Got a stain? We got you!

Here’s how to remove 14 kinds of clothing stains using common products that you can keep on hand for any stain emergency. 

14 types of clothing stains and how to get rid of them

How to get rid of blood stains

You’ll have to use different methods for getting blood stains out, depending on how fresh the stain is. 

For fresh stains, start by soaking the stain in cold water. It has to be cold, because warm or hot water will actually set the stain even further! Once it’s soaked, wash as you normally would. 

For older or dried stains, treat the stain in warm water with a cleaning product that contains enzymes, which will help break up the organic molecules in the blood and make them easier to wash out. Wash as you normally would after that. 

How to get rid of chocolate stains

Chocolate can be very oily, which makes it tricky to remove from clothing if the stain has had a chance to permeate the fabric. 

Start by gently scraping off any chocolate from the stain as soon as it hits your clothes — don’t rub it, but rather use a knife or spoon edge to take as much off the surface without pressing the rest into the fabric. 

Soak the fabric in cold water to get the chocolate to harden into more manageable clumps, then pretreat the stain with your favorite prewash stain remover. After that, wash in hot water and dry according to garment instructions. If the stain persists, try washing the fabric again with a bleach that’s safe for that particular kind of fabric. 

How to get rid of coffee & tea stains

Both tea and coffee have high amounts of tannins in them, which are known to seep into materials and stain them easily. It’s the same stuff that gives them bitterness and acidity, and the same stuff that’s found in red wine!

The best way to get rid of tea and coffee stains is to soak the clothes in cold water. If you can’t soak the garment right then and there, sponge the stain carefully with cold water instead. 

Use a prewash stain remover to loosen the stain from the fabric; you can also spread a bit of liquid laundry detergent or detergent booster over the stain if you don’t have stain remover on hand. 

Finally, wash your garment with a bit of sodium hypochlorite bleach that’s safe for that particular fabric — oxygen bleach will work well, too.

How to get rid of crayon stains

Even the most tame of craft days can result in some messy situations!

You can get rid of crayon stains much the same way you’d get rid of candle wax stains. Start by scraping off the excess wax with a knife, then place the fabric between two pieces of paper towel and gently place a warm iron over the stain, allowing the wax to melt into the paper. Don’t leave the iron on too long, as it might press the wax too hard and spread it even further — rather, replace the towels often and only press down for a handful of seconds at a time. 

Once you’ve got as much of the wax out as you can with the iron, place the fabric stain-side-down on more clean paper towels and spray with prewash stain remover. Use more paper towels to blot the stain and remove more wax.; you may have to repeat this part, too. 

Finally, allow the fabric and stain to dry, then wash in the washing machine.

How to get rid of fabric softener stains

Thankfully, these aren’t too tricky to remove. Simply rub at the damp stain with a bar of soap, rinse it out, then wash as you normally would. 

How to get rid of grass stains

Like other organic-based substances, grass stains can also be treated and removed with enzyme-based cleaning products. Pretreat the stain with the product, then wash as normal. 

How to get rid of oil & grease stains

Depending on the size and severity of the stain, you can approach this particular problem several different ways. 

For light stains, start by treating the stain with a prewash stain remover or liquid laundry detergent — whatever you have on hand. Wash with hot water.

For heavier stains, place the stain face-down on some paper towels and spray the back of the stain with the prewash stain remover. Ideally, this will encourage the stain to move down and transfer to the paper, so replace the towels often to ensure maximum absorption. Allow the stain to dry, then wash with hot water. 

How to get rid of ink stains

Don’t let your favorite work shirt become a lost cause just because of a pesky ink stain. 

Start by sponging the area around the stain with some stain remover (you can also use rubbing alcohol or laundry detergent) before putting it on the stain itself. Like you’d do with oil or wax, place the treated strain face-down on some paper towels, spray the stain with alcohol or stain remover and allow the ink to transfer onto the towels below. Replace the towels as necessary until no more ink is transferred. 

After that, rinse the fabric completely and wash as you normally would. 

(Tip: this method works for removing nail polish stains, too.)

How to get rid of makeup & lipstick stains

Pretreat your fabric with stain remover before washing it as you normally would. If the stain is proving tough to remove, try rubbing a bar of soap directly onto the stain before washing. Repeat as necessary!

How to get rid of ketchup, mayonnaise & mustard stains

Condiments are oily and, therefore, shouldn’t be rubbed when trying to remove them. Instead, start by removing as much of the sauce as possible with a dull knife or spoon. 

For ketchup and mustard, run cold water through the stain from behind so that as much of the sauce is removed simply by flushing the fabric with water. After that, wash as you normally would. 

For mayonnaise stains, which is a little more oily than most, use stain remover to pretreat the stain after flushing it with water. Wash with hot water after that. 

How to get rid of mildew stains

When it’s time to break out the winter clothes from the back of your closet, don’t stress if you find that they’re covered with mildew and smelling musty. You can treat mildew stains by washing the garments with fabric-safe bleach and hot water, killing the microbes in the mildew. 

How to get rid of paint stains

If you’re dealing with water-based stains, simply rinse your clothes in warm water before washing them as you would normally. It’s best to start treating the stains while they’re still wet, so get on it quickly!

For oil-based paints, approach each stain differently depending on the type of paint. Consult the can to determine what solvent or thinner should be used on the paint, then use that solvent to flush out the paint from behind (like you would with other oily stains like mayonnaise). Rinse the garment, then treat the stain with stain remover or laundry detergent before rinsing and washing.

How to get rid of sweat stains

Give your workout clothes or casual wear new life by removing the sweat stains and brightening the clothes in the process!

Start by using a bar of soap or some prewash stain remover on the stain, then wash with the hottest water that your fabric can handle. You may have to research what temperatures are safe for different kinds of fabric, just to make sure. 

You can also add white vinegar to old stains to get rid of any discoloration, though ammonia is best for catching fresh stains early.

How to get rid of wine stains

Thankfully, wine stains are not too tricky to remove as long you get to them quickly. 

Soak the stain in cold water for about half an hour before treating it with stain remover. Wash as you normally would, and add chlorine bleach if it’s safe for the fabric.

Hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar and baking soda all work well when dealing with red wine stains, as they all either break down the organic molecules or absorb them from the fabric, making it easier for water to wash out the rest. 

Whatever stain you may have, don’t let it get in the way of keeping your favorite clothes clean and crisp. With some easy tips and a quick Google search, you can treat any pesky stain with ease. 

Good luck!

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