How to Remove Old Stains

Removing stains can be difficult but not impossible

Stains can be extremely annoying and removing them can be a nightmare. Most stains become lasting because they were not looked after in a timely manner. It is important to act immediately and remove the stain before it sets in the fibers of the clothing. Removing the stain can become harder if it is old and sets in. To remove old stains be patient and be prepared to use some elbow grease.

Things You'll Need

• Stain remover
• Washing machine
• Detergent
• Butter knife
• Paper towel
• Salt
• Club soda
• Rubbing alcohol
• Acetone

Instructions

1. Find an airy place to work and make sure it is clean. Ensure the area is cleared and there is plenty of room to work with the fabric.

2. Figure out what the stain is. It could be grease, drinks, wine, food or blood. Each stain must be treated differently. Moreover, figure out the material of the fabric as some stain removers work better on specific fabrics.

3. Use a general stain remover like Shout, if you are unaware of the source of stain. These removers aim to break down stains. Rub the stain remover directly into the stain and scrub it using a scrubber or your hands. Ensure the stain remover has completely covered the stain. Allow the remover to stay on the stained fabric for the recommended time stated by the manufacturer. Wash the fabric with warm water. For the final rinse, put it in the washing machine, add washing detergent, and wash it on the full load function.

4. Remove grease stains by scraping off any extras with a butter knife. Cover the stain with a white paper towel and apply some dishwashing liquid on the other side of the fabric. Scrub in a little and allow the detergent to set in. Wash with warm water in the washing machine.

5. Remove drink stains by blotting the stain with cold water. Sprinkle salt on the stain and wipe clean with club soda. The final rinse must be in the washing machine with some detergent.

6. Remove ink stains by pouring rubbing alcohol over the stain slowly. Rinse and wash as usual in the washing machine.

7. Remove nail polish stains by rubbing some acetone or nail polish remover followed by a rinse in the washing machine.

Tips & Warnings

• If the grease is on a white fabric, consider adding bleach to the washing cycle. It is important to check the label of the fabric before adding bleach as some delicate fabrics like spandex, silk or acetate cannot survive the harshness of bleach chemicals.

• Do not rub the stain, as it may cause more damage to the fabric and cause the stain to spread. Instead, gently blot on the stain.

• Heat causes the stain to set in permanently. Thus, the stained fabric must not be ironed or put in a dryer.

References

• Chemistry: Stain Guide
• Cornell University of Human Ecology: Removing Stains at Home
• Chest if Books: How To Remove Spots And Stains From Clothing

Resources

• Stain Removal Answers: Common Questions