Removing stains – classic problem cases. We show you what works.
It happens faster than you can see - a stain drips onto your top, pants or even the carpet. This kind of mishap is particularly annoying with light-colored fabrics. There are chemical stain removers that work wonders for many different stains. However, not everyone has the right stain remover for that one particular stain. In this blog post, we have some tips and tricks on how to get rid of annoying stains as quickly as possible. For most stains, you only need household remedies that you already have at home.
General tips to remove the mishap in the best possible way
If a stain does happen to get on the wrong side of the cloth, it is always important to react quickly . The quicker the stain is treated, the easier it is to remove. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you should avoid vigorous rubbing when removing the stain, as this can only make things worse and make the stain bigger. It will also rub the dirt deeper into the fiber. If possible, carefully remove the stain with a spoon or knife beforehand.
For every textile it is important to carry out a material compatibility test on an inconspicuous place beforehand , as it is always possible that the material will discolour or react differently with the cleaning agent. Furthermore, if possible, the affected item of clothing or textile should be washed in the washing machine immediately after the stain has been treated, unless otherwise stated below. When washing out the stain or household remedy, it is also very important to pay attention to whether warm or cold water should be used . For example, only cold water should be used for sauces or blood, as warm water binds proteins and sugar. This can cause the stain to harden and become embedded in the fibre. This makes the stain even more stubborn.
Which home remedies are used?
As already mentioned, household remedies are often sufficient to remove stains. Gall soap, baking powder/soda, lemon juice and vinegar can provide quick relief. Carbonated water can also remove many stains. Below is a small glossary of common stains that describes how they can be removed using household remedies.
A Small Spot Lexicon
Please note that after application, the garment should be washed as usual and preferably immediately after treating the stain in the washing machine. For every stain, this should be done as the final step unless otherwise stated. Always follow the washing instructions for the garment.
blood
- Rinse blood stain with cold water
- Salt water solution: Dissolve 5 tablespoons of salt in 1 liter of cold water, soak the textile for several hours
- Lemon juice: Drip lemon juice onto the stain and leave for 30 minutes, rinse with cold water
- Baking soda/ baking powder: sprinkle on the stain and massage in gently, leave overnight, bleaching effect and therefore only suitable for white laundry
- Curd soap: Rub the stain thoroughly with curd soap, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with cold water
cola
- For fresh cola stains: Use soapy water, dab gently on the stain and do not rub
- Dried cola stains: soak in carbonated water
- Also helpful: shaving foam or glass cleaner
curry
- Lemon juice: Apply juice to the stain and leave for 30 minutes
- Water: for very fresh stains, soak in lukewarm water and allow to soak for a short time, carbonated water is also helpful
- Baking powder: only suitable for white textiles, mix baking powder with a little water and carefully brush in with an old toothbrush, allow to work for a while
deodorant edges/ sweat stains
- Important: treat before washing!
- Vinegar essence: suitable for colored and black clothes, prepare a 4:1 water-vinegar solution, soak the stain in the solution overnight and rinse, but still put it in the washing machine
- Citric acid: Dilute 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice in 1 liter of water and proceed as with vinegar solution
- For silk: carefully erase stains with a sponge
- For wool: Use gall soap, leave to work for 30 minutes and wash on a gentle cycle
Ice
- Rinse ice stain with cold water and use stain remover, then rinse with cold water
- If a grease stain remains: use gall soap and rinse with warm water
Earth
- Shake off the soil and soak the clothing in warm water, treat the stains with soap. If necessary, use a brush to help, then soak the stain again
Fat
- For fresh grease stains : wash with cold water and a little detergent or soap
- Old stains: Use blotting paper and iron over it, also applicable to carpets
- For upholstery: sprinkle potato starch on it and allow it to work for a short time, then brush off
felt-tip pens
- Abrasive cleaners, milk, alcohol or colorless nail polish can help here
- Also helps with waterproof felt-tip pens
- Carefully treat the stain with a cloth
grass
- Gall soap: rub the stain well, leave for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water
- Toothpaste: only suitable for white clothes, rub toothpaste on the stain, leave for 15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water
- Lemon juice: Rub the juice on the stain and leave for 30 minutes, method suitable for robust fabrics, put directly into the washing machine and wash at the highest possible temperature
- Vinegar: apply to the stain and massage gently, leave for 15 minutes
Coffee
- Carbonated water: soak coffee stain with carbonated water and rinse
- Baking powder/soda: apply to the stain and allow to soak, add lukewarm water and allow to soak again, only use on white laundry
- Gall soap: for dried stains, rub into the stain and leave for 15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water
- Salt: for dried stains, moisten the stain and cover with salt, leave overnight, then rinse with lukewarm water
cat urine
- Baking powder/soda: Apply the powder to the stain and allow it to work, remove when the powder has dried
- Vinegar cleaner for smaller stains
chewing gum
- Pack clothes/textiles in freezer bags and place in the freezer, after 2-3 hours the chewing gum can be scraped off
- Residues can then be carefully removed with spirit/petrol
coal/soot
- Textiles: rub with detergent, leave for 1 hour and then rinse with clean water
- Vinegar: for smooth/insensitive surfaces, dilute with a little water and rub into the stain, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with clean water
- Toothpaste: for white textiles and white tiles, rub in with a cloth or old toothbrush and leave for 20 minutes, rinse with clean water
- Salt: Cover the stain completely with salt, leave for 30 minutes, dab with clean water and a sponge/cloth
Ballpoint pen
- Vinegar cleaner can help here, gently rub the stain and then rinse with clean water
fake blood
- Carefully rub the stain with soap or lemon juice and then rinse with water
lipstick
- Use detergent, spirit or special stain remover
- Rub the stain gently and rinse with water
Make up
- Baking soda for white clothes: Apply the powder to the stain and let it work
- Shaving foam: for wet spots, rub in gently and leave for 10 minutes, wash out the foam
- Use gall soap for dried stains
jam
- gently dab with warm water
- Clean with vinegar water or salt-water solution
nail polish
- For jeans, cotton, linen, silk: use nail polish remover without oil, pure acetone, benzine, cleaning alcohol, insect spray, hairspray or window cleaner, carefully treat the stain with one of the utensils mentioned, then rinse with water
- Synthetic fiber fabrics: Use rubbing alcohol, hairspray, insect spray or hydrogen peroxide
oil
- Dab off surface oil with kitchen roll, sprinkle generously with baby powder/ flour/ cornstarch/ baking soda/ baking powder, leave to work for at least 1 hour, remove oily powder
- Alternatively: Use gall soap, curd soap, dishwashing liquid or detergent
rust
- Vinegar/ lemon juice: Mix household remedy with water, soak stain for 1 hour, rinse with cold water
- Toothpaste: for light clothing, use fluoride toothpaste, dab on the stain and allow to work, wash off with clean water after 12 hours
- Oxalic acid can also be used for tiles
Beetroot
- Water: for very fresh stains, soak the garment in cold water for at least 30 minutes, sparkling water increases the cleaning effect, wash as usual
- old white bread: wash the stain thoroughly under cold water, dip the bread in water and place it on the stain, leave it for 30 minutes
- Baking powder: dissolve half a packet of baking powder in half a litre of water and treat the stain with it
red wine
- fresh red wine stains: running water/ mineral water, rub under running water with a cloth or salt: cover the stain with salt, wait until the salt has absorbed the wine
- dried red wine stains: washing powder (mix a bowl with cold water and washing powder, rub in the stain), white wine/sparkling wine (soak in white wine/sparkling wine for approx. 20 minutes), lemon juice or vinegar (robust materials and white items), gall soap (rub in the stain and leave to work for 1 hour, rinse with cold water)
juices
- Soak the juice stain in mineral water overnight, add lemon juice or vinegar essence to the stain and leave for 10 to 15 minutes, carefully work the stain
- Gall soap also helps, glycerin helps with orange juice
Chocolate
- Dishwashing liquid: Add a splash of dishwashing liquid and 1 teaspoon of water to the stain, leave for 5 minutes, then dab with clean water and a clean cloth
- Gall soap: Moisten the gall soap and rub gently, leave for 10 minutes and wash out with warm water
- Baking soda & vinegar: Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 teaspoon baking soda, a splash of detergent and 2 tablespoons of hot water, apply to the stain and leave for 30 minutes, rinse with clean water
tea
- Gall soap: Wash tea stain under warm water, rub gall soap onto the stain, leave to work for at least 15 minutes
- Shaving foam: for light clothing, apply foam to the stain and rub in gently and leave for 5-10 minutes, remove shaving foam with a damp cloth, pat stain dry
- Lemon juice: for white and light clothes, put lemon juice on a cloth and rub gently, leave for 10 minutes, dab with a damp cloth and pat dry
ink
- Ink eraser provides quick relief
- Milk/ buttermilk: for delicate and colored fabrics, dip the fabric in a bowl of milk, let the ink stain soak for a while, the older the stain, the longer it should soak in milk, rinse with clean water
- Lemon and baking soda: Drip lemon juice onto the stain, then add baking soda onto the stain, rinse
tomato
- Gall soap or curd soap and a spoonful of soda for fresh stains
- Vinegar/ vinegar essence: Apply vinegar to the stain and allow to work, then rinse under running water
- Gall soap/curd soap also suitable for dried stains
- light cooking oil or detergent: work oil into the stain, add detergent to the stain, wash out
Good luck with the cleaning! If some stains are too stubborn, feel free to repeat the chosen method!
