At Jim’s Laundry, we deal with how to remove tough stains from clothes on a daily basis.
Our #1 advice is…..Deal with it as early as possible.
The less time a stain has to soak in, the easier it will be to remove.
So, if you’re trying to remove common household stains like coffee, red wine, grass, oil, mud or more, here are our best tips for more than 30 types of stains and how to remove them.
COFFEE
Soak in warm water with ½ teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
RED WINE
Dab the stain with paper towels. Sprinkle baking soda and salt. After it dries, wash it out.
CHOCOLATE
Freeze for 15 mins and scrape off. Add dishwashing soap and rub the stain. Launder as usual.
SWEAT
Soak for 10mins in a mixture of 1:3 vinegar and water. Rinse and apply hydrogen peroxide, sale and water. Rinse.
FRUIT JUICE
Rinse it under cold water. Apply white vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 15 mins. Launder as usual.
BLOOD
Soak in cold water with ½ teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
WHITE WINE
Run the stain under cold water. Apply dishwashing liquid to the stain and soak it for a few minutes. Then wash.
WAX
Place ice cubes on the wax so that it freezes. Scrape off the wax. Place paper over the stain and iron it.
GUM
Run and ice cube over the gum until it hardens. Scrape off. Apply dishwashing soap and scrub with an old toothbrush.
BEER
Soak for 15min in warm water, white vinegar and detergent. Apply rubbing alcohol and blot. Launder as usual.
GRASS
Apply a mixture of 1:1 warm water and vinegar. Let it sit for 5 mins and rub detergent on the stain.
OIL
Blot the stain. Apply mixture of 1:2 vinegar and water. Rinse it and apply detergent. Wash it after 15 mins.
GLUE
Allow the glue to dry. Scrape off. Soak in cold water for a few hours and launder as usual.
NAIL POLISH
Blot the stain. Don’t rub. Place cardboard underneath and apply acetone. Rinse and launder as usual.
PERFUME
Rinse under cold water. Apply dishwashing soap and let it sit for 10 mins. Rinse and launder as usual.
DEODORANT
Apply a mixture of 1:1 water and lemon juice. Let it dry. For coloured items, soak in warm water and vinegar.
LIPSTICK
Apply hair spray on the stain and let is sit for 15 mins. Rinse it under cold water inside out.
URINE
Soak for 45 mins in a bucket of warm or cold water and a bit of white vinegar. Launder as usual.
MUSTARD
Scrape it off. Soak for 10 mins in a mixture of water, soap and rubbing alcohol. Rinse and launder as usual.
VOMIT
Scrape it off and rinse under warm water. Soak in warm water and detergent. Apply baking soda and launder as usual.
MAKEUP
Apply foaming type of shaving cream. Let it sit for 2-3 mins. Rub the stain and rinse.
INK
Blot the stain with a clean towel. Do not rub. Apply alcohol-based hairspray and let it dry. Launder as usual.
FAECES
Soak for 15 mins in a mixture of ¼ water, 1 tablespoon ammonia and dishwashing liquid.
SHOE POLISH
Scrape it off. Pour a mixture of water and a heavy-duty laundry detergent. Let it sit for 15 minutes and launder as usual.
IODINE
Blot with paper towels. Rinse under cold water. Apply ¼ teaspoon soap and a cup of warm water. Launder as usual.
MUD
Scrape off the dried mud. Take a soft bristle brush and scrub. Launder as usual.
PAINT
Scrape it off. Apply a strong tape and quickly rip it off. Apply hairspray. Rinse and launder as usual.
CRAYON
Scrape it off. Apply dishwashing soap and work it in with your fingers. Launder as usual.
TUMERIC
Apply baking soda or baby powder and let it absorb the stain. Rinse. Apply detergent and launder after 15 mins.
BERRIES
Sponge the stain with lemon juice and rinse under cold water. Play under sunlight for 1 hour and launder as usual.
TEA
Turn it inside out and rinse under cold water. Apply a mixture of water and vinegar. Let it sit for 5 mins and rinse.
TOMATO
Scrape it off. Rinse under cold water. Apply vinegar and dish soap. Rinse and wash after 15 mins.
PEANUT BUTTER
Scrape it off. Apply laundry detergent and rub. Let it soak for 15 mins in a mixture of water and launder detergent. Launder as usual.
SOY SAUCE
Blot the stain. Soak for 15 mins in a mixture of ¼ warm water, ½ teaspoon liquid detergent and one teaspoon of white vinegar. Launder as usual.
MILK
Soak in cold water for 10 mins. Rub laundry detergent and soak in warm water for 30 mins. Launder as usual.