It’s a fact of life that you’ll eventually get stains on your clothing. Whether it’s from food, working out, or a faulty pen, it’s only a matter of time until something makes a mess. The worst part about stains is that most of the time, a simple cycle in the washing machine won’t make them go away!
That’s why we found these step-by-step instructions on how to remove 6 common clothing stains from your laundry: Grease, Ketchup, Red Wine, Grass, Sweat, and Mustard. Give these a try the next time you face a stubborn stain!
How to Clean Ketchup Stains
Step 1: Dab up any excess ketchup.
Step 2: Reverse the clothing and run cold water through the underside of the stain.
Step 3: Rub a small amount of laundry detergent into the stain on both sides. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Soak the stain in warm water for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Rinse the stained area with running water.
Again, if the spot is still there, just repeat until it’s gone!
How to Clean Grease Stains
Step 1: Use a paper towel or cloth to dab up any excess oil or grease.
Step 2: Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 24 hours.
Step 3: Using a vacuum hose or a small brush, remove the baking soda.
Step 4: Spray the grease or oil spot with a solution of half vinegar, half water.
Step 5: Using a small brush and dish soap, scrub the spot and rinse.
If the spot is still visible, repeat these steps until the stain is gone. Afterwards, toss your clothing in the washer!
How to Clean Red Wine Stains
Step 1: Create a mixture of half Dawn dishwashing liquid and half hydrogen peroxide.
Step 2: Pour the mixture onto the wine stain and let it soak in.
Step 3: If the stain does not disappear, pour more of the mixture onto the clothing, or place the mixture into a bowl and soak the stain in it.
Step 4: Once the stain is gone, wash your clothes like normal.
How to Clean Grass Stains
Step 1: Create a mixture of two parts water and one-part white vinegar.
Step 2: Soak the stained area in the mixture, letting it sit for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Use a white or light-colored rag to dab at the stain while still submerged.
Step 4: Wash the stained clothing in your washing machine with an enzyme-based laundry detergent.
If the stain is still there, as with the other cleaning methods, just repeat until it’s gone!
How to Clean Sweat Stains
Step 1: First, try soaking the stain in a solution of half cold water, half white vinegar. If this doesn’t work, move on to step 2!
NOTE: If you’re moving on to step two, be warned: There are different instructions for white clothing and colored clothing!
Step 2: Create a paste out of 1 tablespoon of salt and a ½ cup of baking soda. If the clothing is white, add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. If the clothing is colored, add 1 tablespoon of cold water.
Step 3: Using a toothbrush, scrub the paste into the stain. Let it sit for one hour.
Step 4: Wash your clothes as normal. If the stains persist, follow the above steps again.
How to Clean Mustard Stains
Step 1: Using a flat utensil, scrape away any excess mustard. Be careful to scrape up and away, avoiding new accidental stains.
Step 2: Turn the clothing inside out and rinse the stain with cold water.
Step 3: Using a heavy-duty laundry detergent, cover the stain in it and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse the detergent out of the stain with cold water, again through the inside of the clothing.
Step 5: Repeat the process until the stain is gone. If laundry detergent is not quite getting it, switch to dish soap, then back to laundry detergent.
Step 6: Before washing, apply a stain remover to the area for extra effectiveness in getting rid of any leftover mustard residue.