Some Basics

• Treat all stains as soon as possible.

•  Avoid heat (iron or dryer) because it can cause stain to set into fibres of fabric.

• Check the Care Label on clothing before attempting to remove stain.

• Scrape off any excess material from the fabric using a dull edged knife. 

• Use a cloth or paper towel to soak up any excess liquid. Use a blotting method. Rubbing can cause the stain to penetrate the fabric deeper.

• Before using bleach on any stained clothing always test it on an unseen area of the garment. Only proceed when satisfied that bleach will not harm garment.

Definitions

• Detergent -- all-purpose synthetic laundry detergent (liquid or powder). Use liquid detergent full strength. For powder detergent mix with water before working into stain.

• Stain Stick -- an enzyme-based cleaner. Most effective on food, grease, oil, protein, and dirt-based stains.

• Pretreatment Product -- a commercial spray such as Spray'n'Wash.

• Detergent Paste -- a mixture of powder detergent and water. Form into a paste and spread onto stained area for better concentration of detergent.

Alcoholic Beverages

Soak in cold water. Blot with club soda and a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Apply detergent paste to stain while still wet. Wash using bleach safe for fabric.

Baby Formula

For fresh stains on white fabric, moisten cloth with water, dip in baking soda and blot stained area. If persists, rub detergent paste into stain or use  pretreatment product. Rinse thoroughly, and wash using bleach safe for fabric (and baby) in hottest water safe for fabric.

Blood

Soak in cold water and scrape off excess using dull edged knife. Apply pretreatment product. Soak in warm, to cool, water for a minimum of 30 minutes. More time may be necessary. Wash in warm, to cool, water. Avoid any use of heat because it can make stain set. Repeat if necessary.

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Butter

Saturate stain area with pretreatment product and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Apply detergent paste or heavy-duty liquid detergent. Wash. If persists use bleach safe for that fabric. For heavy stains place stain face down on paper towels and apply dry cleaning fluid. Change paper towels frequently. Let air dry, rinse thoroughly, and wash in  hottest water safe for that fabric.

Chalk

Shake off excess chalk or remove using sticky tape. Apply pretreatment product. Wash using bleach safe for that fabric. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric. If stain persists, apply a bleach paste and wash again. Rinse in 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Rinse again and re-wash.

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Chocolate

Soak in cold water. Use pretreatment product or apply detergent paste. Wash in hottest water safe for that fabric. Rinse thoroughly. If stain persists, repeat wash using bleach safe for that fabric.

Coffee

Saturate stain with pretreatment product. Rinse. Apply detergent paste and wash in hottest water safe for that fabric. Avoid using soap because can set stain into fabric. If persists repeat washing process using bleach safe for that fabric.

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Correction Fluid (White Out)

Take to dry cleaners and have them process as if it were paint.

Cosmetics

Sponge with dry cleaning fluid. Apply detergent paste. Rinse thoroughly and wash using a bleach safe for that fabric

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Crayon

Apply ice cube to harden and scrape off excess using dull edged knife. Wash for 10 minutes in hottest water safe for that fabric using soap (Ivory) and 1/2 cup of baking soda . If persists rub in paste of soap, wash 5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. For more detailed instructions regarding different types of crayons visit the Crayola website.

Dairy Products

Apply detergent paste and soak in cold water for minimum 30 minutes. Wash in warm water. If persists, repeat process. If persists use a bleach safe for that  fabric.

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Egg

Scrape off excess using dull edged knife. Sponge with cold water. Dampen stain area and apply detergent paste. Wash using bleach safe for that fabric. On wool and cottons sponge with cold water and apply dry cleaning fluid. Rinse thoroughly, and repeat washing process.

Epoxy (type glue)

Probably not possible to remove.

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Fabric softener

Dampen stain area and rub with bar soap. Rinse thoroughly and wash in hottest water safe for that fabric.

Feces

Soak in cold water for minimum 30 minutes. Avoid hot water or heat that can allow stain to set. Wash in warm water, rinse thoroughly, and repeat washing process. Repeat  if persists. If still persists use a bleach safe for that fabric. Use extreme caution when using bleach on baby clothing.

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Food coloring

Rinse thoroughly in cool water. Wash using bleach safe for that fabric. Use hottest water safe for that fabric.

Fruit

Dampen stain area and blot with detergent paste. Avoid heat because it can allow stain to set. Soak for minimum 30 minutes using pretreatment product. Wash and rinse thoroughly. If persists use a bleach safe for that fabric. Be careful when ironing or drying because heat can set stain.

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Furniture Polish

Lay face down onto paper towels. Sponge back side of stain area with dry cleaning fluid. Let air dry, then brush away remaining polish residue. Rinse thoroughly, and wash using hottest water safe for that fabric.

Gasoline

Lay face down onto several thickness of paper towels. Sponge back side of stain area with dry cleaning fluid. Let air dry. Rinse thoroughly. If persists blot stain area with detergent paste. Wash using hottest water safe for that fabric.

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Glue (white)

Scrape off excess with dull edged knife. Soak in cold water for minimum 30 minutes using detergent or a pretreatment product. Wash in warm water and rinse thoroughly. Avoid hot water or dryer because it can allow stain to set.

Grease

Apply de-greasing hand cleaner, or rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent to bring oil to surface of fabric. Pre-wash aerosol detergent booster products work well on grease and oil. Rinse in hottest water safe for that fabric. If persists, lay face down on top of several clean paper towels. Sponge back side of stain area using dry cleaning fluid . Let air dry. Rinse thoroughly and wash.

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Gum

Apply ice cube to harden, then scrape off excess using dull edged knife. Apply pre-wash treatment to stain area. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Apply a past of detergent. Rinse thoroughly and wash.

Hair  Spray

Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric, and using bleach safe for that fabric.

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Ink (ball-point pen ink)

Sponge stain area with rubbing alcohol. Rinse thoroughly. Rub with detergent paste, and wash.

Ketchup

Remove excess with dull edged knife. Soak in cold water for minimum 30 minutes. Apply detergent paste or pretreatment product. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric and bleach safe for that fabric.

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Lipstick

Lay stain face down on top of several clean paper towels. Sponge stain area from back side with dry cleaning fluid . Let air dry. Rinse thoroughly. Apply detergent past or heavy-duty liquid detergent onto stain area. Rinse thoroughly a second time. Wash using bleach safe for that fabric.

Margarine

See Butter

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Mayonnaise

See Butter

Mildew

Apply disinfectant to kill mildew. Scrape mildew area with dull edged knife. Apply detergent paste to stain area and wash using bleach safe for fabric. If persists, sponge with hydrogen peroxide and wash using bleach safe for that fabric.

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Mud

Let dry. Remove excess with dull edged knife or brush. Sponge stain area with cold water. Wash in hottest water safe for that fabric. If persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol. If non-colorfast fabric, dilute alcohol using 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water.

Mustard

Blot stain area with detergent paste (do not rub). Wash using bleach safe for that fabric. If persists sponge with rubbing alcohol and repeat washing process.

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Oil

See Grease

Pencil lead

Before washing attempt removing stain using a clean, dry pencil eraser. If persists, sponge with 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Rinse thoroughly and wash.

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Perfume

Sponge with 50/50 solution of alcohol and water. Rinse thoroughly. If persists, sponge with 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Rinse thoroughly and wash using bleach safe for that fabric.

Perspiration

Sponge stain area with 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Rub stain area using detergent paste.  Wash in hottest water safe for fabric, and using bleach safe for that fabric.

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Ring around the collar

Apply liquid detergent, or detergent paste to stain area and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and wash.

Alternately, a pretreatment product for this problem may be useful.

Sap (wood resin)

Sponge stain area with dry cleaning fluid. Allow to air dry. Rinse thoroughly. Rub with detergent paste and wash. If persists apply a few drops of household ammonia. Again, allow to air dry. Rinse thoroughly. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric, and using bleach safe for that fabric.

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Shoe Polish

Scrape off excess with dull edged knife. Dampened stain and apply detergent paste. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric, and using bleach safe for that fabric. If persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol (for colorfast fabrics) or a solution of 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water (for non-colorfast fabrics). Rinse thoroughly, then wash.

Tar

Apply ice to harden and remove excess with dull edged knife. Apply laundry pre-wash treatment. Allow to penetrate for minimum 15 minutes. Apply detergent paste and wash immediately. If persists re-wash using a bleach safe for that fabric. Always check for colour fastness first on an unseen area of fabric.

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Tea

See Coffee

Urine

Apply 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Rinse thoroughly, and wash. If persists apply 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Rinse thoroughly and wash. For stains on white cotton apply detergent paste or pretreatment product onto stain area. Repeat washing process in hottest water safe for that fabric.

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Vomit

Soak in cold water for minimum 30 minutes using a detergent paste or pretreatment product. Avoid using hot water as it can cause stain to set. Rinse thoroughly and wash in cold or warm water. If persists, repeat. If still persists  wash using a bleach safe for that fabric.

White Out

See Correction fluid

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Wine

See Alcohol

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