Pre-treat (pre-treating a stain)
Applying a stain remover, detergent or soak to a stain before the main wash so the stain is loosened and lifted rather than set by the cycle.
What it means
Pre-treating gives the active ingredients direct, concentrated contact with the stain before it is diluted in the wash water. It is the single biggest factor in stain removal, because heat from the wash and dryer can permanently set an untreated stain.
What to do
Identify the stain, dab a suitable remover or a little detergent onto it, and let it dwell for 5–15 minutes (longer for an oxygen-bleach soak) before washing. Never tumble dry an item until you have confirmed the stain is gone, as drying sets it.
How to use this term
Use this process term when a guide tells you to pretreat, soak, brighten, rinse or adapt a stain method.
- Read pre-treat (pre-treating a stain) with the other symbols on the same care label; the strictest symbol wins.
- Match the instruction to the garment's most fragile part, including trims, lining, prints and finishes.
- If the label, fabric behaviour and stain method disagree, test a hidden area or choose the lower-risk route.
Common mistake
Do not escalate a process before checking the care label and testing a hidden area first.
For the broader method, use the Stain-removal guides and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.
Related terms
Sources
- ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols — International Organization for Standardization