There are a variety of difficult stains that we have to deal with on a weekly basis. Often, these stains are unavoidable and we need ways to treat them effectively in the easiest way possible.
When dealing with difficult stains, it’s important to treat them as quickly as possible. You should also try to use natural products as these can be highly effective. Another thing to remember when removing difficult stains on your favorite garment is to test a small, inconspicuous part of the material first to ensure that you won’t damage the garment with the treatment.
Here are 16 difficult stains and how you should be able to remove them.
1. Blood Stains
Blood stains should be treated as soon as possible with cold water and soap. You could also use soda water to help lift the stains.
If the blood stains are older, try rubbing them with dishwashing detergent. It’s best of you apply a drop or two of detergent and rub the stain against itself.
2. Coffee Or Tea Stains
You might not believe this, but the best way to remove coffee or tea stains is to use beer.
- Rub the beer lightly into the stain.
- Put the garment into your machine on a normal cycle.
If the stains persist, you might have to repeat the process two or three times. You’ll find that you can also use beer to get coffee or tea stains out of your carpet. If you don’t mind your home smelling like a brewery, that is.
3. Chocolate Stains
One of the best ways to remove chocolate stains from garments is actually by using a raw egg.
- Using a clean cloth, rub a little of just the egg yolk into the stain. Make sure you rub gently.
- Put the garment into the wash and the stain should be gone!
4. Crayon Stains
Every parent will have to deal with crayon stains on their children’s clothing.
- Brush the stain with an old toothbrush to break it up.
- Soak the garment in undiluted white vinegar for around half an hour.
- Wash the garment as you normally would.
5. Grass Stains
The most important thing to remember with grass stains is that you shouldn’t us soap or detergent on them. Wash the garment with the stains in cold water and add a cup of white vinegar.
Using hot or warm water will set the stains and make them impossible to remove.
6. Grease Stains
You can easily remove grease by using dish washing detergent.
- Squeeze the detergent onto the stain and add a little hot water.
- Rub the stain vigorously to create a thick lather and put the garment aside for a couple of hours.
- Wash the garment as normal and the stain should be gone.
7. Hair Dye
With hair dye, it’s important to treat the stain as quickly as possible. You should be able to use hairspray or kerosene on the stain to lift it.
8. Ink Stains
The best way to remove ink stains is to sponge them with a little methylated spirits. Then, wash the garment using warm and soapy water. Rinse and the stain should be gone.
Banana peels also work wonders on ink stains. Simply take the banana peel and rub it into the stain. The potassium in the banana peel will break down the ink particles, allowing them to be wiped away. Again, simply rinse and the stain should be gone!
9. Lipstick Stains
One of the best products to remove lipstick stains is actually hairspray!
Here’s how to use this method:
- Saturate the stain with hairspray and put the garment aside for around 10 minutes.
- With a damp sponge, dab at the stain to remove as much as possible.
- Put the garment into a regular wash cycle to remove the remainder of the stain.
That should do it!
Gomestic Tip: Remember to only use this method if the fabric is machine washable!
10. Mascara Stains
You should be able to remove a mascara stain using a stain removal soap, dish washing liquid or shampoo. Soap bars are great as they let you really scrub the fabric without risking damanging the clothing like you may see with a brush.
- Rub the soap onto the stain to remove as much as possible.
- Put the garment into the wash
If the stain is not completely gone after the wash, repeat the process using either shampoo or dish washing liquid.
11. Nail Polish Stains
Removing nail polish from a garment can be quite tricky. If the garment is expensive or dark in color, your best option is to take it to a dry cleaner. For other garments, try this method:
- Once the nail polish is dry, scrape off as much as you can.
- Then dab the nail polish stain with a cotton swab dipped in acetate-based nail polish remover working from the outside of the stain inward. Avoid saturating the garment because you might end up removing the color in the fabric.
If you don’t have any nail polish remover handy, try using hairspray instead.
12. Paint Stains
If paint has left stains on cotton fabrics, this can be removed using hot white vinegar. For older paint stains, try the following:
- Mix equal parts of ammonia and turpentine.
- Dab this mixture onto the stain, saturating the spot.
- Wash the garment in your machine on a normal cycle.
If the stain persists, repeat the process with the ammonia solution several times until the stain disappears.
13. Perspiration Stains
Using baking soda is the best way to lift perspiration stains from garments.
- Mix some baking soda with a little water to make a paste.
- Spread this onto the stain and leave the garment for a few hours.
- Once the paste is dry, wash the garment as normal.
You can avoid getting perspiration stains on your garments by adding a cup of white vinegar to your wash each time.
14. Red Wine Stains
Red wine stains are fairly easy to remove if you know how.
- Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain and then dab the stain with a damp cloth to remove most of the liquid.
- Stretch the stain over a large bowl and secure with a rubber band to keep it tight.
- Sprinkle a layer of salt over the stain and leave for around 5 minutes.
- Pour boiling water over the stain from around 8 inches above the fabric.
- Put the garment into your washing machine and wash it in hot water.
15. Rust Stains
You’ll have to follow this method to try and remove rust stains from garments:
- Moisten the stain with white vinegar.
- Put a teaspoon of salt on the stain and place the garment out into the sunshine for around 30 minutes.
- Wash the garment on a normal cycle in your machine.
If the rust stains still persist, you may have to boil the garment in a mix of 2 ½ cups of water and 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar. Rinse the garment and the stain should be gone. Of course, you can only do this with garments that can handle hot temperatures.
16. Sauce Stains
No matter what type of sauce has stained your garment, this method should work.
- Add a few drops of dish washing detergent to the stain.
- Rub this gently with just your fingers.
- Rinse the garment in cold water and the stain should lift. You might have to repeat this process a couple of times.
For sauce stains that are older and have set, you could try this:
- Rub some white vinegar or lemon juice into the stain and put the garment out into the sun.
Take care with colored garments as this method could also bleach the color right out of the fabric.
Final Thoughts
Removing difficult stains from your garments is not as difficult as you might think when you have a few expert tips up your sleeve. With these handy stain-removal methods, your garment will be looking fresh and clean in no time.