How to get Stains out of Clothes

Stains in clothing are frustrating and often expensive to remove. Successful stain removal hinges on the origin of the stain, the fabric the clothes are made of and how long the stain has set. However there are some tried and true general stain removal techniques for getting stains out of clothing and a few techniques for specialty and delicate fabrics.

Things You'll Need

• Powdered detergent with color-safe bleach
• Dishwashing soap
• Boiling water
• Cold water
• White vinegar
• Mild detergent
• Bleach
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Hair spray
• Lukewarm water
• Sugar
• Liquid detergent

Instructions

General Stain Removal

1. Combine 1 cup of powdered detergent with color-safe bleach, 1 cup dishwashing soap and boiling water into a tub large enough to submerge the garment. Stir until they dissolve (or mostly dissolve).

2. Submerge the stained garment in the tub and let it soak.

3. Check the garment periodically and continue soaking until the stain is gone.

4. Wring out the garment and wash it as you normally would.

Specific Stain Removal

1. Eliminate stains from silk. Mix 2 quarts cold water, 2 teaspoons white vinegar and 1/2 cup of any mild detergent. Rinse the garment in the mixture and then rinse again in clear water.

2. Remove hair dye from clothes. Soak the stained fabric in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and detergent. Soak the stain in a mixture of equal parts bleach and hydrogen peroxide.

3. Soak an ink stain thoroughly with hair spray and then let the hair spray dry. Brush the stain with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. Rinse with clean water.

4. Eliminate water and salt stains from leather clothing. Blot the stain with white vinegar.

Mystery Stain Removal

1. Eliminate oily stains. Mix water and sugar into a paste. Rub the paste into the stain and let the paste set. Wash as normal.

2. Clean non-oily stains. Combine 1 tsp. white vinegar, 1 tsp. liquid detergent and 1 pint lukewarm water. Apply the mixture to the stain and let it soak until the stain is gone. Wash as normal.

3. Erase the yellowing of wool and linen from any source. Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon of water. Soak the garment until the stain is gone and wash as usual.