Laundry Stain Treatments: Methods & Guidelines

Fundamentals of Stain Removal

• Treat stain as soon as possible, a fresh stain is easier to remove.
• Test treatment on a hidden or unseen area of the clothing, test for color fastness before treating stain in a visible spot.
• Avoid hot water on the following stains: blood, egg and milk.
• Follow directions of commercial cleaners, be aware of any precautions noted.
• Do not dry garments in a hot dryer until you have removed the stain, this can set the stain and makes it harder to remove.

Tip: Check clothes as you place them in the washer and check again while placing them in the dryer. Catching stains before garments are washed and dried can help prevent permanent stains.

Should Stains Be Treated With Hot Or Cold Water?

• Many stains come out quickly when flushed or soaked in hot water, but some will be set permanently. When in doubt, soak in cold water. Stains that are: Blood, Milk, Eggs should never be exposed to heat, always work with cool water for these.

Stain Removal Method: Greasy Stains

• Place the garment stained side down on a clean white towel.
• Sponge the back of the stain thoroughly with treatment, working from the center of the stain out.
• Air dry. If stain still appears, repeat.

Stain Removal Method: Quick & Dirty
(use only if heat will not damage garment and not on stains that are blood, eggs or milk)

• Place a large bowl in the kitchen sink, position garment across the bowl with the stained area in the middle. Pour boiling water through the cloth (and directly over the stain) from a height of 1 1/2 to 3 feet. This method works best on stains that are fresh.

Stain Removal Method: Basic

• Wet stain with cool water.
• Rub stain with bar of soap (laundry soap or bar of Ivory soap). Rinse.
• If stain persists, rub with bar of soap again then soak garment in a mixture of cool water & detergent. Soak for about an hour or overnight. Rinse.
• If stain persists, rub bar soap into stain then gently scrub stain with a scrub brush until stain is removed. Do not do this if the garment is delicate or will be damaged by the brush. Rinse & launder as usual.
• If stain persists, try a more aggressive stain removal method by soaking stain in a commercial cleaner or bleach solution. Some recipes are found below

General Stain Remover Recipe

1 tsp Liquid Dish Detergent (no bleach)
1 tsp Ammonia

• Soak stain under cool running water then apply stain treatment by dabbing area with a sponge. Let sit for a few minutes then launder in cool water. Check stain before putting garment in dryer. Reapply treatment if needed.

All-Purpose Bleach Soak
(for items that are bleachable)

• Soak garment in a solution of 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of hot sudsy water (except for blood, egg or milk stains–use cool water instead). After soaking launder as usual.

More Stain Busters

• Here is a list of recipes for homemade pretreaters you can use for stains: Homemade Laundry Stain Pretreater Recipes.
• This list for ink stains is handy: 10 Ink Stain Removers – Laundry Tips.

Don't Miss These Tips:

• Laundry Stain Treatments: Tip Sheet
• 10 Ink Stain Removers – Laundry Tips
• Homemade Laundry Stain Pretreater Recipes