Entry 02 · stains
Stain removal guide
Choose the stain and the fabric, and get the steps in order, with the mistakes that make a stain permanent.
Safety first
- Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, or with acids such as vinegar, lemon juice and some toilet or glass cleaners: together they give off toxic gases.
- Test every remover on a hidden seam or hem first, to check the colour doesn't run or fade.
- Work in a well-ventilated room, keep solvents away from flames, and use one product at a time, rinsing well before the next.
22 stains, plus a routine for unknown ones.
Wild Linen Lab · stain guide
Red wine
Tannin stainOn washable fabric. Tannin stains come from plant drinks and fruit (coffee, tea, wine, juice). Rinse with cool water, work in liquid detergent, and use a bleach that is safe for the fabric on what remains.
Steps
- Blot up as much as you can with a white cloth or paper towel.
- Sponge or soak the area in cool water.
- Pretreat with a stain remover, liquid detergent or a paste of powder detergent and water, then soak for about 30 minutes.
- Wash in the warmest water the care label allows, adding chlorine bleach if the care label allows it, or oxygen bleach if not.
- Check the spot before drying. If a shadow remains, soak in an enzyme product and wash again.
Don't
- Rubbing, which drives the wine deeper and spreads it.
- Tumble drying or ironing until the stain has gone: heat sets it.
Method based on American Cleaning Institute, Stain removal chart.
How to use the stain guide
Tap the stain, or type a name into the search box: "biro", "ketchup", "mould" and "period" all find the right entry. Then say what the fabric is. Washable covers cotton, linen, polyester and most blends. Wool or silk rewrites the steps without bleach, enzyme products or hot water, which can damage protein fibres. Dry clean only gives safe first aid and what to tell the cleaner. Copy or print the steps to keep beside the sink.
Rules for every stain. Deal with it as soon as you can, because set-in stains are harder to shift. Blot or scrape off the excess; don't rub. Work from the back of the fabric onto a towel, so the stain leaves the way it came in. Start with the gentlest method and rinse between products. Above all, check the item before it goes into the dryer or under the iron: heat sets most stains for good.
The coloured dot beside each stain shows its type. Protein stains (blood, egg, sweat) want cold water first; tannins (wine, coffee, fruit) want cool water and detergent; oil and grease need detergent worked in or a solvent; dyes need a solvent or a bleach the fabric can take.
Worked example. Red wine on a cotton tablecloth: blot, soak in cool water, work in liquid detergent and leave it for half an hour, then wash at the warmest temperature on the label with oxygen bleach (it's coloured) and check it before drying. If a shadow remains, soak it in an enzyme product and wash again.
Sources
- American Cleaning Institute, Stain removal chart: methods for most stains in this guide, and the warnings on hot water and blood, chlorine bleach and rust, and nail polish remover on acetate.
- New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension, Guide C-502: Removing Clothing Stains (revised 2019): the general principles, the unknown-stain routine and the advice for dry-clean-only fabrics.
- University of Georgia Extension, Remove stains from chewing gum.
- Health Canada, Reduce your risk from toxic gases: never mix bleach with other cleaning products.
- Woolmark, Best detergent when washing wool: no bleach of either kind, and no enzyme ("bio") detergents.
Questions
Why not use hot water on blood or egg?
Blood, egg, milk and sweat are protein stains, and heat makes proteins set, much as an egg white turns solid in a pan. The American Cleaning Institute warns that hot water sets blood. Rinse these stains in cold water first, soak them in an enzyme product if they have dried, and only then wash warm.
Can I mix two stain removers to make them stronger?
No. Chlorine bleach reacts with anything containing ammonia or an acid, vinegar included, and gives off toxic gases such as chloramine. Use one product at a time, rinse thoroughly before trying the next, and keep the room ventilated.
What is an enzyme stain remover?
Enzyme pre-soaks and "bio" detergents contain enzymes that break down protein stains such as blood, egg, milk and sweat, which is why this guide uses them for those. Because wool and silk are made of protein too, Woolmark advises against enzyme detergents on wool.
What counts as a bleach that is safe for the fabric?
Check the triangle on the care label. An empty triangle allows any bleach, a triangle with two diagonal lines allows only oxygen (non-chlorine) bleach, and a crossed-out triangle means no bleach at all. The care symbol decoder on this site explains each one.
The stain survived the wash. What now?
Don't dry it. Repeat the steps while the fabric is still damp, then try a bleach the label allows. Some stains, such as dried tomato sauce and some inks, may never come out completely; stop before the treatment damages the fabric, or take it to a dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is.