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Laundry Stains Removal Guide

Everyone has been there, you’re at a dinner party and someone spills red wine on your tablecloth, your clothes are covered in dirt after a day in the garden or your kids come home from soccer practice covered in grass stains. Don’t let these laundry stains ruin your favorite clothes by following this helpful laundry stain removal guide to keep your clothes and other fabrics fresh and clean.

Pro Tip: For all stains make sure the stain is removed from the affected area before running the clothing through the dryer to avoid setting the stain.

  • Blood Stains: It’s best to treat blood stains right away but all is not lost if you not able to treat until the blood has dried.
    • If the blood stain is fresh soak the clothes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. After the soak apply hydrogen peroxide to the affected area and wash with hot water.
    • If the blood has dried take an old toothbrush and brush off the excess blood, then soak the clothing in a mix of cool water and detergent for at least 30 minutes but you can let it soak overnight if you want. After the soak pretreat the area with a stain remover before running through the wash.
  • Coffee and Tea: A coffee or tea spill can ruin the start of any day but it doesn’t have to ruin your favorite work clothes.
    • If you can catch the spill right away soak the clothes in cold water for 30 minutes and dab the stain with a sponged dipped in vinegar, then throw in the wash.
    • If the stain has dried soak the clothes in warm or cold water for 30 minutes. After the soak brush the area with a mix of hot water and detergent. You can also use a mix of white vinegar or dishwashing liquid and rinse out with hot water before throwing in the wash.
  • Deodorant: Apply distilled vinegar directly to the stained area with a wash cloth and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse out the vinegar with hot water and apply prewash stain remover before throwing in the wash.
  • Dirt: After a long day in the garden or kids playing in the yard clothes are bound to have a few dirt stains. The best way to attack these stains is to scrape off the excess dirt and apply prewash detergent before washing in cold and then a warm wash cycle.
  • Grass: Grass stains tend to take the most work.
    • The first solution is to create a mix of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide and let the clothing soak for 10 minutes. Scrub the stained area with a tooth brush and rinse with hot water before tossing in the wash.
    • Another solution is buying digestive enzymes from a local pharmacy, crush the pills up and mix with water to create a paste. Spread the paste on the affected area and let it set for an hour, then wash normally.
  • Lipstick: The best trick to remove lipstick from any type of clothing is to attack the stain from the opposite side of the fabric. Using two wash clothes place the stained side down and apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the second wash cloth and dab the backside of the affected area. Repeat this process until the stain is gone. If any residue is left over use stain remover before washing.
  • Motor oil, tanning oil, cooking oil or grease: Create a mix of hot water and detergent and soak the stained clothing for at least one hour. After the soak scrub under hot water to break up the stain. You can also use dish washing soap to break up the stain with a toothbrush after the soak. Toss in the washer and wash with hot water.
  • Wine: The faster you catch a wine stain the better.
    • If you can treat immediately flush or sponge the stain in a mix of cool water and detergent.
    • If you catch it within 24 hours rub the stain with distilled vinegar before throwing in the wash.
    • You can also pour a large dose of salt on the affected area to absorb the liquid then soak in cold water. Rub out the stain with an enzyme detergent under hot water and soak for 30 minutes before washing.

Share these tips with your staff or tenants to better treated laundry stains and always check back with BDS Laundry for helpful laundry tips. Contact us to learn more about new commercial laundry equipment for your coin laundry, on-premise laundry or multi-housing laundry room online or by calling 651-688-8000.