Clothing Stains: How To Deal With These 10 Stubborn Stains

We’ve all been there, that moment where we stained our favorite shirt, dress, or any other clothing that is most dear to us. That annoying feeling we had, seeing the color or pattern of our clothing ruined by that speck of stain. To further aggravate things, upon wiping the stain with a damp towel or cloth, you then notice that the stain seemingly won’t come off. In general, most stains can be minimized if dealt with quickly, though there are some exceptions that prove to be a real pain and are very resilient to simple wiping.



These 10 following stains are infamous for being cloth nightmares, get to know how to deal with these pesky stains and bring back the vibe of your ruined clothing!

1. Red Wine – Often known as the number one nightmare stain, red wine can be effectively removed if dealt with correctly and quickly. The first step is to put a handful of salt to the affected area; the principle is for the salt to absorb the color, keep an eye for any shade or color change to the salt. Following the process, soak the clothing in cold water and add detergent. Ideally, the garment should be soaked overnight, can be done longer if possible. Wash the garment normally afterwards.

2. Beetroot – Gives heavenly sweetness, but is also one of the cloth nightmares, the purple tint it leaves on garments is a real eyesore. Treating the stain as soon as possible is a must, immerse the garment in cold water. Dilute a small amount of washing liquid in the water and rub the area gently using your fingers. The effects are best seen if the stain is dealt with quickly; however, if the stain is still persistent, try to soak the garment in warm water instead and add some biological detergent.

3. Chewing Gum – This one is a sticky problem indeed. A good way to deal with this chewing gum nightmare is to put some ice cubes in a small plastic bag. Place the bag with ice cubes onto the affected area. If possible, place the garment inside a freezer, this hardens the gum and allows easy removal of the gum without leaving any stains.

4. Grass – The green pigment of grasses is good to look at, though, if they’re on clothing they can be a bit of a distraction. These stains show more in lighter colored fabrics. The best way to deal with this stain is to soak it in warm water and add some biological detergent. Let the garment soak for a while. Check if the stain has been properly removed afterwards, a few people suggest using a dab of methylated solutions to remove the remainder of the stain.

5. Fruit Juice – These delicious foodstuff bring quite a mess to clothing and garments; A few drips can leave annoying discolorations. The best way to deal with these type of stains is to quickly immerse the affected area in cold water, let it soak in water until the stain comes off. If some parts appear to remain, immerse the affected area in a mixture of warm water and biological detergent. Lastly, give the garment a thorough wash.

6. Beer – The stain that requires a little brewing to be made. This one requires distilled water and white vinegar. The mixture should be of one part white vinegar, and five parts lukewarm water. After fully dissolving the mixture, gently apply onto the affected area with a sponge, rinse off the garment afterwards. Wash the clothing thoroughly as normal.

7. Hair Dye – Dyeing your hair at home can be practical. The only part which isn’t practical is if your clothing accidentally gets dyed as well. As with most stains, dealing with this type of stain quickly is important. Dyes have a tendency to leave permanent marks on clothing. To deal with this type of stain, you need to soak the garment immediately in cold water, and rub the stain with a sponge soaked in washing liquid. Ideally, this method should remove most of the stain, for any remaining stains, soak the garment overnight in warm water containing biological detergent. Wash the garment thoroughly afterwards.

8. Nail Varnish / Polish – These inks are pretty if applied on nails, not if applied on clothing and garments. One way to deal with this type of stain is to use non-oily varnish / polish removers, applying it gently to the underside of the affected garment. Use caution on this method as it is not suitable for all types of fabrics. Always test it first by dabbing a small amount on the hem of the garment. Wash the garment normally afterwards.

9. Blood – Keep in mind that blood is another type of stain that’s best dealt with quickly. The more the blood dries onto the garment, the harder it is to get off. Place the garment in cold water, then gently rub the stain using your fingers. Ideally, the stain should come off. Change the water as needed, continue to rub the stain gently. Some recommend adding a small amount of salt into the water. Once the stain has been removed, wash the garment as normal.

10. Sauce or Ketchup – Usually acquired during those savory meals you consume, these type of stains also require quick actions if possible. The trick is to dab off any excess sauce or ketchup, especially if the stain just occurred. Rinse the affected area with cold running water. Pour some washing liquid onto a sponge and soak the garment in warm water, slowly dab the affected area with the sponge. If the stain proves to be persistent try dabbing it with methylated solutions. Wash the garment thoroughly afterwards.