Top 10 Common Stains and How to Remove Them

ColourInn is excited to showcase its versatile range of Stain Removers for advanced textile and garment care. 

Stains are unavoidable: a morning coffee spill, an ink mark, or grease from a meal. But with the right stain remover techniques, removing them need not be a headache.

Five of the most common stains and how to remove them are discussed below to keep your clothes spotless.

1. Oil and Grease Stains

The most frustrating to remove are oil and grease stains from cooking splatters to greasy food drips. They adhere to fabric fibres and cannot be cleaned regularly.

If not treated right, they can permanently stain your favourite clothes.

1. Blot the Excess: Absorb as much oil as possible with a paper towel or cloth; avoid rubbing to prevent spreading.
2. Apply Dish Soap: Use a little liquid dish soap made for cutting grease to press on the stain and work it in.
3. Let It Sit: Soap should break down the oil for about 10 minutes.
4. Wash in Hot Water: If your fabric will allow it, wash in hot water with a strong detergent.
5. Air Dry and Check: Do not put it into the dryer until all of the stain is gone – heat will set it indefinitely.

2. Ink Stains

Ink stains can be stubborn, from a leaking pen to accidental writing. Some inks, especially permanent markers, are designed to last, so quick action is necessary. Here’s how to remove ink stains from clothes. 

1. Place a Paper Towel Underneath: That keeps the ink from getting into other areas of the fabric.
2. Blot with Rubbing Alcohol: Soak a cotton ball or cloth in rubbing alcohol and blot the stain gently.
3. Let It Sit: Let the alcohol degrade the ink for 5-10 minutes.
4. Rinse with Cold Water: Flush with water before laundering.
5. Wash and Check: Use cloth stain remover in the wash cycle and inspect before drying.

3. Coffee and Tea Stains

Spots of spilt coffee or tea can turn brown on clothes, tablecloths, and upholstery. When stains bond with the fibres of fabric, they are harder to remove when they dry.

1. Rinse with Cold Water: Now hold the fabric under cold running water to thin out the stain.
2. Apply Baking Soda Paste: Baking soda and water make a paste, then rub it into the stain.
3. Let It Sit: Allow the paste to absorb the stain for 15 minutes.
4. Wash Normally: Wash with regular laundry detergent.
5. Repeat if Needed: For stubborn stains, repeat this process before drying.

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4. Red Wine Stains

Spilled wine can ruin a night out or your white shirt. Red wine stains set quickly; therefore, it is important to act fast.

How to Remove Red Wine Stains

1. Blot (Don’t Rub!): Soak as much wine as possible in a clean cloth.
2. Cover with Salt: Sprinkle salt over the stain to absorb moisture.
3. Rinse with Cold Water: Splash off the stain with cold water from the back of the fabric.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap: Apply equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap, which should be pressed on the stain and allowed to sit for 20 minutes.
5. Wash as Usual: Wash in cold water & TEST before drying.

5. Sweat and Deodorant Stains

Sweat and deodorant leave yellow stains on white shirts over time, especially around the underarms. These stains form when sweat, deodorant, and fabric fibres react.

1. Make a Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water.
2. Soak the Garment: Soak the stained area for at least 30 minutes.
3. Scrub with Baking Soda: Make a baking soda paste and scrub the stain.
4. Wash in Cold Water: Use a hard water stain remover to break down minerals that cause yellowing.
5. Air Dry in the Sun: The sun bleaches any lingering discolouration.

6. Blood Stains

Blood stains are stubborn because they contain proteins that stick to fabric fibres when heated. A temporary stain can result from a small cut or nosebleed; quick action is key to avoiding a permanent stain.

1. Rinse with Cold Water: Run cold water down the back of the stain to push blood out of the fabric.
2. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide: Pour a little directly onto the stain (only for light-coloured fabrics) and bubble for a minute.
3. Blot and Repeat: Use a cotton ball to press with and repeat as needed.
4. Use Baking Soda Paste: Paste some baking soda and water on the stain and let it dry before brushing off.
5. Launder in Cold Water: Wash in cold water with a stain remover & check before drying.

7. Mud and Dirt Stains

Mud & dirt can stain clothes from outdoor activities, sports, and rainy weather. The trick is to let the mud dry before attempting to remove it.

1. Let the Mud Dry: Trying to remove wet mud will push it into the fabric.
2. Brush Off Excess Dirt: If it is dry, scrape loose particles with a stiff brush or a dull knife when dry.
3. Pre-Treat with Liquid Detergent: Detergent or a cloth stain remover should be applied directly to the stain and allowed to sit for 15 minutes.
4. Soak in Warm Water: For tough stains, soak in warm water with a little detergent.
5. Wash as Usual: Wash as usual & air dry to confirm that the stain has been removed.

8. Makeup Stains

Foundation, lipstick, mascara, and other makeup stains can be stubborn on light fabrics. But use the right stain removers for the product.

1. Blot Excess Makeup: Lift off as much as you can with a paper towel without rubbing.
2. Makeup Remover or Dish Soap: Apply Makeup Remover: On oily cosmetics, a little makeup remover or dish soap works well.
3. Scrub with a Soft Brush: Use a toothbrush to work one of the stain removers into the fabric.
4. Rinse with Cold Water: Flush the stain from the back of the fabric.
5. Wash and Check: Launder with strong detergent & check before drying.

9. Hard Water Stains on Clothes

If your laundry comes out dull or stiff, you may have hard water stains causing the problem. These stains form when minerals from calcium and magnesium build up in water.

1. Using a Hard Water Stain Remover: Find a hard water stain remover that breaks down mineral deposits.
2. Soak in Vinegar Solution: One cup of white vinegar in a basin of warm water and let the fabric soak for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse with Soft Water Detergent: Use a hard water detergent as one of the popular stain removers. 
4. Use an Extra vinegar cycle to rinse: Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove the remaining residue.
5. Air Dry Instead of Using a Dryer: This keeps minerals from hardening on the fabric.

10. Food Stains (Sauces, Chocolate, Curry, etc.)

From pasta sauce to curry spills, food stains are tough, especially those with oils and pigments. That means breaking down both the oil and colour parts of the stain.

1. Scrape Off Excess Food: Removing solids with a spoon or knife without pressing the stain deeper into the fabric is okay.
2. Blot with a Paper Towel: Soak as much oil as possible in between applications of any cleaning product.
3. Use Dish Soap or Stain Remover: Grass and pigments are lifted with a cloth stain remover or dish soap.
4. Soak in Warm Water: Set the fabric aside in warm water for 20 minutes.
5. Wash with Strong Detergent: Launder as normal & check for dryness.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Clothes Stain-Free

Whether it’s oil, ink, coffee, red wine, or sweat stains, quick action and the right removal techniques can save your favourite clothes.

Knowing how to deal with each stain type keeps your garments fresh and clean. Simple household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and specialized stain removers can get rid of tough stains with confidence.

We understand how frustrating stains are, so we have a range of high-quality stain removers for all fabrics and stain types at Colourinn.

Our cloth stain removers remove spills daily, and a hard water stain remover prevents buildup. Trust Colourinn for professional stain removal your wardrobe deserves nothing less!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the most common stains that occur at home?
A. The most common household stains are coffee, tea, ink, oil, red wine, sweat, blood, mud, and food stains, such as ketchup and chocolate.

Q2. How to remove coffee stains from clothes?
A. Soak the stain in cold water, rub it with liquid soap, or pour vinegar on it and wash it in plenty of water. For stubborn stain conditions, use some baking soda or hydrogen peroxide.

Q3. What is the most effective way to remove ink stains?
A. For ink stains, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser works wonders. Dab gently on the stain, let sit for a few minutes, and then wash with detergent.