Stains on clothing, linens, and carpets are notoriously stubborn, but they’re a normal part of everyday life- the trick is to know how to remove them! Acting fast is one of the best things you can do to get rid of stains, as the longer you let them set in, the harder they are to get out. In this post, we round up four of the most common stains and the best stain removal tips for each one!
12 Genius Stain Removal Tips and Hacks
Blood Stains
Blood stains are one of the most common stains on clothes and bedding, as you can get them from minor injuries, shaving nicks, your period, or even when you’re preparing raw meat. Here’s how to get rid of them.
- Oxygen Bleach: Fill a basin 2/3 full of hot water (leaving enough room to submerge the item). Dissolve oxygen bleach in hot water- follow the package instructions for the proper ratio. If your item can’t tolerate hot water, allow the solution to cool first. Then fully submerge the item in the solution, using your hands to agitate it so the solution can work its magic.
- Distilled Vinegar: Pour a solution of one part vinegar, two parts water over the stain and let it soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse or blot (don’t scrub) with a damp cloth and repeat as necessary.
- Salt: Mix table salt with cold water until it forms a thick paste, then rub the paste directly on the stain. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes (or until dry), then scrape off the paste, rinse with cold water, and wash as usual.
Red Wine Stains
If you’ve spilled red wine on a rug, couch, or your clothes, you know the immediate stress that comes along with it. Here’s what you can use in a hurry.
- Dry Material: A dry material such as baking soda, table salt, or talcum powder will “pull” red wine out of a carpet or couch, just make sure not to start rubbing them in. Allow the material to settle for a few minutes, then use the blotting method to clean up the salt or powder. This may be enough to remove the stain or you may need to try additional methods.
- Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix 3 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dish soap, then apply the mixture to the stain. Let it sit for 20 minutes to an hour, then blot it clean before attempting to fully wash it out.
- Club Soda and White Vinegar: Club soda helps absorb and break up the red wine molecules, which you can blot up more easily. Combining club soda with white vinegar will help improve the removal process.
Grass Stains
Bright green grass stains are super common during summer, with many of our carefree summer activities (playing pick-up soccer with friends, laying in the park, etc.) leaving stains on our clothes. Before trying to remove the stain, get rid of any solid matter like loose dirt or clumps of grass and then try one of these below.
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda: Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to form a thick paste. Smooth it over the stain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Aggravate the paste with a toothbrush, rinse with cold water, work in detergent, let it sit, then rinse with cool water again.
- Vinegar: Mix 1 part distilled vinegar with 1 part water. Coat the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes, lightly scrub it, then rinse it in cool water. Apply a detergent, scrub it in, let it sit then rinse with cool water again.
- Rubbing Alcohol: Dab rubbing alcohol onto the stain until the fabric is completely saturated. Allow it to air dry, then rinse with cold water. Gently scrub detergent into the stain, and continue until the stain lightens or disappears. Once you think the stain is completely gone, let it air dry to examine any lingering stains, and repeat if needed.
Coffee Stains
If you’re a coffee drinker, spilling coffee pretty much comes with the territory. Before starting any of the removal ideas below, make sure to blot up any extra coffee with a clean, dry cloth to reduce the chance of spreading the stain and making it worse.
- Cold Water: If you can get cold water on your coffee stain immediately, you have a pretty good chance of removing it completely with water alone. Run cold water through the stain to dilute it, making sure not to scrub it. This should wash the coffee out in a minute or two. If it doesn’t work, move onto another method.
- Dish Soap and White Vinegar: Pre-soak the stain in a mixture of 4 cups of warm water, ½ teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the stained area with warm water, then use a sponge and rubbing alcohol to blot up any remaining stain. Wash as normal.
- Laundry Detergent and White Vinegar: If your clothing has a dried coffee stain, wet the area, then apply a few drops of laundry detergent while gently rubbing the stain with your fingers. Let it sit for five minutes, then rinse with cold water. If the stain is still there, mix a few drops of white vinegar with powdered laundry detergent until they make a paste. Gently rub it into the stain with a toothbrush, and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing.
General Stain Removing Tips
- Do not vigorously scrub the stain
Scrubbing can have the reverse effect, causing the stain to spread even more and working it deeper into the fibres of the item. If you work vigorously or apply too much pressure, you push the stain further into the item, making it harder, if not impossible, to remove. - Clean the stain immediately
The sooner you clean the stain, the better the end result will be. The longer you wait, the more the stain will settle into the fibres and the harder it will be to remove. Start cleaning it as soon as possible to get the stain out.
If you and your household are prone to stains, we hope these tips and hacks help you remove them as quickly and seamlessly as possible!
This post contains affiliate links.
Did you find these stain removal tips helpful? We’d love it if you shared this post on Pinterest!
Looking for more helpful everyday hacks? Make sure to follow our Household Tips Board on Pinterest!
