Tips to Remove 12 Types of Common Stains From Your Clothes

Reading time: 10 minutes

A spill as we sip or eat, a drip from the ink pen, a drop as we bite, we all have been there. In the matter of a moment, your crisp and bright garment can get stained. If you want to remain prepared for any kind of stain, always carry wet wipes or an extra cotton handkerchief with you. The trick lies in treating it as soon as you see it. But if you are in a social situation, you can always blot the stain to remove as much of the deposit as possible. Remember not to rub the stain as it makes the stain penetrate deeper into the fabric. Whether you found a stain on your new top, shorts, jacket or any other garment, we will tell you how to knock them right off the fabric.

But before starting to clean any garment, check the wash care label to understand whether you can treat it at home. If the wash care label says ‘dry clean only’ without any further thought, hand it over to a dry cleaning agent. If it says hand-wash or machine-wash, follow the instruction. A good detergent always plays a vital role in getting your laundry stain-free and fresh. To hand-wash your garments, you can use Surf Excel Easy Wash Powder. It is easily available in the market. If you prefer using a washing machine, you can use Surf Excel Matic Liquid as it is specially formulated for washing machines. Check the pack to understand the correct usage instructions and test the product on a small inconspicuous area first to check its compatibility. At first, it might look difficult to clean the stain, but you need not worry. Different kinds of stains need different cleaning methods. The right cleaning method will do the magic. We will help you with effective tips and tricks to get your garments clean and stain-free.

Here are stain removal tips for 12 different kinds of stains.

1) Oil Stains

Whether it is a cooking oil or vehicle oil stain, the trick lies in rinsing it with cold water. Hold the stained portion under cold running water for 20-30 seconds. Now pour 4-5 drops of liquid detergent on it. Rub over the stains using the circular motions of your fingers. This will help loosen the stain. Allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes. Repeat the process once again if necessary. Then rinse again. Wash your garment following the method suggested on the wash care label.

2) Ink Stains

To clean ink stains, you might want to use a hair spray. Simply place 2 layers of tissue papers under the stained portion of the fabric and use some hairspray to soak the stain. Wait for 20-30 seconds then blot the stain using a bunch of tissue papers. Then wash your garment as usual.

3) Grass Stains

To treat grass stains, wash away the removable deposits from your garment. Then pour 5-6 drops of liquid detergent on the stained area and rub it together. Allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes. Then soak it in a bucket of warm water with 1 tsp. of liquid detergent for 30 minutes. Then wash as usual.

4) Dye Stains

Make a cleaning solution by mixing ½ tbsp. of liquid detergent in 2 cups of tepid water. Start by moistening to garment to get the stain ready to be removed. Now spray this solution over the stain and wait 30 minutes. Remember to cover the entire stained part thoroughly. Now dampen a sponge in this solution and blot the stain. Wash with water and repeat the step 3-4 times until the stain is absorbed. Wash as usual.

5) Bodily Fluid Stains

Bodily fluids include sweat, saliva, urine and so on. To remove bodily fluid stains, soak the garment in warm water for 1 hour. Make a soaking solution by adding 2 tsp. of detergent in ½ bucket of warm water. Then wash your garment on a hot water setting by using a good detergent.

6) Juice Stains

Moisten the stain with cold water. Then pour 4-5 drops of liquid detergent directly to the stain. Gently rub it with your fingers and allow it to rest for 20-25 minutes. Now, without washing away the detergent, load your garment into the washing machine. Wash it at the maximum hot temperature suggested on the wash care label.

7) Wine Stains

The trick to removing wine stains lies in pre-treating it. Lay your stained garment on a flat surface, then, liberally sprinkle some salt to cover the stain evenly, and then add 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid on it. The mixture of salt and dishwashing liquid helps absorb the stain. The stain will begin to fade in no time. Then wash your garment using a good quality detergent.

8) Chocolate Stains

Chocolate stain dries almost immediately. To remove chocolate stains from clothes, use a spoon to scrape off as much of the stain as possible. This will prevent the stain from spreading further during the cleaning process. Moisten the stained part from both the sides to help loosen the stain. Rub 4-5 drops of liquid detergent directly on the stained part and wait for 10 minutes. Now drop the stained part of the garment in a large bowl of cold water and allow it to rest for 20 minutes. Repeat the process if needed. Finally wash the garment as per the wash recommendations on the wash care label.

9) Blood Stains

The right cleaning method helps clean blood stains easily. Wash the stained area with plain water to remove as much of it as possible. Now cover the stained area with vinegar, sprinkle some baking soda on top of it and leave it for 20 minutes. You will see the stain fade away. Gently rinse and wash with plain water. If the stain persists, repeat the step once again. We suggest using it on a small inconspicuous area first to check the compatibility. Now, give it a final rinse using water and liquid detergent. Add a few drops of liquid detergent on the stained area, gently rinse and wash! The stain will be gone.

10) Tea and Coffee Stains

To remove coffee or tea stains from your garments, make a cleaning spray by adding 1 cup of water to 1 cup of white vinegar. Mix it well. Spray it on the stained area and wait for 20 minutes. Now wash using cold water. Repeat the step once again if the stain persists. Finally wash it as usual.

11) Turmeric Stains

Wash the turmeric stain with plain water to remove the residue. Now mix ½ cup of white vinegar, ½ cup of water and 2 tsp. of dishwashing liquid in a bowl. Mix it well. Now, dip the stained area into this bowl and wait for 30-40 minutes. Take it out and rinse with plain water. The stain should be gone. If you still find the stain, dip it again and wait for another 20-30 minutes. Then wash as you normally do.

12) Rust Stains

To clean rust stains, mix 2 tsp. of baking soda, 2 tsp. of dishwashing liquid and ½ cup of vinegar in ½ cup of water. Mix it well. Spray some water on the stained area. Lay the garment on a flat surface and pour this solution on it. Gently rub it to spread it out evenly. Allow it to work on the stain for 30-40 minutes. Then, using a soft scrubber, scrub the stain gently. Then wash it as you normally do.

And like that, you will be able to remove these commonly found stains from your clothes effectively. The next time you find any kind of stain from the above-mentioned list, you know what to do!

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