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Stain Removal Guide

Fast, practical instructions for every common stain — act quickly for best results.

⚡ Act fast. Most stains are far easier to remove when fresh. Blot — never rub — to avoid spreading. Always test treatments on a hidden area first.
Golden rules: (1) Blot, never rub. (2) Work from outside the stain inward. (3) Cold water for protein stains (blood, egg, milk). (4) Hot water sets stains — avoid until stain is fully gone.

☕ Coffee & Tea

  1. Blot excess liquid immediately
  2. Rinse with cold water from the back of the fabric
  3. Mix 1 tsp washing-up liquid + 1 tbsp white vinegar + 1 cup cold water
  4. Apply, blot repeatedly, rinse
  5. Launder as normal. Air dry — do not tumble dry until stain is fully gone
Use cold water Act immediately

🍷 Red Wine

  1. Blot up as much wine as possible — do not rub
  2. Cover with salt or bicarbonate of soda to absorb remaining liquid
  3. After 5 minutes, brush off and rinse with cold water
  4. Apply club soda or a mix of washing-up liquid and hydrogen peroxide (test first)
  5. Launder in cold water. Repeat if needed
Use cold water Act immediately

🩸 Blood

  1. Use cold water only — hot water sets blood permanently
  2. Soak the stain in cold salted water for 30 minutes
  3. For fresh stains: apply hydrogen peroxide, let bubble, blot
  4. For dried stains: mix meat tenderiser with cold water into a paste, apply 30 mins
  5. Launder in cold water
Cold water only — hot sets blood

🌿 Grass

  1. Brush off any solid debris gently
  2. Apply white vinegar directly, let sit 5 minutes
  3. Mix 1 tbsp washing-up liquid with 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide, apply and blot
  4. Rinse with cold water
  5. Launder as normal. Check before tumble drying
Use cold water

🛢️ Grease & Oil

  1. Sprinkle cornflour or bicarbonate of soda immediately, let sit 15 minutes to absorb
  2. Brush off, then apply washing-up liquid directly to stain
  3. Work in gently with fingers, leave 10 minutes
  4. Rinse with hot water (grease needs heat)
  5. Launder with bio detergent at the hottest safe temperature
Use hot water for grease

🖊️ Ink (Ballpoint)

  1. Place fabric over absorbent cloth, ink-side down
  2. Dab rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) or hand sanitiser onto stain from back
  3. The ink transfers to the cloth beneath — move to clean section of cloth
  4. Rinse, then apply washing-up liquid
  5. Launder as normal
Test rubbing alcohol on hidden area first

🍫 Chocolate

  1. Let it dry fully — do not spread wet chocolate
  2. Scrape off solid residue with a blunt knife or spoon
  3. Soak in cold water with bio detergent 30 minutes
  4. Apply washing-up liquid, work in gently
  5. Launder in cold water with bio detergent
Use cold water — hot sets chocolate

💧 Sweat & Deodorant

  1. Mix 3 tbsp bicarbonate of soda with enough water to form a paste
  2. Apply to stain and leave 30–60 minutes (or overnight for old stains)
  3. Brush off, then soak in white vinegar 30 minutes
  4. Launder at highest safe temperature with bio detergent
  5. Sunlight helps bleach remaining yellowing
Hot wash for protein stains

💩 Mud & Dirt

  1. Let it dry completely — wet mud spreads
  2. Brush off dried mud
  3. Apply washing-up liquid or stain remover, work in gently
  4. Soak in cold water 30 minutes
  5. Launder as normal
Let dry first, then cold water

🕯️ Wax & Crayon

  1. Let wax harden completely (speed up with ice in a bag)
  2. Snap off as much solid wax as possible
  3. Place fabric between two pieces of plain brown paper or paper towels
  4. Iron on low heat — wax transfers to paper
  5. Apply stain remover to remaining colour, launder as normal
Iron technique works well

🍅 Tomato & Curry

  1. Scrape off excess immediately
  2. Rinse from back with cold water
  3. Apply washing-up liquid, work in, leave 5 minutes
  4. For curry: apply white vinegar or lemon juice (helps break down turmeric)
  5. Dry in sunlight — UV helps fade remaining colour
Cold water first

🥚 Egg & Dairy

  1. Cold water only — heat permanently sets protein
  2. Scrape off solids, soak in cold water 30 minutes
  3. Apply bio detergent (enzymes break down protein)
  4. Leave 15 minutes, rinse in cold water
  5. Launder in cold or warm water (not hot)
Cold water only — never hot

💄 Lipstick & Makeup

  1. Scrape off excess with blunt knife — do not smear
  2. Apply rubbing alcohol or micellar water, blot gently
  3. Apply washing-up liquid, work in gently, rinse
  4. For foundation: try shaving foam, work in, rinse
  5. Launder as normal. Check stain is gone before drying
Act before stain dries

🐾 Urine (Pet & Human)

  1. Blot up as much as possible with paper towels — press firmly
  2. Rinse with cold water
  3. Mix 1 cup white vinegar + 1 cup water + 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda in spray bottle
  4. Apply liberally, let sit 5 minutes, blot
  5. Enzymatic cleaner (e.g. Biological Washing powder) is most effective
Enzymatic cleaner is best

🦀 Rust

  1. Apply lemon juice directly to the stain
  2. Sprinkle salt on top, rub together gently
  3. Leave in direct sunlight 30–60 minutes
  4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water
  5. Repeat if needed. Do not use chlorine bleach — it can set rust
Never use chlorine bleach on rust

🎨 Paint (Emulsion/Acrylic)

  1. Act before paint dries — dried acrylic paint is very difficult to remove
  2. Rinse immediately with cold water
  3. Apply rubbing alcohol to loosen paint, blot repeatedly
  4. For dried paint: scrape off as much as possible, then soak in warm water + washing-up liquid
  5. Oil-based paint: use white spirit (test first), then launder
Act immediately — dried paint is permanent

Stain Removal Essentials to Keep at Home

A well-stocked stain-fighting kit handles most emergencies: white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, washing-up liquid (preferably bio/enzyme-based), cornflour or talcum powder (for grease), rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser, and a bio laundry detergent. These seven items cover the vast majority of stain scenarios.

What Not to Do

Do not rub stains — it spreads them and drives them deeper into fabric fibres. Do not use hot water on protein stains (blood, egg, milk, sweat) — heat sets the protein permanently. Do not tumble dry fabric until the stain is completely gone — the heat will set any remaining stain. Do not mix cleaning products, especially bleach with ammonia or vinegar.