Stain Removal Chart

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Stain Removal Chart 1

How to Remove Laundry Stains -- Stain Removal Chart

Coffee, gum, wine, chocolate, makeup . . .

Stains can ruin your day and ruin you 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 conveience.

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.

Find Stain Removal Chart Information On:

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.

Stain Removal Chart 2

Adhesive, etc.

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

Stain Removal Chart 3

Baby Formula

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

Stain Removal Chart 4

Beverages

Stain Treatment
Beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, alcoholic beverages)
    Sponge or soak stain in cool water.
  1. Pretreat with prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, liquid detergent or paste of powder laundry product and water.
  2. 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
  1. Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes.
  2. 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.

Stain Removal Chart 5

Candle Wax

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

Stain Removal Chart 6

Chocolate

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

Stain Removal Chart 7

Collar

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

Stain Removal Chart 8

Cosmetics

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

Stain Removal Chart 9

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 Removal Chart 10

Dairy Products

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

Stain Removal Chart 11

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.

Stain Removal Chart 12

Dye Transfer

Stain Treatment
Dye Transfer
  1. Attempt restoration of white fabrics that have picked up color from other fabrics by using a packaged color remover, following label directions.
  2. 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 Removal Chart 13

Egg

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


Fabric Softener

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

Stain Removal Chart 14

Fruit, Juices

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

Stain Removal Chart 15

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.

Stain Removal Chart 16

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 Removal Chart 17

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.

Stain Removal Chart 18

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
  1. Pretreat with prewash stain remover.
  2. Launder using sodium hypochlorite bleach, if safe for fabric, or oxygen bleach.

Stain Removal Chart 19

Nail Polish

Stain Treatment
Nail Polish NOTE: Nail polish may be impossible to remove.

  1. Try nail polish remover but do not use on acetate or triacetate fabrics.
  2. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Apply nail polish remover to back of stain. Replace paper towels frequently.
  3. Repeat until stain disappears, if it does.
  4. Rinse and launder.

Stain Removal Chart 20

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.

Stain Removal Chart 21

Perfume

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

Stain Removal Chart 22

Perspiration

Stain Treatment
Perspiration
  1. 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.
  2. 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
  1. Sponge cleaning fluid into the stain; let dry.
  2. Mix liquid laundry detergent and ammonia; soak stain in the solution.
  3. Launder using liquid laundry detergent.

Stain Removal Chart 23

Scorch

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

Stain Removal Chart 24

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.

Stain Removal Chart 25

Tar

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


Tobacco

Stain Treatment
Tobacco
  1. Dampen stain and rub with bar soap; rinse.
  2. Pretreat or soak in a product containing enzymes.
  3. Launder.

    NOTE: If stain remains, launder again using a bleach safe for fabric.



Typewriter Correction Fluid

Stain Treatment
Typewriter Correction Fluid
  1. Let stain dry thoroughly, then gently brush excess off with a clothes brush.
  2. 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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For more information on laundry, check the information on these pages:

How to do Laundry How to Wash Clothes How to Solve Common Laundry Problems
Stain Removal Chart Tips on How to Remove Stains Tips on Laundry Room Organizers Tips on Laundry

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