Anyone who’s been bogged down with laundry knows the nightmare of trying to remove stains from clothing and how some seem nearly impossible to get out. Just about everyone who doesn’t live in a plastic bubble can expect some unwanted spot on their clothes, but many don’t know the best methods to rid stains without springing for fancy detergents and cleaners.
While it’s tempting to wear a child’s bib everywhere to protect our attire from sudden spills and splatters, they’ll often occur no matter how hard we try. However, these mishaps don’t always indicate that the outfit is ruined forever, as there are many ways to tackle undesired stains that don’t involve heavy-duty machines and panicked rides to the dry cleaners.
Amy Ekren, stylist and owner of Inherit Clothing, stressed the importance of recognizing the stains you’re facing to figure out the proper way to handle them. “As the owner of a clothing company, knowing how to wash different garments is very important when helping customers maintain quality,” Ekren shared with us.
“Different stains affect fabrics differently, but with the right supplies and processes, you can smartly remove most stains.”
In fact, many stains can be eradicated by using standard products around the home, and yes, that includes pesky red wine stains. Below are five annoying stains that commonly plague our clothes and how to use everyday items to eliminate them once and for all.
Grass
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Grass is often the culprit of many kids’ stained clothing, and parents dread the sight of it on laundry day. While these sometimes come out in the wash without extra measures, they can be tricky to remove completely, especially when dealing with cotton and wool fabrics.
Luckily, there is a technique to remove grass stains from clothing that doesn’t require throwing away the garments entirely, and that is using white vinegar.
Simply applying white vinegar and water to the stain and letting it rest for 20 minutes before handwashing with cold water can do the trick, and it’s a great tool for those regularly facing green stains on their kids’ clothes.
Blood
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Accidents happen, like cutting your finger while chopping vegetables or falling on the ice and scraping your knee, and our clothes shouldn’t have to suffer for it. These are unfortunate blunders we generally don’t see coming; therefore, we can’t always protect our clothes from the bloody mess that might come with them.
However, blood stains can be treated as long as we take the appropriate first steps. This includes running the stain under cold water, not hot, which would exacerbate the blemish, making it impossible to remove. Using cold water with no cleaning products first can dim the color considerably, and then you can add baking soda to finish the job.
Once you’re sure the stain is fully gone, place the garment in the dryer, and it should restore the clothing to look good as new.
Wine
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As we mentioned, wine stains might be one of the biggest headaches when washing clothing as they can be complex to get out. While it might feel like the end of the world after accidentally spilling red wine all over your new blouse, there is a process to reverse the damage it might have caused.
One method is sprinkling salt over the stain, covering it evenly, and applying two to three drops of dishwasher liquid. The mixture helps absorb the stain, allowing it to fade.
Afterward, wash the garment in a good-quality detergent, and any remnants of the incident should be gone.
Grease
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If you’ve ever gotten grease on your clothes, you’ve probably pondered whether to take on the stain or toss the entire outfit, at least if you weren’t familiar with these laundry hacks. Like the others on this list, there are ways to eliminate these stains from your wardrobe, even if it feels like a hopeless job.
“Particularly, grease stains can be tricky to clean because they don’t dissolve in water,” Ehren explains. “Thicker fabrics like denim are notorious for clinging onto grease stains.”
However, Ehren has a fool-proof method to eradicate grease stains, which involves a surprising pairing of baby powder and cornstarch.
“Knowing this, you can remove them by sprinkling baby powder or cornstarch on the garment to absorb oil before washing the affected area with dish soap, which is meant to break down oil,” she suggested.
Coffee
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Similar to red wine stains, coffee can also be difficult to reverse, given they’re both so concentrated and acidic, and they can be even more noticeable on delicate fabrics. Ehren recommends tackling these stains right away by blotting the excess liquid gently to avoid spreading.
Next, mix dish soap, baking soda, and warm water and apply it to the stain. You can then let the stain sit with the mixture on it for 10 minutes before washing the garment in cold water. This should take care of the stain and is a method you can keep in your back pocket for next time.
