We’ve all been there. The pasta sauce on your white blouse at dinner. The telltale red wine stain blooming across the delicate fabric of your dress on the dance floor at a family wedding. The foundation smudge on your white sweater. The blackberries your grandchild collects in their pockets as a sweet little gift. Life happens, and it definitely leaves marks.
Instead of rushing to the laundry room and frantically Googling “How to get a (insert mess here) stain out”, we’ve put together a list of tried-and-tested at-home tips and tricks to keep your linens like new.
Here are the best tricks to removing those common stubborn stains.
Red Wine
- Pour club soda on the stain. Let it fizz and soak for at least 10 minutes. You can also dab with club soda, then cover with salt and let sit overnight. The soda’s carbonation helps dissolve the red pigments and lift the stain.
- If you’re out of the house and have white wine on hand, pour a small amount over the red wine stain to neutralize and dilute it. Blot the area. Repeat as needed.
- Try a red wine remover spray like Wine Away. This can be a lifesaver for big events or tough to clean areas like carpet!
Foundation Makeup
- Spot treat with dish soap, then wash on hot.
Chocolate
- Spritz stain remover on to pretreat the area, then wash. (Here’s a favorite eco-friendly strain remover you can try!)
Lipstick
- Scrape off excess color carefully, then pretreat with your favorite stain remover and wash.
Blood
- Soak in cold water for 2 hours. Dab with half-strength ammonia and water.
Coffee and Black Tea
- Dab with white vinegar, or soak the fabric in equal parts white vinegar and water for 30 minutes. Wash as normal!
- To stop the stain from spreading, sprinkle salt on the area. Let sit for a minute to soak up any residual liquid, and gently rub away with a cloth. Treat and wash as needed after.
Beer
- Soak in cold water, pretreat with your go-to stain remover, then wash.
Sweat
- Mix equal parts lemon juice and water, then add salt to create a rub before washing.
- Movement Living tip: Reduce the likelihood of sweat stains by making sure your deodorant is aluminum-free!
Mustard
- Scrape off the excess sauce, and wash on hot.
Tomato Sauce and Ketchup
- Rinse with cold water from the back of the fabric, then sponge with white vinegar and wash.
- If that doesn’t work, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the stain. Gently rub in and let it sit for an hour. Rinse with cool water.
Soy Sauce
- Rinse with cold water and dab with ammonia. Pretreat with stain remover, then wash.
Salad Dressing (Creamy or Vinaigrette)
- Pretreat with stain remover, wash on hot.
Berry or Fruit Juice
- Treat as soon as possible, especially for tougher juices like cherry, pomegranate, or berry. Soak in equal parts white vinegar and water for 30 minutes, then wash as usual.
- If that doesn’t work, try hydrogen peroxide. Apply a small amount directly, then rub gently with a clean cloth until the stain has lifted. Use sparingly as it can bleach some fabrics.
Grass
- Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the stain. Gently rub in. Let sit for an hour. Rinse with cool water.
Grease and Oil
- Cover the area with a generous amount of baking soda. Let sit overnight. Baking soda’s alkaline properties should help soak up the grease and oil.
- If baking soda doesn’t work, soak in a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Let sit for a few hours, then wash.
Markers
- Dab rubbing alcohol onto the stain using a clean cloth. Continue to blot until the stain begins to lift. Rinse with cool water, then wash.
Bookmark for your next messy moment!
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