Stain Removal
Stains come off when you match the method to the stain. This hub groups our step-by-step removal guides by stain type — drinks, food and grease, body and biological, ink and dye — so you can find the exact fix and act before the mark sets.
Key takeaways
- Act fast and blot, never rub — rubbing drives pigment deeper into the fibres.
- Match the remover to the stain: enzymes for protein and food, oxygen bleach for dye-based marks.
- Never tumble dry a treated item until the stain is fully gone — heat sets it permanently.
Use this hub as a decision path
Start with the page that matches the fabric, stain, product or machine problem in front of you. Then use the neighbouring guides to adjust temperature, detergent, drying method and damage limits before you wash.
- If a care label conflicts with a general method, the care label wins.
- If a guide names a downside, treat it as a stop condition, not fine print.
- If a page includes products, read the method first and treat the product as optional.
In this guide
Stain Removal
- How-to Best Laundry Stain Remover: Attributed Picks by Stain and Fabric Attributed picks — Consumer Reports' and Your Best Digs' winners plus specialists for set-in and ink stains — and the fabric rules each maker sets.
- How-to How to Remove Baby Food Stains: Match the Food to the Method Baby food is a combination stain: match the method to the food — enzyme for protein, the sun for carrot, bleach for fruit — and never dry it until it's gone.
- How-to How to Remove Berry Stains from Clothes Remove blueberry, blackberry, strawberry and raspberry stains with cold back-flushing, label-safe pretreatment, bleach limits and no dryer heat.
- How-to How to Remove Blood Stains from Clothes and Sheets Blood is a protein stain: start with cold water and avoid heat. Use detergent or soap for fresh marks, then peroxide or oxygen bleach only when fabric-safe.
- How-to How to Remove Chocolate Stains from Clothes Remove fresh, dried and chocolate milk stains with cold back-flushing, detergent pretreat, label-safe wash heat and no dryer heat.
- How-to How to Remove Coffee Stains from Clothes Coffee stains are tannin stains. Blot, rinse promptly, use an enzyme detergent or dish-soap/vinegar route, and avoid dryer heat until gone.
- How-to How to Remove Egg Stains from Clothes Cold-first egg stain steps for raw, cooked and dried egg, with enzyme detergent limits for wool, silk and heat-set residue.
- How-to How to Remove Grass Stains from Clothes Grass stains combine protein and green pigment. Start with a cool enzyme soak, escalate only with tested fabric-safe products, and avoid heat until gone.
- How-to How to Remove Grease and Oil Stains from Clothes Blot grease, use an absorbent powder, pretreat with detergent or dish soap, wash at the hottest safe setting, and inspect before dryer heat.
- How-to How to Remove Hair Dye Stains from Clothes Hair dye stains need fast treatment: remove excess, flush cold from the back, pretreat, then use label-safe oxygen bleach or peroxide. Air-dry before heat.
- How-to How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes Ink stains need solvent-matching: rubbing alcohol for many pen inks, cold water for water-based ink, dry-brush toner, and test fabric before heat.
- How-to How to Remove Makeup & Lipstick Stains Makeup stains need grease-first treatment: lift excess, loosen oily or waxy base, pretreat with detergent, rinse from back, air-dry before heat.
- How-to How to Remove Red Wine Stains from Clothes Remove red wine stains from clothes, carpet and upholstery: cold water, dish soap and oxygen bleach, plus an honest verdict on salt, milk and boiling water.
- How-to How to Remove Self-Tanner Stains From Clothes and Sheets Fake tan on clothes or sheets? Flush the back with cold water, degrease, wash with an enzyme detergent — and never tumble-dry until the mark is fully gone.
- How-to How to Remove Set-In Stains After Washing and Drying A washed-and-dried stain is the hard case. Re-wet it, match the agent to the stain type, soak, then air-dry to check before applying heat again.
- How-to How to Remove Sweat and Yellow Armpit Stains Yellow underarm stains usually involve antiperspirant and body soil. Treat before heat; use enzyme detergent or oxygen bleach only where labels allow.
- How-to How to Whiten Yellowed Whites Without Making It Worse Reach for a colour-safe (oxygen) bleach, not more chlorine — Clorox warns misuse can yellow whites permanently. Bluing only masks it.