The Ten Worst Stains (and How to Treat Them)

Uh-oh! We’ve all been there! Dropping or spilling food items or otherwise on clothing, furniture, or your carpet! It can be a frustrating experience, and while your first instinct may be to toss the item, take account of the ten worst stains and how to treat them.

1. Tomato Sauce & Ketchup

Tomato sauce and ketchup are particularly unfriendly con clothing. Still, you can get a ketchup or tomato sauce stain out! Remove the excess sauce if you can, then blot the stain with a clean cloth. Next, mix cold water with a tablespoon of liquid detergent and apply the solution to the stain – blotting the area until all of the liquid has been absorbed.

2. Blood

Blood can be particularly tricky to remove. Soak the item in cold water and rub the spot with your fingers until the water stops turning pink. Next, rinse the garment, blot the stain, and apply a stain remover with extra stain-fighting power, allowing the item to sit before you wash it. Next, wash the item as normal. If the stain still hasn’t been removed, try hydrogen peroxide, but be wary as this can discolor some fabrics.

3. Red Wine

Red wine stains can be removed by first, covering the stain in salt in order to absorb the color. Next, soak the stain in cold water with enzymatic laundry detergent and leave it overnight. Repeat this step until the stain is removed, then wash as normal. In the event that you can’t wash your garment right away, treat it with a Tide to Go pen!

4. Chocolate

First, remove the excess chocolate from the garment. Then, pre-treat the stain with a stain-release liquid, using a bristled toothbrush to spread the detergent effectively. Once you’ve done this, let the garment sit for five to ten minutes, and wash as normal on the hottest wash temperature available.

5. Fruit & Fruit Juice

Try to treat fruit and fruit juice stains immediately before they get the chance to permanently stain your clothes. Stretch the fabric so it’s taught, then pour water over the stain to remove it. Next, let the garment soak in a water white vinegar mixture for an hour and rinse it until the stain disappears.

6. Grass

To remove grass from your garment, apply stain remover directly onto the stain and rub the fabric together. Next, wash the garment as normal, and once washed, apply a diluted white vinegar solution to remove any color that remains.

7. Coffee

To remove coffee from a garment, run cold water over the stain and use stain remover directly. Rub the fabric gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush, then let it sit for a moment. Lastly, without rinsing the item, wash it on the usual cycle with the hottest temperature water possible.

8. Grease

If you get grease on your clothes, rinse the stain as soon as possible with cold water and rub dish soap on the stain to loosen it. If necessary, repeat this step. Once you’re loosened the stain properly, rub the area with a stain remover, saturating the stain, and without rinsing, wash the item with the hottest temperature of water indicated.

9. Ink

A hand hack to remove ink from clothing is using a hairspray! Place a paper towel under the stain, then spray the ink. After letting it soak for a few seconds, blot the stain with a clean cloth and repeat this process until the stain is removed.

10. Perspiration

Perspiration is a difficult stain to remove. After using a prewash stain remover and allowing the item to sit for a moment, wash your item in the hottest water recommended with an enzyme detergent and a bleach. Lastly, to remove odor, use scented laundry detergent packs to fight set-in odors.

Removing touch stains is a breeze when you go to the experts! Contact Fluff & Fold to learn about our pricing options.