How To Remove Stains
Get Rid of Stains On Fabric
We have collected some tips on methods to remove many common stains on fabric, however they are a guideline only. We do not take any responsibility if these stain removal techniques don’t work for you.If you are unsure of any method it would be best to err on the side of caution and have your garment professionally cleaned. We hope that the information helps you.
Blood Stain
Wash fresh stains through the washing machine on the cold setting. For older stains use cold water and soap and gentle rubbing.
Grass Stain
Use dry cleaning fluid to spot clean before washing in normal washing powder.
Ink Stain
Sponge out with methylated spirits. This may take some work and the stain will spread as the fabric is wetted with the spirits but stain will eventually lift.
Alternatively some ink stains can be removed easily by spraying the stain with hairspray and then launder as normal.
Chewing Gum
Chill with ice and lift of excess. For any remaining gum spot clean with dry cleaning fluid.
Coffee
Use glycerine with a cotton ball and then wash in the washing machine.
Wine
Gently rub with vinegar and blot dry.
Paint
Use Methylated spirits for water based paints and turpentine of oil based paint stains.
Scorch
Whilst usually a permanent stain marks can sometimes be removed by gently rubbing with fine emery paper. This method is not suitable on fine and delicate fabrics.
Wax
Chill with ice and lift off excess. Spot clean any remaining stain with dry cleaning fluid and launder as normal in hottest temperature for the fabric.
Remove Ink Carpet
Nov 24, 2009, 9:33 amThere are some great tips here. I’d definately add rubbing alcohol to ink though. Sometimes only solvents work for permanent inks.
How to
Nov 24, 2009, 3:49 pmGreat Post! I’ve also found such interesting and useful information on how to remove wax from clothing in another blog site. The posts provide great tips on various other interesting topics.
danielle
Nov 24, 2009, 8:04 pmi put my jeans (which are a nearly white colour) in the wash and they must have touched some clothes that were blue because they now have 3 big dark blue stains from other clothes on them. what can i do to get rid of them?
Judith Price
Nov 24, 2009, 7:47 amWater based school paint on cotton uniform, uniform has been washed AND drycleaned already! Is it too late to do anything?
Thank you
Judith
Brooke Haddleton
Nov 24, 2009, 4:26 pmI have a 100% pale silk dress that i wore out one night. The ink from the stamp i got when entering the nightclub rubbed of my arm and onto the dress. I took it to my local dry cleaners and they didn’t get it out. It’s almost been made worse – like its smudged / bled over more of the dress. What should i do?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 4:58 pmHi Danielle, If the jeanse are solid white you could always try bleach however I personally try to avoid bleach. You could also try using a colour remover which is a washing powder sachet that you find in the laundry aisle of you supermarket that goes into the wash. It is designed to remove only colours that have not been permanently set such as yours. I have used these before and have found them to be quite effective.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 5:09 pmHi Judith, I am surprised that the dry cleaner didnt remove the stain. Methylated spirits should be safe to try, but if you are not sure find an inconspicuous area to spot test the fabric first. It wont hurt to try it. You can use the methylated sprits on the stained area and try and soak up the stain using an absorbant cloth or cotton ball. Otherwise it might be worth speaking to your dry cleaner to ask if they tried to remove it.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 5:16 pmSilk is quite a delicate fabric so I would be careful using stain removal techniques without spot testing. First I would maybe address the fact that it got worse with your dry cleaner and see what they suggest, or if not maybe even visit another dry cleaner for a second opinion. I would be reluctant to tell you that I know the answer to this one as I havent had that much experience particularly with delicate fabrics, but my opinion would be that if the dress looks ruined now, then it will not hurt to try something. There is a book that offers lots of great suggestions called Spotless written by Shannon Lush and Jennifer flemming. They suggest a very unusual technique for removing ink of rotting milk and then placing the solids of the milk on the stain until the stain lifts. I have never tried this, but like I said, you have nothing to lose. I have also used hairspray to remove an ink stain similar to yours, but it was on a cotton fabric but it did work brilliantly. Spot test if you want to try this method. Good luck.
sandy
Nov 24, 2009, 11:12 amHow can I remove grass and leather stains from the heel of white golf socks ?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 1:52 pmThat is an interesting one Sandy. My first instinct would have been to use bleach. I am not a big user of bleach, however socks often get a hard time and it can be difficult to keep them white. The problem with bleach is that it will degrade the fabric more quickly over time. I would also consider soaking in Napisan as this can be quite effective for grass stains.
The other suggestion i have regarding the leather stains is that you can get a stick on patch to go in the back of the heel of your shoe that is designed to help reduce blisters. However this would possibly keep the socks out of contact with the leather depending on where the stains are. It could be something to consider as it might be a better long term solution for the shoes.
Shehnaaz
Nov 24, 2009, 1:55 pmHello Shanon,
Please help me remove whiteout from my daughter school uniform. Her sport uniform is a brown polo and she spilled whipeout on it.
Thanks
Shehnaaz
jack busby
Nov 24, 2009, 7:35 pmive got a blue shirt and i got mud stains in it how do i remove them ?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 7:13 pmSorry for my late reply but I needed to do a little research on this myself. It seems the following method seems to be the most popular method for removing white-out stains, although I have not tried these myself. I would recommend that if you are concerned, try taking it to your local dry cleaner and see if they can remove the stain as this will still be cheaper than buying a new shirt. If they can’t then you have nothing to lose by trying the instructions below. I hope it helps
• Using a spoon or dull knife, begin by scraping away as much of the white out as possible.
• Next, apply some WD-40 or Windex to both sides of the stained area and rub it in with your fingers. Allow it to set for a few minutes and then scrub it gently with a sponge or soft cloth. Keep the area moistened as you scrub. It may take a little bit of scrubbing to remove the stain entirely.
• Rinse the area completely with clean water.
• If the stain remains, place a clean cloth under the stained area and blot both sides with acetone or acetone nail polish remover.
• When stain is removed, clean the area with a mild soap and water or launder as usual to remove any residue from the cleaning products. If any spot remains where the white-out was, treat it with a laundry stain remover prior to washing.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 7:14 pmI would recommend using a block of pure soap and gently trying to rub out the stain whilst the shirt is wet. By rubbing the soap into the fibres it should lift the stain deep out of the fabric. Wash as normal after you have used the soap to remove any soap residue left in the shirt. Just be careful to take your time rubbing out the stain – don’t rub hard and cause the shirt to pill or wear.
Larissa
Nov 24, 2009, 9:14 amHi
I was wondering whether you could help in the removal of this particular stain. Just about all my washing is ruined by these stains that appear on my clothes. I don’t think it’s from birds, but some kind of bug maybe. It’s an orange mark, sometimes in a shape of a diamond (as they get into the creases of clothing). but mostly a blob of somesort. I have tried absolutely everything, from bleach, to vingegar, sard, soap, salt, glycerine, & even had a go with Ajax. None of these even faded the colour. I’m absolutely frustrated on what it could be, as it’s ruined exensive sheets. Any chance you’d might know what this could be & what i could try….thanks Larissa
Allison
Nov 24, 2009, 12:11 pmHow do I remove creaming soda from lacy top
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 4:05 pmThis is a hard one because it is very difficult to work out how to remove a stain without knowing what it is in the first place. Do you think it is happening during the washing process or whilst the items are drying? My feeling is that it is during the washing process so I could suggest two possibilities. First of all how old is your washing machine? My last machine was quite old and I found that it was leaving rust stains on some of my clothes when the wash cycle had finished if I didn’t take it out right away. The other suggestion would be I have had trouble from time to time when I have bought cheaper washing powders that they were causing colours to run. I don’t know if either of those two suggestions help you to establish the cause of the stains but I do hope they help in some way.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 4:12 pmLace can be such a delicate fabric that often includes blends of different yarns that i would be reluctant to use anything but a professional on this one. I know i suggest to use dry cleaners alot, but with tricky stains it is most often worth the cost of getting a professional dry cleaner to have a look at the stain and use their experience to remove it.
glenda fawbert
Nov 24, 2009, 10:57 amI have a red leather handbag and spilt some water inside. The red dye has come off on a favourite pair of trousers, which are 98% cotton, the lining is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. I have tried Nappisan and Vanish, soaking them overnight and a gentle machine, cold wash. No improvement. Have searched your books and not found a match for my problem. Please advise, would be very grateful.
Glenda
Tania McKenny
Nov 24, 2009, 1:06 pmHow can you remove fake tan stain from around the arm holes of a white silk debutante dress please?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 6:52 pmThere is a product I have used before which I used to remove stains where colours had run in the wash. You buy it as a little single use sachet and it is designed to remove “stained” colours as opposed to bleach which is designed to remove all colours and stains. I just had a quick look in our local supermarket and there is a Dylon brand colour remover and you can choose from either colour or whites. The whites sachet is $3.39 per wash. I have found them to be quite successful in the past.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 6:53 pmOnce again I would be inclined to err on the side of caution, particularly when you are dealing with delicate fabrics like silk. We are an agent for a local dry cleaner and see tanning and make up stains of beautiful white dresses all the time. The rule is that the quicker it is cleaned the better, and the dry cleaners have lots of experience with those kind of stains. Not having tried to remove this kind of stain before I really am not very sure, but I did find an interesting page that includes a video that explains how they would remove the fake tanning lotion stains. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-remove-self-tanning-lotion-stains-from-clothes. Personally I would be very careful using harsh chemicals on the silk fabric so it is really up to you.
Zane
Nov 24, 2009, 10:33 ammake up stains on shirt collars
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 6:09 pmDry cleaning fluid is recommended for make up stains, however I havent ever been able to source this easily. Through my research you can use white spirits which is a milder chemical but similar to dry cleaning fluid. Place a cloth underneath the stain and gently sponge the stain out then launder as normal.
diane
Nov 24, 2009, 8:12 amHi, I have a beige carpet. A few months ago it was badly marked by something brought in on shoes. I tried to clean with enzyme soap powder without success. I then got the carpet cleaned professionally. The carpet cleaner thought that it might have been dog faeces. They cleaned the carpet but I still have very obvious stains. Any suggestions??? If it is from dog poo is it too late now. Di
Tina
Nov 24, 2009, 6:59 pmi need to get coloured zinc (sunscreen) from white basketball shirts. They have been washed but the stains did not move.
debbi
Nov 24, 2009, 1:26 amhi , i have a hard one for you , i have a leather sofa wich got wet with sweat and the leather has rubbed on to a t shirt , any clue would be most helpfull thanks
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 4:58 pmDianne, It is hard to say if the carpet stains will come out, especially if you aren’t sure exactly what the stains are. I would suggest trying to use Vinegar and Bi-Carb soda. First sprinkle the stained area with bi-carb soda and then splash it with vinegar. Then gently rub with a stiff nylon brush to try and loosen the stains from the fibres of the carpet, but be careful not to rub too hard and wear a patch in the carpet. Leave the stain to dry and then Vacuum clean. This may take several times before the stain begins to lift. I hope that helps.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 5:09 pmTina, I have not had much luck with this one. I have done a bit of research but found nothing conclusive. The closest result was removing make-up stains which recommends using Dry cleaning fluid to spot clean. If you refer to my suggestion above on the 14th April that may help you. Otherwise take it to a dry cleaner and see what they suggest.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 5:14 pmDebbi, It is complicated, but i think that first i would try using the colour remover sachets that you can buy from the supermarket (refer to comments above on the 30th March) If that does not work maybe try soaking it in napisan. I would treat the stain similar to those you get on cricket whites.
Jan Anderson
Nov 24, 2009, 2:55 pmCan you please tell me how to remove make up off carpet.
Thanks
Jan
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 4:01 pmJan, I would recommend using dry cleaning fluid for make up stains. As i mentioned previously i havent been able to source dry cleaning fluid however you can also use White spirits in substitution. I would damp a cloth with the spirits and gently sponge against the stain. Do not rub as this will push the stain further into the fibres. Good luck
Trish
Nov 24, 2009, 9:21 amHi,
Was wondering how to remove grease/fat stains from suede shoes?
thank you
Trish
edith
Nov 24, 2009, 8:33 pmHi, my daughter has a white-creamy colour dress with black boarders,. After washing it the black “bled” into the white, is there any way of removing the dark marks?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 8:17 amIf the stain is new then talcum powder is great for lifting all kinds of oil stains. Sprinkle the powder over the stain and allow it to absorb the oil and brush off using a soft bristle brush. You may need to do this several times to get the entire stain. If the stain is old try wetting the stain with dry cleaning fluid first then applying the powder.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 8:25 amFirst of all I would check the washing instructions, if you followed the instructions then I would return to the store where you purchased the dress as this sounds like a manufacturing fault to me. However otherwise i would suggest trying the colour removing sachets that I have mentioned in earlier posts which can be found at your local supermarket. If you are not confident using that I would show it to you local dry cleaner and see if they can do anything to help.
Judy McCarthy
Nov 24, 2009, 11:41 amI have had my daughters ivory coloured silk wedding dress drycleaned and the dirt/mud stains around the hemline are still there. The drycleaner didn’t guarantee removal but no improvement at all. Is there a home remedy I can try ie soaking in something. I am going to revisit the drycleaner to find out exactly what they did but will be reluctant to give them a second chance. Also, satin covered shoes of the same colour have mud stain. Any suggestions on how to clean these. Thank you.
Kylie
Nov 24, 2009, 6:05 amHELP!! My daughter has put an oil based black paint on her brand new white school sports shirt, which she has only wore twice. I want to know how to remove please.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 9:33 amUse Turpentine to sponge off the stain. Be careful that the stain does not spread through to other areas of the garment as you wet it with the turps. I would recommend placing something in between the layers of fabric to stop the stain bleeding. Good luck
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 9:35 amWedding dresses are hard and there are definitely some stains that even a professional cant remove. However I would say that they should be able to remove quite a lot of the stains. If your cleaner has had no luck, it may be worth seeking a second opinion from another dry cleaner as I would hate for you to try something and ruin your daughters beautiful gown. I am inclined to think that the cost of re-cleaning the gown would be worth it rather than ruining the gown as silk is such a delicate fabric that doesn’t always spot clean well as it leaves water marks from where you have cleaned to.
I am sorry that I don’t think I can offer something useful for you.
Peter
Nov 24, 2009, 6:01 pmAny suggestions for the removal of cow manure from jeans? Thank you.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 7:23 amRemoving cow manure stains can be difficult but I would treat it the same as a grass stain. Use dry cleaning to spot clean the stain and then wash as normal.
Prue Richardson
Nov 24, 2009, 8:13 amHow do i get hairspray stain out of 90% silk fabric
Damian
Nov 24, 2009, 11:41 amI’ve cleaned white paint from a carpet using methylated spirits and a cotton pad, but now i’ve got a big ring of meth staining the carpet. I needed a lot to get the stain out, is this a new meth stain or is the alcohol just taking longer to dry?
Damian
Nov 24, 2009, 7:21 pmHey Janine, thanks for the advice with the meth, I’ll see if it works, meanwhile, i’ve also got paint on varnished floorboards, im afraid to use meth in case it strips the varnish, any tips?
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 11:01 amI am not sure, but I wonder if you use a carpet shampoo it might remove the remainder of residue of Methylated Spirits from the carpet. It is recommended to not wet the stain too much so that the metho sinks through to the underside of the carpet, but this can be very difficult especially on larger or more stubborn stains. I hope that helps.
Janine
Nov 24, 2009, 11:01 amI would be reluctant to use the meth on the floorboards and would use it as a last resort. I wonder if using a cloth soaked in hot water. I believe there are also special chemicals for removing paint from floorboards, maybe your local hardware shop might have a suggestion. Good luck.