Do not rub
Rubbing pushes pigment deeper and can fuzz fabric. Blot or tamp gently instead.
Laundry and fabric
Stain Removal Cheat Sheet
The first few minutes matter. Blot, flush, pretreat, and keep heat away until the stain is gone.
Blot, do not rubCold water firstTest hidden areasNo dryer until gone
First move
Common Stains
| Stain | Do first | Pretreat | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood | Flush with cold water from the back. | Liquid detergent or enzyme stain remover; soak cold if needed. | Hot water, dryer heat, and rubbing hard. |
| Oil or grease | Blot, then cover with baking soda or cornstarch for 10 minutes. | Dish soap on the spot, then laundry detergent. | Water-only rinsing, which spreads oil. |
| Red wine | Blot immediately; flush with cool water. | Oxygen bleach for washable whites or color-safe fabrics. | Salt scrubbing on delicate fabric and hot drying. |
| Sweat and deodorant | Turn inside out and rinse the underarm area. | Detergent paste or oxygen bleach soak for washable items. | Chlorine bleach on sweat stains; it can deepen yellowing. |
| Ink | Place towel behind stain and dab, do not smear. | Rubbing alcohol on washable fabric, then rinse and wash. | Putting in the dryer before checking. |
| Coffee or tea | Flush with cool running water. | Liquid detergent; oxygen bleach for lingering tan marks. | Bar soap first, which can set tannin stains. |
| Grass | Brush off dirt when dry, then rinse. | Enzyme detergent worked gently into the fibers. | Hot water before pretreating. |
Do not make it worse
What to Avoid
Do not use heat early
Hot water and dryers can set protein, tannin, and dye stains before they are fully removed.
Do not mix removers blindly
Rinse between products. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or alcohol-based cleaners.
Keep nearby
Simple Stain Kit
Liquid detergent
Best all-purpose pretreat for food, dirt, sweat, and body oils.
Dish soap
Use a tiny amount on greasy food and cooking oil stains.
Oxygen bleach
Color-safe brightening soak for many washable fabrics.
Rubbing alcohol
Useful for ink on washable fabric. Keep away from flames and test first.