Stain removal tricks for common stains

I think that every one of us has experienced that sinking feeling when we realise that we’ve landed in or spilled something that will undoubtedly leave a stain. Whether that’s red wine on a tablecloth, grass streaks on knees, or a smear of sauce on your shirt from the hotdog you bought for lunch, there’s a deep resignation at the fact that that stain’s never going to come out.

There are a few tricks to getting out stubborn stains, but remember that the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to get out. If you forget about the stain for a few weeks, or put the clothing item through the wash without specifically treating the spot, it’ll be a lot harder to get rid of. One thing to remember: whenever you try to get a stain out, always blot it (press at it) gently—never, ever rub at it to get it out. If you do, you’ll just grind the stain deep into the cloth fibres and it’ll be there forever.

Grass Stains

Did you manage to turn your knees green while working in the garden? Or did your kid decide to slide down a hill on their face? Even better did those pesky farm animals break in and have a party on your new wool carpet (true story!)

Either way, you’ll have to get those green streaks out as soon as possible. Grass one of the more difficult stains to contend with, but it’s not impossible to get it out.

Never use ammonia to remove a grass stain, as it’ll just set the stain instead and make it permanent. Rubbing alcohol is a far better choice, as it’ll help to dissolve the chlorophyll’s lovely green pigment. If you’re using rubbing alcohol (aka isopropyl), daub it into the stain full-strength, let it air-dry, rinse it with alcohol, and repeat. Then work some liquid dish detergent into the stain and launder the piece as you usually do. Repeate the process as needed until the stain’s out.

You can also use regular white vinegar in lieu of rubbing alcohol, but it may not work as effectively.

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Red Wine Stains

As soon as you spill wine, flush it with water or club soda, blot out as much as possible and then douse a bunch of salt on the stain: the salt crystals will soak up the wine, thus removing the worst of the staining properties. Then call us to book a carpet clean as soon as possible.

Blood Stains

Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a nosebleed, or an unexpected early period, blood is always difficult to get out of clothing.

For fresh blood stains, blot the area with a cold, wet washcloth, rinse it thoroughly with cold water, and then let it soak in a very cold saltwater bath for several hours. If that doesn’t get the stain out, you can treat it with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, our technician have a specialised solution for this exact stain.

Oil Stains

Engine grease, cooking oil… regardless of what kind of oil you’re dealing with, this is one of the most difficult stains to get rid of. Grease tends to burrow its way into fabric fibres, and it’s difficult to coax it out of there once it’s comfortable. If you can catch the stain when it’s fresh, you have a greater chance of removing it, so act quickly if/when this happens.

Sprinkle the stain with crushed chalk or baking soda. Call us immediately to book in 0800 101 216

Coffee/Tea Stains

The tannins in coffee and tea make rather spectacular stains if you don’t catch spills immediately. If you manage to douse yourself in coffee (or leave a ring on your favourite tablecloth), blot out as much liquid as you can and run the stain under cold water immediately afterward, then put the item to soak in cold water for a few hours. If the stain hasn’t lifted sufficiently, you can sponge it gently with detergent, soak it again, and then wash it as you usually do.

*Note: if your coffee had milk or cream in it, then it’s a combination stain—cream has a fair bit of oil in it, so you’re going to have to deal with things on two levels. First you’ll blot out as much liquid as possible, do the liquid detergent bit, and after sponging that away, hit it with chalk. Repeat if necessary.

Lipstick Stains

Another fabulous combination stain, lipstick is a tricky beast to get rid of. Ideally, you’ll want to wipe it away with one of those wet wipes people use on babies’ bums, but if you don’t have one of those handy, you can use a washcloth dipped in rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol.  Eye makeup remover is also really handy or micellar water. 

Urine Stains

If you’re dealing with stubborn pee-stains, hopefully it’s because the puppy you’re house-training has had a couple of slip ups, and not that your flatmate came home completely hammered and mistook your closet for the ‘loo.

If you come across a urine patch while it’s still wet, blot up as much as possible with a clean cloth or a handful of paper towels. Hey, use a cool water, white vinegar and a mild detergent. Once the stain is dry sprinkle with baking soda and allow it to sit and soak up any extra stain thats been left behind.  Its best to have this professional cleaned as quickly as possible to avoid the stain soaking into the base fibres and leaving the smell there forever. 

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