud outside.
2. Soak or pre-treat fabric with laundry detergent or an enzyme cleaner.
3. Wash as usual.

Nail Polish Stains

1. If the nail polish isn’t dry yet, scrape or blot away as much as possible.
2. Place the stain face-down on a thick layer of clean paper towels.
3. Blot from behind with nail polish remover.
4. Replace the paper towels often to draw out more of the paint and prevent it from spreading.
5. Repeat until the stain disappears.
6. Rinse well and launder as usual.
7. NOTE: Nail polish stains are bloody hard. The stain may not come out completely. Don’t use nail polish remover on wool, acetate, or any other delicate fabrics, as it will damage the fabric. 

Paint Stains

1. For water-based paints, act quickly! Dried paint generally does not come out.
2. Rinse with warm water to remove as much of the wet paint as possible.
3. Wash normally.

For oil-based paints:

1. Use the recommended paint thinner or solvent for your paint to dab at the stain. If no products are recommended or available, use turpentine.
2. Rinse completely and treat spots with laundry detergent, stain remover for clothes, or a bar of soap.
3. Rinse again, then wash as usual.

Perfume Stains

1. Blot away any excess spilled perfume.
2. Combine 1/2 teaspoon dish detergent, 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1 cup of water, then dab the mixture on the stain.
3. Blot again with a clean cloth and wash as usual.

Perspiration Stains

1. Use Vanish NapiSan Oxi Advance Crystal White Gold Whitening Power (Source: Choice)
2. No NapiSan? For a home remedy, try a paste of equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the stained area, then leave it to sit overnight. This one is probably best for light coloured materials as the hydrogen peroxide can bleach fabric. 
3. Apply liquid laundry detergent or a stain-removing product directly on the stain. For heavier stains, let this sit for a few minutes.
4. Wash as usual.

Alternatives to try:

1. Soak the garment in white vinegar and gently brush the stain with a toothbrush. Wash in hot water.
2. Rub dry deodorant stains with a clean sock or nylon stocking to remove the residue before washing.
3. Make a paste with water and baking soda, or crushed aspirin for whites, and rub the paste into the stain before washing.

Or

1. Use a pretreatment stain remover or rub spots with bar soap.
2. Soak in warm water with either oxygen-based cleaner or a mixture of 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda.
3. Wash using warm water settings.

Permanent Marker Stains

1. Place the stained area face-down on clean paper towels, and gently rub detergent or stain remover into the back of the stain.
2. Rinse and soak in warm water mixed with colour-safe powdered bleach.
3. Rinse again and wash normally.

Alternatives to try:

1. Spray the stain with hairspray and let it sit for a few minutes.
2. Apply rubbing alcohol to the back of the stain and dab with paper towels.
3. Soak the stained area in a bowl of milk to help draw out the colour. Change the milk as needed until it’s clean. 

Pine Resin Stains

1. Use a dry-cleaning solvent to dab at the stained area, and allow it to air dry.
2. Soak the garment in warm water with 1 cup of liquid detergent and a few drops of ammonia. Do not use bleach.
3. Launder as usual, using liquid laundry soap.

Shoe Polish Stains

1. If you’re dealing with paste-style shoe polish, start by scraping off any solids. 
2. Pre-treat the area with liquid detergent or stain-removing product, gently rubbing the product into the stain.
3. Rinse and launder with fabric-safe bleach.

Tomato-Based Stains

Including stains from tomato sauce, tomato juice, ketchup, barbecue sauce and more.

1. Remove any excess solids, taking care not to rub the sauce in or spread the stain.
2. Run cold water through from the back of the fabric and pre-treat the area with a stain remover for clothes.
3. Soak in lukewarm water with colour-safe bleach or vinegar for 30 minutes.
4. Wash normally.

Watermelon Stains

These tricky stains often dry invisibly and oxidise later to show yellow or brown spots. To prevent this, always wash clothing with watermelon stains in the hottest water as soon as possible.

Wine and Fruit Juice Stains

1. Mix 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Blot this solution onto the stain until it starts to disappear.
2. Wash normally.

Or:

1. Soak the garment for at least 30 minutes in cool water.
2. Treat with a stain-removing product.
3. Wash as usual, using bleach if it is safe for the fabric.

Wood Stains

1. Place the stained area face-down on a thick layer of paper towels.
2. Blot the area with acetone for water-based stains or mineral spirits for oil-based wood stains.
3. Continue blotting and moving the stain to clean areas of the paper towel until the stain is gone.
4. Rinse well and launder.

Wool Care

1. If the care tag of your Woolmark-approved garment says you can machine wash your piece of wool clothing, it means it can safely be machine washed multiple times without the risk of shrinkage. 
2. Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold-water wash, or wash cycle for delicates.
3. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).
4. It is recommended that garments are flat after washing.
5. You may even notice that your washing machine or tumble dryer has the Woolmark Apparel Care symbol on it, which means that your machine has passed rigorous and independent testing and has been approved by The Woolmark Company.

Last updated 31 January 2023