Stain Removal Chart

Stain Removal Chart
How to Remove Laundry Stains

Stain Removal Chart: Coffee, gum, wine, chocolate, makeup . . .

Stains can ruin your day and ruin your clothes.

No need to spend money replacing stained clothing. The following stain removal chart information from the Soap and Detergent Association will help you save money by saving your clothes from stains.

The stains are listed in alphabetical order for your convenience.

What type of stains will I find information about?

Good question!

Use the links below to go to the stain removal chart information you need.

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Information You Need

Adhesives	Baby Formula	Beverages	Blood
Bodily Fluids	Brown/Yellow Discoloration	Candle Wax	Chocolate
Collar/Cuff Soil	Cosmetics	Crayon	Dairy Products
Deodorants	Dye Transfer	Egg	Fabric Softener
Fruit, Juices	Grass	Grease, Oil	Ink
Mildew	Mud	Mustard	Nail Polish
Paint	Perfume	Perspiration	Pine Resin
Scorch	Shoe Polish	Tar	Tobacco
Typewriter/Correction Fluid

Note: Check clothing to see if stain is removed before placing it in the dryer. If the stain remains, wash again. Dryer heat can permanently set some stains.

Adhesive, etc.

Stain	Treatment
Adhesive tape, chewing gum, rubber cement	Apply ice or cold water to harden surface; scrape with a dull knife. Saturate with prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid. Rinse, then launder.

Baby Formula

Stain	Treatment
Baby Formula	Pretreat or soak stains using a product containing enzymes. Soak for at least 30 minutes, or several hours for aged stains. Launder.

Beverages

Stain	Treatment
Beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, alcoholic beverages)	Sponge or soak stain in cool water. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, liquid detergent or paste of powder laundry product and water. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach. NOTE: Older stains may respond to pretreating or soaking in a product containing enzymes, then laundering.

Blood

Stain	Treatment
Blood	Fresh Stains Soak in cold water (do not use hot water as it will set blood stains. Launder. Dried Stains Pretreat or soak in warm water with a product containing enzymes. Launder. NOTE: If stain remains, rewash using a bleach safe for fabric.

Bodily Fluids

Stain	Treatment
Bodily Fluids	Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Brown or Yellow Discoloration From Iron, Rust, Manganese

Stain	Treatment
Brown or Yellow Discoloration From Iron, Rust, Manganese	Use a rust remover recommended for fabrics; launder. NOTE: Do not use a sodium hypochlorite bleach to remove rust stains because it may intensify discoloration.

Candle Wax

Stain	Treatment
Candle Wax	Scrape off surface with a dull knife. Place stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and avoid transferring stains. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Sponge remaining stain with prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid; blot with paper towels. Let dry. Launder. NOTE: If any color remains, rewash using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Stain

Treatment

Candle Wax

Place stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels frequently to absorb more wax and avoid transferring stains.
Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Sponge remaining stain with prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid; blot with paper towels. Let dry.
Launder. NOTE: If any color remains, rewash using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Chocolate

Stain	Treatment
Chocolate	Pretreat or prewash in warm water with a product containing enzymes. Or, treat with a prewash stain remover. Launder. NOTE: If stain remains, rewash using a bleach safe for fabric.

Collar

Stain	Treatment
Collar, Cuff Soil	Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or paste of powder detergent and water. Launder.

Cosmetics

Stain	Treatment
Cosmetics	Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, paste of powder detergent or laundry additive and water. Or, rub with bar soap. Launder.

Crayon

Stain	Treatment
Crayon	For a Few Spots:Treat the same as candle wax or dampen the stain and rub with bar soap. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.For a Whole Load of Clothes:Wash with hot water using a laundry soap and 1 cup (212 g) baking soda.NOTE: If color remains, launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. Otherwise, pretreat or soak in product containing enzymes or an oxygen bleach using hottest water safe for fabric, then launder.

Stain

Treatment

Crayon

For a Few Spots:Treat the same as candle wax or dampen the stain and rub with bar soap. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.For a Whole Load of Clothes:Wash with hot water using a laundry soap and 1 cup (212 g) baking soda.NOTE: If color remains, launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. Otherwise, pretreat or soak in product containing enzymes or an oxygen bleach using hottest water safe for fabric, then launder.

Dairy Products

Stain	Treatment
Dairy Products	Pretreat or soak stains using a product containing enzymes. Soak for at least 30 minutes or several hours for aged stains. Launder.

Deodorants

Stain	Treatment
Deodorants	Light Stains: Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent. Launder. Heavy Stains: Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Allow to stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Launder using an oxygen bleach.

Dye Transfer

Stain	Treatment
Dye Transfer	Attempt restoration of white fabrics that have picked up color from other fabrics by using a packaged color remover, following label directions. Launder. NOTE: If dye remains, launder again using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. For non-colorfast fabrics, soak in oxygen bleach, then launder. NOTE: This type of stain may be prevented if proper sorting and laundering procedures are followed.

Stain

Treatment

Dye Transfer

Attempt restoration of white fabrics that have picked up color from other fabrics by using a packaged color remover, following label directions.
Launder.

NOTE: If dye remains, launder again using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. For non-colorfast fabrics, soak in oxygen bleach, then launder. NOTE: This type of stain may be prevented if proper sorting and laundering procedures are followed.

Egg

Stain	Treatment
Egg	Pretreat or soak stains using a product containing enzymes. Soak for at least 30 minutes or several hours for aged stains. Launder.

Fabric Softener

Stain	Treatment
Fabric Softener	Dampen the stain and rub with bar soap. Rinse out, then launder.

Fruit, Juices

Stain	Treatment
Fruit, Juices	Wash with bleach safe for fabric.

Grass

Stain	Treatment
Grass	Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. NOTE: If stain persists, launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Grease, Oil

Stain	Treatment
Grease, Oil	Light Stains:Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or liquid detergent booster. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric. Heavy Stains:Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Apply cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace paper towels under stain frequently. Let dry, rinse. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.

Ink

Stain	Treatment
Ink	NOTE: Some inks in each of the following categories – ballpoint, felt tip, liquid – may be impossible to remove. Laundering may set some types of ink. Try pretreating using one of the following methods: Prewash Stain Remover: Pretreat using a prewash stain remover. Launder. Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Sponge the area around the stain with the alcohol or cleaning fluid before applying it directly on the stain. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Apply alcohol or cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace paper towels frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Launder. Alternate Method for Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Place stain over mouth of a jar or glass; hold fabric taut. Drip the alcohol or cleaning fluid through the stain so ink will drop into the container as it is being removed. Rinse thoroughly. Launder.

Stain

Treatment

Ink

NOTE: Some inks in each of the following categories – ballpoint, felt tip, liquid – may be impossible to remove. Laundering may set some types of ink. Try pretreating using one of the following methods: Prewash Stain Remover: Pretreat using a prewash stain remover. Launder. Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Sponge the area around the stain with the alcohol or cleaning fluid before applying it directly on the stain. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Apply alcohol or cleaning fluid to back of stain. Replace paper towels frequently. Rinse thoroughly. Launder. Alternate Method for Denatured Alcohol or Cleaning Fluid: Place stain over mouth of a jar or glass; hold fabric taut. Drip the alcohol or cleaning fluid through the stain so ink will drop into the container as it is being removed. Rinse thoroughly. Launder.

Mildew

Stain	Treatment
Mildew	NOTE: Badly mildewed fabrics may be damaged beyond repair. Launder stained items using a bleach safe for fabric and hottest water recommended for fabric.

Mud

Stain	Treatment
Mud	When dry, brush off as much mud as possible. Light Stains: Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water, liquid laundry detergent or a liquid detergent booster. Launder. Heavy Stains. Pretreat or presoak with a laundry detergent or a product containing enzymes. Launder.

Mustard

Stain	Treatment
Mustard	Pretreat with prewash stain remover. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Nail Polish

Stain	Treatment
Nail Polish	NOTE: Nail polish may be impossible to remove. Try nail polish remover but do not use on acetate or triacetate fabrics. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Apply nail polish remover to back of stain. Replace paper towels frequently. Repeat until stain disappears, if it does. Rinse and launder.

Paint

Stain	Treatment
Paint	Water-based Paint: Rinse fabric in warm water while stains are still wet. Launder. NOTE: Once paint is dry, it cannot be removed. Oil-based Paint and Varnish:Use the same solvent the label on the can advises for a thinner. If not available, use turpentine. Rinse. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, bar soap or laundry detergent. Rinse and launder.

Perfume

Stain	Treatment
Perfume	Pretreat with prewash stain remover or liquid laundry detergent. Launder.

Perspiration

Stain	Treatment
Perspiration	Use a prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap.NOTE: If perspiration has changed the color of the fabric, apply ammonia to fresh stains or white vinegar to old stains; rinse. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric. NOTE: Stubborn stains may respond to washing in a product containing enzymes or oxygen bleach in hottest water safe for fabric.

Pine Resin

Stain	Treatment
Pine Resin	Sponge cleaning fluid into the stain; let dry. Mix liquid laundry detergent and ammonia; soak stain in the solution. Launder using liquid laundry detergent.

Scorch

Stain	Treatment
Scorch	NOTE: Badly scorched fabrics may be damaged beyond repair. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric. Or soak in oxygen bleach and hot water. Launder.

Shoe Polish

Stain	Treatment
Shoe Polish	Liquid Shoe Polish Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water. Launder. Paste Shoe Polish: Scrape residue from fabric with a dull knife. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover or cleaning fluid; rinse. Rub detergent into dampened area. Launder using a bleach safe for fabric.

Tar

Stain	Treatment
Tar	Scrape residue from fabric. Place stain face down on paper towels. Sponge with cleaning fluid. Replace paper towels frequently to absorb more tar and to avoid transferring stains. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric.

Tobacco

Stain	Treatment
Tobacco	Dampen stain and rub with bar soap; rinse. Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes. Launder. NOTE: If stain remains, launder again using a bleach safe for fabric.

Typewriter Correction Fluid

Stain	Treatment
Typewriter Correction Fluid	Let stain dry thoroughly, then gently brush excess off with a clothes brush. Send to professional drycleaner and mention the type of stain.

I hope you found these laundry stain removal charts useful. Preparing these stain removal charts was quite a chore, but I felt that this information would invaluable to many of my readers.

I have had numerous discussions with teens, college students and 20-somethings. Many tell me they simply were not taught how to do laundry or get stains out of their clothing. The stain removal charts on this page will not only help these young adults, but help their parents save money for college by not spending it replacing ruined clothing.

I have also talked with many young mothers who have no idea how to get baby formula and grass stains out of their childrens clothing. Having a handy stain removal chart in your laundry room will help you be more organized on laundry day.

Feel free to print these stain removal charts and laminate them before placing them in your laundry room.

Also, if you have any stain removal information that can be added to the stain removal chart on this page, please use the contact me page. You will be given credit for the submission.

Additionally, you may be able to locate additional stain removal chart information on the website of your favorite laundry detergent.

If you learn of other websites containing stain removal tips that can be added to the stain removal chart, please use the contact me page. You will be given credit for the submission as well.

Note: Stain removal chart information obtained from the Soap and Detergent Association website, 2009.

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Stain Removal Chart