How to get Stains out of Clothes

Why is it always (always!) your favourite top? Or the skirt or shorts you really love?

That’s right: it’s never the clothes you wear but don’t care about that get stained.

We’ve all been there, done that and got the (stained) t-shirt…

The good news is you can banish stains from clothes. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Check the fabric care label

Some clothes need more TLC than others, whether you’re doing your routine laundry or treating them for stains.

Always check the care label first. Certain stain removal techniques can damage delicates like silk, wool, cashmere, and many synthetics.

This means that although it should be safe to gently blot the stain as soon as it happens, they may need to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned.

2. Act fast to stop the stain getting worse

Speed is of the essence when removing stains, as dried-in stains are harder to treat.

Blotting the stain gently with a cool, damp cloth or tissue as soon as it happens should soak up excess liquid and stop it soaking in. Work from the outside of the stain in and don’t scrub as this can spread the stain.

Keep the stain damp if you can, using cool water but never hot, as hot water will set the stain.

Here’s how to treat two of the most stubborn stains as soon as they happen:

Blood stains: Soak the stain in cold water. If the stain is fresh, put it under cold running water to flush the blood away. Rub it gently by hand with a bar of soap – again in cold water – to remove as much as you can before washing.

Dried-in blood stains may need soaking in cold water with salt for several hours. Always check the fabric care label first.

Red wine stains: After blotting, press salt against the stained, damp fabric to absorb the stain. Brush off the salt and, if necessary, repeat the steps above to lift as much of the stain as you can before washing.

3. Pre-treat stains before loading your washing machine

Next, if the fabric is washing machine safe, spot-treat the stain just before you load.

Today there’s a wide range of pre-wash stain removers to choose from, but you might prefer to pre-treat the stain with laundry detergent or a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water.

Whichever method you choose, always follow the pack or bottle guidelines.

Protein-based stains such as blood may need pre-soaking in cool water or an enzyme-rich laundry product. Always check the fabric care label first.

4. If safe, add a laundry stain remover to your washing machine

Some stain-busting products are designed to be added to your washing machine.

Laundry detergents with optical brighteners are useful for white or pale-coloured laundry, especially towels and bedding that have become widely discoloured. Read our article on how to care for white laundry.

But remember: individual stains such as blood, red wine and chocolate should still be pre-treated before you wash.

5. Wash stained clothes in cool or cold water

Never use hot water for stained laundry (even after pre-treating) as this can set the stain in for good.

Instead, use a high-quality laundry detergent designed to wash effectively at lower temperatures. Plus, don’t overload your washing machine, as this will stop the detergent and water from doing their job.

Some washing machines have specific programmes to tackle stains – like the Hotpoint NM11948WSAUK 9kg 1400 Spin Washing Machine whose ActiveCare stain-removal tech gets rid of 100-plus stubborn stains at 20°C while its Active Mousse feature ‘massages’ clothes clean.

Or the Bosch WGG254F0GB 10kg 1400 Spin Washing Machine with Automatic dosing, which comes with a handy AntiStain cycle.

Alternatively, explore our full range of Beko, Bosch, Haier, Hoover, Hotpoint, LG, Miele and Samsung washing machines to find the best washing machine for you.

6. Check clothes for stains before loading your tumble dryer

Sadly, even when you’ve pre-treated your laundry before washing, stubborn stains can still slip through.

So, when unloading your washing machine, check everything is sparkling clean before using a tumble dryer.

This is because tumble drying stained clothing, even on a low heat, can set the stain. Instead, pre-treat and wash again.

Whether it’s sports practice, kids mess, or cooking spills, if your day-to-day life tends to result in lots of stained clothes, why not pop in store to talk to one of our experts about a washing machine to help you tackle the stains and extend the life of your clothes?