Get Rid Of These 15 REALLY Annoying Stains In A Flash

Get Rid Of These 15 REALLY Annoying Stains In A Flash

When the kids are young, it's easy to blame every stain in sight on them. But the truth is, accidents happen no matter how old we get - just ask my grandad!

Whether it's an enthusiastic coffee slurp or a rushed slice of buttered toast, stains often find a way onto our clothes before we've had a chance to properly open our eyes. When they do occur, panic ensues - stains, it seems, are something that scares even the most grown-up among us.

Well, no need to get all stressed out. With the millions of cleaning products on the market along with the tried and tested tips of housewife's from decades past to refer to, there aren't many stains that can we can't shift these days.

Roll your sleeves up, and get ready to turn into a pro at stain removal!

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1. Butter

Butter Stain
Banish that grease!

Mmmmm - there's nothing like the indulgent yet simple taste of a buttered slice of toast to start your day. However, with those sleepy eyes, it's often an accident waiting to happen. Learn how to get butter out of clothes:

  1.  Rub a small amount of washing up liquid into the stain.
  2. Rinse the stained area well, removing both the stain & the soap.
  3. Pretreat the stain with a laundry stain remover.
  4. Check the label then machine or hand wash on the hottest water setting possible.

2. Baked beans

There's nothing like tucking into a humble yet unarguably delicious dinner of beans on toast...until you spill them all down yourself, that is.

Don't panic - here's a failsafe method to get you looking spotless before anyone sees you:

  1. Scrape off excess baked beans.
  2. Run the fabric under cold water on the unstained side.
  3. Cover stain with a liquid laundry detergent & let stand for several minutes.
  4. Rinse well.
  5. Sponge with white vinegar & rinse well.
  6. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 until you have removed as much stain as possible.
  7. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover & wash as normal.

3. Berries

We all like to get our five-a-day in. What we don't like, however, is the dark stains that often come with it. Here's how to remove them:

  1. Rinse stain with cold running water.
  2. Stretch item of clothing over a large bowl & secure with a rubber band.
  3. Taking care, pour boiling water over the stained area.
  4. Repeat as needed until the stain disappears.
  5. Wash as normal.

4. Gum

If you've ever sat on someone else's chewing gum, you'll know the horror that entails. It's a mixture of, 'ew,' 'how on Earth did I not see that' and 'how the heck am I going to get that out?' It's a troublesome task to deal with, but not an impossible one. So once you've rushed home holding today's paper over your bum to hide your mistake, here's what to do:

  1. Place two ice cubes on the culprit - one above & one underneath.
  2. Wait until the gum is cold through.
  3. Place on a flat surface and chip off with a blunt knife.
  4. Pre-treat the area with an enzyme detergent, spot treatment, or regular clothes soap.
  5. Wash as normal.

How about getting gum out of hair? It's easy. Read our guide to find out how it's done. 

5. Tea/Coffee

Coffee Stain
Enjoy your coffee hit without the worry of stains.

These days, a day is hard to get through without at least a dozen hot drinks - that's a lot of spills to avoid! If you do have a little accident, don't stress. Follow these quick steps, instead:

  1. Fill the sink with warm water & detergent, following the instructions on the label to determine the dosage.
  2. Soak your garment in the solution for a few hours.
  3. Wash the garment as usual in warm water.

6. Red Wine

Don't they recommend a glass a day these days? Well, I'm certainly not going to argue with that one! However, when one turns into two, spills can become an easy thing to do. Follow these steps to remove the evidence:

  1. Mop up the spill with paper towels.
  2. Sprinkle on a small amount of bicarbonate of soda.
  3. Don't panic when stain changes from red to grey - it's all part of the plan.
  4. Add white vinegar to a cloth & wipe stain.
  5. Leave stain to dry, then vacuum over.

7. Baby food

Feeding time often leads to more baby food on clothes than it does in little mouths. You may think that the vibrant 'carrot and potato' stain on their new romper means it's done for, but there could still be hope yet! Before throwing it in the bin, try this:

  1. Scrape excess baby food off of the garment in an upwards motion.
  2. Soak for at least 2 hours in a bowl of cold water.
  3. Pre-treat with a stain remover.
  4. Check washing instructions on label & wash on highest setting possible.

8. Mustard

Mustard isn't for everyone, but for those of us who do like it, it can often come with long-lasting consequences - you guessed it, stains! Whether you're a lover or hater, it's always best to be prepared:

  1. If you catch stain when it's still wet, spray on a spot cleaner. If stain has dried, scrape as much of the spill off as possible.
  2. Rinse with water, apply liquid detergent to the stain & rinse again.
  3. If the stain remains, soak for several hours in a warm-to-hot solution of detergent.
  4. Rinse & wash as normal.

9. Soy sauce

A delicious plate of Asian noodles in a thick soy sauce is one of the most delicious but difficult things to eat. Whether you wrap your noodles around your fork, use your chopsticks, or just slurp them up any old how, it seems a splattering of soy-sauce is inevitable. Here's how to get rid of the damage:

  1. Blot up any excess soy sauce with a clean cloth.
  2. Soak the stain in a solution of 1.5 litres of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent, & 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse with water.
  4. Sponge the remaining stain with rubbing alcohol then wash as soon as possible.

10. Jam

Jam Stain
No more sticky stains.

Sweet, sticky, delicious jam. Great in the mouth, not so great on your clothes. Where to begin with these troublesome red stains? Start here:

  1. Scrape off any excess jam.
  2. Rinse with cold water from the back of the fabric.
  3. Make a solution of a litre & a half of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent & a tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak the fabric in this solution for about 15 minutes.
  4. Thorouhgly rinse with cold water.
  5. Check clothes label then wash in hottest water possible. If the fabric allows it, add chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach if not.

11. Beetroot

We've all heard about the glorious health benefits of beetroot, but the health advisers have obviously never tried opening a pack themselves! Deep-purple liquid that seems to have ultra staining-powers. One little knock and, before you know it, it's all over your fingers, countertop and clothes. Here's how to sort it out:

  1. Rinse fabric under water as soon as possible.
  2. Soak stain in biological detergent.
  3. Rinse under cold water.
  4. Wash as usual.

12. Egg

Eggs are eggcellent for most things. If you want to discover just what they can do, check out this article I wrote about all their amazing uses. With all that enthusiastic eggy creation, it's easy to get a bit messed up. Do eggsactly this when that occurs:

  1. Scrape off any excess egg with a spatula & blot with a clean cloth.
  2. Sponge cold water onto the front & back of the fabric.
  3. Repeat step 1.
  4. Soak the stain in cold water for 30 minutes, occasionally rubbing the stain between your fingers.
  5. Add a stain-remover if stain remains.
  6. Wash as usual, repeating steps 1-5 if stain persists before drying.

13. Curry

You may be able to choose the hotness of your curry, but one thing you can't pick is its staining capacity! Whether you opt for Korma or Madras, spill a spoonful down yourself and you'll be wearing your choice for the rest of the evening. Act fast to make sure it's not a stain that will last forever:

  1. Scrape off as much of the curry as possible.
  2. Dab on water with a clean napkin, then dry with another clean napkin.
  3. Squeeze the juice of a lime or lemon over the stain. If the restaurant doesn't have any citrus fruit, ask them for white vinegar. Leave for 15 minutes.
  4. Use water and a napkin to rinse the stain & blot it off as much as possible.
  5. Treat with a stain remover and detergent as soon as you get home.

14. Ice-cream

A favourite amongst the kids - and adults. Back in the days where vanilla was your only option, ice-cream stains were much easier to remove, but with choices like mega chunky choc chip caramel swirl being a common thing now, it's a much more complicated affair! Here's how to remove that sticky stain, cookie chunks and all:

  1. Place garment in cold water as soon as possible for 5-10 minutes or longer if the stain is dried.
  2. Rub liquid laundry detergent or washing up liquid into the stained area & soak in room temperature water for 30 minutes, rubbing the stain gently every few minutes.
  3. Add a stain remover & leave to sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
  5. Wash as per the fabric label.

15. Ketchup

ketchup stain
Fast food stains, banished!

Summer BBQ, cooked breakfast, chicken and chips - is there ever a bad time for what seems the be the World's favourite condiment? So many things to add it to - so many stains waiting to happen. Here's how to remove those unsightly red marks:

  1. Scrape off any excess ketchup.
  2. Run cold water through the fabric from the back of the stain.
  3. Gently rub liquid detergent into the stain & soak in cold water for 15 minutes.
  4. Wash as normal.
  5. If stain persists, treat with a stain remover before washing again & drying.

Looking for more? Find out how to get chocolate out of clothes and get rid of hair dye stains.

With all that stain-removing knowledge, you'll now be able to eat and drink in peace! What are the most common stains in your household, and how do you act fast to remove them?

 

Stephanie C

Editor

Lover of all things fashion & foodie...I look to satisfy my tastes without obliterating my budget. Wannabe interior designer, I'm an avid cushion cover maker and charity shop hunter.

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  1. Author Jo godfrey on October 19, 2016 at 11:19 am

    Hi I know this is not an organic stain but spray hairspray on to an ink Stain's works really well. I had a jacket in the wardrobe pulled it out and found a huge black no stain from a girl in the pocket. Hair spray loosened and shifted the stain fairly well. I did have to wash it then repeat a few times but it was a stain the size of an orange! But it did shift the stain, I can see a faint stain in a certain light (but that's because I know where the stain was) on what I thought was a ruined jacket!

    1. Author Stephanie C on October 20, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Jo. This is a great tip - I've never considered using hairspray on a stain before! Thanks a lot for sharing with us ?

    Reply
  2. Author Heather on October 19, 2016 at 11:46 am

    Any tips for removing underarm stains from deodorant/anti perspirants on clothes where it has gone hard?

    1. Author Stephanie C on October 20, 2016 at 3:59 pm

      Hi Heather. If you're looking for a DIY method, try baking soda: make a paste of 4T baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water, rub the paste into the stain and leave it alone for a few hours, then wash. A good product to try if you have no success with that is Oxy Plus - works a dream for most stains!

    Reply
  3. Author Olwen Ineson on October 19, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    A tip I've found for getting rid of grease on any item of washable clothing is to add some neat washing-up liquid to the stain, and then leave it for a couple of hours or even overnight. When it is next washed the stain will have disappeared.. This even works on items that have been already been washed once with the stain.

    1. Author Stephanie C on October 20, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      Wow Olwen, that sure it a handy tip! I wonder if it will work on my white t-shirt that's been stained for a while now...I'll give it a go! Thanks for sharing ?

    Reply
  4. Author Adele Hendry on October 23, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Hi Stephanie C. Any tips on removing bolognaise sauce stains off a carpet please?

    1. Author Stephanie C on March 9, 2017 at 10:13 am

      Hi Adele. You could try wetting the stain, rubbing in some dishwasher detergent, then going over that with an ice cube. Blot over any remaining stains with a clean cloth, moistened with vinegar. I hope that helps! :)

    Reply
  5. Author Rosemary Sprenger on October 29, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    How do you get rid of blood stains please?

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 1, 2016 at 4:21 pm

      Hi Rosemary. If they stain has already dried, your best bet is probably a stain-removal product. You can also try vinegar on the stain, but this is usually best for wet blood stains. I hope this helps!?

    2. Author Susan Bowden on April 12, 2017 at 1:32 pm

      Whatever you do - don't use hot water! It sets the stain. Rinse well with cold water, giving it a good rub, and then treat.

    Reply
  6. Author Emily on April 12, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    My 17 month old loves Satsuma's but always manages to get them down her clothes. I have tried numerous shop bought stain removers and none of them get the stains out .... Any ideas please?

    1. Author Stephanie C on April 12, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Emily. It's great to encourage your little ones to eat fruit at such a young age - good work! With regards to stains, you need to thoroughly treat it prior to washing. Try this: - blot the stain with a clean cloth (DO NOT SCRUB) - mix 1 tsp neutral detergent with 1 tsp white vinegar and 1 quart cold water - moisten cloth with solution & blot onto stain - repeat with clean section of the cloth until stain is removed Let me know how you get on with this! :)

    Reply
  7. Author Rebecca Allen on April 5, 2019 at 10:09 am

    How do I remove black oil stain on carpet please

    Reply
  8. Author Sharon Hirst on April 5, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    How do I remove mango fruit stain, tried vanish then washed but stain still remains!!

    1. Author Mia on April 11, 2019 at 3:51 am

      When I was 10 years old my aunt said I should use elbow grease to clean something. I asked her where it was. I never did find it. I think it's only available to cleaners - they all seem to have a secret stash somewhere

    Reply
  9. Author Ferdos on April 6, 2019 at 8:58 am

    Hi How do you get grass stains out? Tried washing pair of jeans 5 times now...no luck!

    1. Author Joanne A on April 8, 2019 at 9:11 am

      Hi Ferdos! Have you tried treating the stain or have you just been washing them?

    Reply
  10. Author Martin on June 11, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    Any tips for Nectarine stains?

    1. Author Joanne A on June 12, 2019 at 10:55 am

      Hi Martin! Have you tried using distilled white vinegar to pre-treat the stain?

    2. Author Barbie on December 4, 2020 at 1:01 am

      Hi. I have mould on several items of clothing and also the wall. Any ideas to remove these. I have tried mould spray on the walls but still some remain. I have washed the clothes, used stain remover but some have not come out. Please help.

    3. Author Joanne A on February 13, 2023 at 12:33 pm

      To remove mould from walls, try a mixture of water and white vinegar. To remove mould stains from clothes, try soaking the affected items in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, then wash as usual, or use a commercial stain remover or oxygen bleach.

    Reply
  11. Author Helen Taylor on December 17, 2020 at 9:26 am

    Hi a bar of vanish soap always works for me

    1. Author Joanne A on February 13, 2023 at 11:32 am

      Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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