Best Stain Remover for Stains on Clothing

Let's talk stains on clothing.

Clothing is a tricky topic. It's a need, but according to the Pareto Principle, only 20% of our wardrobe is worn 80% of the time. For the purpose of this post, lets focus on the 20% of our wardrobe that’s getting the most action! You’re doing life in these clothes. Stains on clothing are inevitable. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I got pretty good at removing stains on clothing. Since I have a somewhat messy toddler, I had a lot of opportunities to practice! Here’s what I learned. 

The Basics

The following principles apply to ALL stains:

1. The best stain treatment is AVOIDANCE. If you know you or your child is likely to get messy, maybe pass on the family heirloom garment. If you can, opt for “play clothes” that you don’t mind getting dirty. Utilize aprons or bibs if you’d like to preserve the garments, but it’s not a huge deal if they get ruined. Have your tot go topless and/or pant-less (if it’s warm enough to do so).
2. The better the quality of the clothing, the more likely it is to withstand washes and stain fighting techniques. Look, kids will be kids, and not all adults can avoid a spill! At the end of the day, it’s just an article of clothing. Kids especially outgrow clothing quickly (if they even get to wear them). In addition to shopping secondhand, end of season and other sales, I like to purchase from small shops that create limited edition designs and have a loyal following. These pieces tend to hold their value and can often be resold depending on the condition, funding the next size up in clothing for your ever growing child’s wardrobe! It may be better to invest in higher quality pieces you can wear again and again, as opposed to buying multiple cheap items that fall apart after one wear and wash. You get what you pay for!
3. The sooner you treat the stain, the more likely it is to come out!
4. Do a cold water rinse to get as much of the stain out of the fabric as possible before treating. 
5. Test a small area first if you’re highly motivated to preserve the affected item. Many stain treatments have the potential to alter the color of the fabric. 
6. Avoid the dryer if you’re not confident the treatment has removed the stain! Using the drying machine tends to set in stains, whereas air drying gives you the chance to treat the stain again.
7. Macaroni and cheese sauce and red sauce are extremely stubborn stains. 
8. Patterned pieces hide stains better than solid colors.

So there’s a stain. Now what?

Unfortunately, not all stains can be avoided. Remember to treat the stain right away if you can. Many stain removal products can generally be used first, and may be all that you need. I like spray n wash and shout and I have miss mouth's messy eater stain treater and tide bleach pens for on the go. I’ve also heard wonderful things about fels naphtha (commissions earned). But some stains require specific treatments, so it helps to have the right agents at the ready…

Stain	Remedy
Berries	Boiling Water - pour quickly from as high as you can reach! Best done in a bathtub or shower
Blood	Hydrogen Peroxide (H202)
Coffee*	Blot to absorb => rinse with cold water => rub with liquid laundry detergent
Coffee* (alternative)	Create paste with vinegar/water/powder laundry detergent
Grass*	Diluted Vinegar Solution
Grease	Colorless dish liquid
Ink	Rubbing Alcohol
Ketchup/Sauce*	Liquid detergent => H202
Sweat*	4 tbsps baking soda + 1/4 c. Water
Sweat* (alternative)	Ammonia + H202
Wine	50/50 Dish Liquid + H202
Wine* (alternative)	Salt to absorb + club soda

*I do not have personal experience with the stain removal techniques marked with an asterisk. I gathered this information from this article. 

I treated the stain, but it’s still there. Now what?!

If you didn’t put the garment in the dryer, then the stain is not likely set in. You can repeat the same recommended treatment as many times as it takes. Hopefully, you will see the stain becoming less noticeable. If you’re ready to throw in the towel, then here are some things you can try:

• My Go To Hail Mary treatment: oxy clean powder soak. There are very few stains that this solution failed to get out (yes, even macaroni and cheese and red sauce)! Pro tip: Soak individual items or run the risk of color bleed. And consider yourself warned if you or members of your household are sensitive: there is a slight fragrance that in my experience does not come out despite rinsing, rewashing, etc. Also, depending on the material of the garment (remember the bamboo blends I mentioned in last week’s post), the fabric can feel slightly different. But I’ve gotten many deals on sought after brands and revived pieces that were nearly discarded due to what were deemed set in stains. 

• Alternative Hail Mary treatment: the sun! Indeed, sunshine is good for YOU, but it can also be good for your stained garments. I have resorted to this method once or twice, and am happy to report it works! I had just about written off a stained item that failed multiple other rounds of treatment, only to discover it where I had left it in the sun for about a week looking good as new!

• Consider altering the stained garment: Perhaps you can cut off the affected area or try your hand at tie dye. You could even repurpose it into something completely new, such as a lovey or pillowcase. Now you have a one-of-a-kind piece with a good story behind it!

Do you tend to treat or toss? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to know what products and techniques you use if you're into the cheap thrill of stain removal like me. 

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