Cleaning & Organizing Laundry Stain Removal

How to Remove Common Stains From Clothes

bottle of vinegar

The Spruce / Autumn Wood 

The most common hard-to-remove stains on our laundry are red wine, coffee, oil, blood, grass, sweat, and ink. While a good laundry detergent will take care of most of the dirt and grime, these stains require more treatment. Commercial stain removers work well, but if you don't have them on hand when an unexpected stain strikes, common household products can often remove stains if you follow a few stain removal tips.

Here's how to get common stains out of laundry with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and other household products.

 Stain Type Varies
 Detergent Type  Heavy-duty laundry detergent, stain remover
 Water Temperature  Cool to warm
 Cycle Type  Varies by type of fabric
Materials for removing laundry stains

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Oil and Grease Stains

Oil stains should be treated as soon as possible by sprinkling the fabric with a thick layer of cornstarch or baby powder to help absorb the oil. This can often make the stain disappear and, if not, will make stain removal later much easier.

Blot the Stain

  • Use a paper towel to blot oily drips.
  • If there are greasy solids on the fabric, lift them away with the edge of a credit card or a dull knife.
Blotting an oil stain with a paper towel

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Treat with Dishwashing Liquid

  • Lay the garment on a flat surface and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the stain.
  • Rub the stain remover into the fabric with your fingers or an old toothbrush until the fabric is completely saturated.
  • Let it sit for at least 10 minutes - up to an hour is even better to give the dishwashing liquid time to begin breaking apart the stain molecules so you can flush them away from the fabric.
Rubbing dish soap into the oil stain

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Rinse and Wash

  • Finally, rinse the fabric in warm water if you can't wash the garment right away.
  • If you can toss it directly in the washing machine, no need to rinse it.
  • After washing, make sure the stain is completely gone before you move the garment to the dryer. The high heat can permanently set the grease stain.
Person rinsing a garment in the sink

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Red Wine Stains

Red wine will come out of clothes but the stains can be stubborn. If possible, treat the stain immediately—and never put a wine-stained fabric in a hot dryer, as the heat will set the stain and make removal almost impossible.

Blot and Absorb the Stain

  • Begin by blotting the fresh stain with a paper towel. 
  • Sprinkle table salt generously onto the stain to help absorb the wine.
  • Let it sit on a fresh wine stain for at least one hour.
immediately blotting a red wine stain

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Mix a Vinegar and Laundry Detergent Solution

  • In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar and one teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent. The vinegar neutralizes the red and purple pigments in the wine, while the detergent helps clean the fabric.
  • Apply the mixture to the stain with a soft-bristled brush.
  • Slip the garment or table linen into a plastic bag and let it sit overnight.
Adding detergent to a red wine stained item

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Rinse and Wash

  • Rinse the area with cool water.
  • If the stain is gone, you should wash the garment as you usually would.
  • If the stain remains, repeat the steps.

Tip

If the vinegar hasn't removed the stains, try a mixture of 3 parts hydrogen peroxide and 1 part dishwashing liquid. Pour the mixture onto the stain and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash the garment immediately or rinse it with cold water. Note that this is recommended for white or light-colored fabrics only.

How to Remove Grass Stains

Grass stains are a mixture of proteins from the dirt, but mostly they are made of chlorophyll from the plant. Chlorophyll produces a dye stain that is tough to remove.

Soak the Stain in Vinegar

  • Pour enough white vinegar into a small bowl to submerge the stain area of the clothes.
  • Allow the stain to sit and soak for 30 minutes.
Submerging the stained portion of the garment in the vinegar mixture

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Scrub with Baking Soda Paste

  • If the grass stain remains after soaking in vinegar, make a paste of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water.
  • Spread the paste on the stain, and scrub with an old toothbrush.
  • Let the paste work for at least 15 minutes.
Using baking soda and water on the stain

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Rinse and Wash the Garment

  • Rinse the area with cool water.
  • Wash the garment as you usually would.
Placing the stained garment into the washer

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Ink Stains

Ink stains can be puzzling because some types of ink - like washable markers and ballpoint ink - come out easily while permanent marker stains take much more effort.

Protect the Rest of the Garment

Before you begin, place a piece of cardboard or an absorbent microfiber cloth underneath the stained portion of your garment. As the ink dissolves, it can stain other areas of the garment.

Person placing cardboard inside of a garment

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Treat the Stain with Rubbing Alcohol

  • Place a small amount of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on a paper towel or cloth. A cotton swab works great for treating small stains.
  • Work from the outside of the stain toward the center to keep it from spreading.
  • Work slowly.
  • As the ink is transferred onto the microfiber cloth, move to a clean area to prevent re-staining the garment. Add more alcohol to the cloth as needed.
Blotting the stained area with a paper towel

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Rinse the Fabric and Wash

  • Once the ink is gone, rinse the fabric in cool water.
  • Rub a small amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent into the treated area.
  • Let it work for 5 to 10 minutes before washing the garment.
  • Repeat the steps if needed. Do not place an ink-stained garment in the clothes dryer.
Person rinsing a stained garment under the sink

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Coffee and Tea Stains

Coffee and tea contain tannins that leave stains in our favorite mugs and on our clothes. In addition to the discoloration, the oily component of cream and other flavorings make stain removal even more difficult.

Blot and Rinse

  • As soon as possible, blot the stain with a white paper towel or cloth.
  • Hold the stained area under a faucet of cold water and rinse the area.
Blotting coffee off of a garment

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Pretreat the Stain

  • Dab the stain with a bit of heavy-duty liquid detergent or dishwashing liquid.
  • Gently work the stain remover into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush and allow it to work for at least 10 minutes before washing.
Pretreating the stain with laundry detergent

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Wash the Garment

  • Wash the garment as usual.
  • Check the stained area before placing the item in the dryer and repeat the steps if necessary.
Washing the garment as recommended

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Remove Blood Stains

Accidents happen and sometimes result in blood stains on clothes or sheets. Fortunately, if you act quickly most blood stains can be removed easily. It is best to wear protective gloves when treating blood stains to reduce your exposure to bacteria.

Flush the Stain

Flush the fresh or dried blood stain with cold water by holding the fabric inside out directly under a cold, running faucet.

Flushing the blood stain under cool water

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

Treat the Stain

  • Place a small amount of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent on the stain.
  • Work the detergent into the stain with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.
  • Allow the detergent to work for fifteen minutes and then wash as recommended on the care label.
  • Check the stained area after washing, and do not place it in a machine dryer if the stain remains.
Soft-bristled brush scrubbing blood stain with enzyme-based stain remover

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

  • If traces of the blood stain remain on white or light-colored clothes, dab the stain with a white cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide.
  • Blot well and then rinse the fabric under cold water.
  • Wash again using a heavy-duty laundry detergent.
hydrogen peroxide bottle

The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

How to Remove Sweat Stains

Yellow underarm stains and stiff underarm build-up on dark clothes are caused by the interaction between the aluminum in deodorants and body oils and salts. The stains can be removed by following these steps.

Remove Sweat Stains on White Shirts with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

  • Mix one part baking soda, one part hydrogen peroxide, and one part water in a small bowl. (A quarter cup of each ingredient is enough to clean one shirt.)
  • Work the mixture into the stained area with an old toothbrush.
  • Allow the paste to work for at least 30 minutes.
  • Wash the shirt as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in the warmest water setting that is safe for the fabric.
White shirt with underarm stains next to cleaning materials

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Remove Sweat Stains on Dark Shirts with Distilled White Vinegar

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl.
  • Turn the shirts inside out.
  • Dip an old toothbrush in the solution and scrub the armpit areas thoroughly.
  • Fill a sink or large bucket with cool water. Add one cup of white distilled vinegar.
  • Add the colored shirts. Allow the shirts to soak for at least 30 minutes.
  • Wash the shirts as usual in cool water using a heavy-duty detergent.
White distilled vinegar and water mixed into underarm stained shirt with old toothbrush

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Additional Tips for Stain Removal

  • Don't rub: If a stain lands on your clothes, avoid the temptation to wipe it away. Blot liquids and lift away solids with a spoon or the edge of a credit card. Wiping pushes the stain deeper into the fabric.
  • Don't start with hot water: Rinse the stained area with cool water first because hot water makes some stains more difficult to remove.
  • Don't wait: Treat stains as quickly as possible and then wash the garment.
FAQ
  • What is the best household stain remover for clothes?

    Several household cleaners work well to remove stains from clothes. The best product to try is a dishwashing liquid that contains a degreaser. Dawn Ultra, Palmolive Extra Strength, and Seventh Generation Dish Liquid are good stain removers for many types of laundry stains.

  • Does vinegar really get rid of stains?

    Vinegar contains acetic acid that works as a mild bleaching agent on light-colored clothes to remove tannins contained in many food stains that discolor the fabric. Vinegar does not work well to remove oily or greasy stains.

  • Can I use laundry detergent to treat stains?

    One of the easiest ways to remove stains on clothes is to pretreat the stain with a dab of liquid laundry detergent. Work the detergent into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Let the detergent begin breaking apart the stain for about 15 minutes before you wash the clothes.

Originally written by
Kate Van Pelt
Kate Van Pelt, home decor and home improvement expert for The Spruce
Kate Van Pelt is a contributing writer for The Spruce, based in the PNW. Kate has been a full-time digital content creator for nearly a decade, covering everything from home decor to personal finance.
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