How to Remove Mystery Stains From Clothing

What's that dark spot on your daughter's jeans? Is it a smudge from her chocolaty hands? A greasy stain from playing in the garage? Sometimes even the best stain detective is clueless about the origins of a fabric stain, spill or smudge. Good thing you don't need a Sherlock Holmes to remove that mystery stain.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Color-safe Bleach
• Laundry Detergent
• Sponge
• Zippered Nylon Mesh Bag
• Prewash Stain Remover
• Enzyme-containing Laundry Detergent
• Mild Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Dry-cleaning Fluid

General rules

1. Rinse or soak unknown stains in cold water before laundering or applying a stain remover. Some stains, such as blood, coffee and wine, can set in warm water.

2. Sponge a stain, don't rub it. Rubbing only spreads the stain and may damage the fabric.

3. Read and follow label directions before applying stain treatments. If it says no bleach, even color-safe bleach is a no-no.

4. Protect delicates by washing them in a zippered nylon mesh bag.

5. Check that a stain is completely gone before drying the garment. Heat can set stains.

Small spots and fresh stains

6. Sponge directly on the stain a prewash stain remover, a liquid laundry detergent, or a paste made from powder laundry detergent and a little water. Or dab with dry-cleaning fluid. Let the garment sit for several minutes or leave it overnight.

7. Launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric, using detergent and color-safe bleach. For bleach amounts, follow instructions on the bottle. Repeat if needed.

8. Tumble dry at the setting safe for your fabric.

Large spots and old stains

9. Soak the garment overnight in the warmest water safe for the fabric in a washing machine or sink with 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) to 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) enzyme-containing laundry detergent (adjust amount according to size of garment).

10. Launder as usual, using an enzyme detergent, color-safe bleach and the warmest water that is safe for the fabric. Repeat if needed.

11. Tumble dry.

Delicates and Unwashables

12. Delicate fabrics such as lingerie, silk and lace. Rub mild liquid laundry detergent directly on the stain. Let the clothing sit for several minutes. Toss the garment in the washing machine or sink, fill with cold water and add mild detergent. Soak overnight. Wash using the delicate or hand-wash cycle on your machine. Repeat as needed. Lay flat to dry.

13. Unwashables. Take your stained garment to the dry cleaner if the label contains the word only or if you cannot live without the item. Otherwise, go to step 2. Sponge on dry-cleaning fluid, then allow the garment to dry.

14. Repeat as necessary.

Drying tricks

15. Now that you've cleared up the mystery, here's how to dry your formerly stained garment the right way. (These techniques work equally well on most of your other laundered, stain-free fabrics, too.)

16. Check wet garments for lingering blights to prevent stains from setting in fabric via dryer heat.

17. To prevent broken and loosened fibers, separate lint shedders (fuzzy sweatshirts, chenille robes, flannels and towels) from lint grabbers (knits, corduroys and synthetics).

18. Dry like items (such as towels and cottons) together, and dry lingerie and permanent press separately, to prevent fabric damage from friction.

19. Loosely shake clothes before tossing them into the dryer to prevent wrinkles and shorten drying time.

20. Zip zippers, button buttons, and hook eye-hooks to prevent snags and fabric tears.

21. Empty pockets of paper, money and tissues to reduce lint.

22. Add fabric softener to make clothes fluffier.

23. Wipe lint from the filter to reduce wear and tear on the machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Resist the urge to wash in cold water. Many fabrics respond best to warm or hot water, and the enzymes in your detergent are activated by higher temperatures, resulting in cleaner clothes.
• See also How to Remove Clothing Stains.
• Resist the urge to wash in cold water. Many fabrics respond best to warm or hot water, and the enzymes in your detergent are activated by higher temperatures, resulting in cleaner clothes.
• See also How to Remove Clothing Stains.
• Resist the urge to wash in cold water. Many fabrics respond best to warm or hot water, and the enzymes in your detergent are activated by higher temperatures, resulting in cleaner clothes.
• See also How to Remove Clothing Stains.
• Resist the urge to wash in cold water. Many fabrics respond best to warm or hot water, and the enzymes in your detergent are activated by higher temperatures, resulting in cleaner clothes.
• See also How to Remove Clothing Stains.

[oh-io]

on 8/27/2009 I have 2 white polos that now have rust stains that mysteriously appeared. They have lightened with stain remover and I am trying the soaking solutions now. Any suggestions or reasons as to why this is happening?

[Uncoelf]

on 9/11/2008 i have a jumpre and it was in the dryer and i had lip balm in the pocket and in melted and went everywhere. I have washed it heaps and nothing is happening. can someone help me pls.

[bar97128]

on 9/1/2008 i bought my daughter a beautiful green pastel dress and now it has misterious blue stain does any body know how to remove this stain.

[mclise]

on 8/15/2007 I have a problem that is very unique. The other day I was walking my dog and we usually sit on a neighbor's outside stairs for a few minutes. When I got up I noticed that my favorite black DKNY pants were stained with a puddy like substance that was used to fix the stairs. I love these pants which are a rayon/spandax fabric. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the stains out? HELP!!!

[Talya]

on 5/28/2007 OxiClean ruines some of my daughter's new clothes! I didn't seem to have a problem with the "versitile", but when I bought the one made for laundry, the clothes were ruined! It is bad enough having to buy new clothes every six months, but to have to do it twice for the same size is maddening!