How do you wash heavily stained clothes?

Author: Leonel Haag  |  Last update: Saturday, July 5, 2025

Heavy Stains:
  1. Place stain facedown on clean paper towels. Apply cleaning fluid to back of stain.
  2. Replace paper towels under stain frequently.
  3. Let dry, rinse. Launder using hottest water safe for fabric.

How do you wash badly stained clothes?

Fully submerge the stained garment in warm water. Dab gentle laundry detergent or a diluted white vinegar mixture (a quarter-cup of white vinegar to one cup of water) onto the stain. Machine wash on the hottest setting your garment will allow.

How do you remove old set-in stains from clothes?

  1. Apply white vinegar to the area, let it soak in for a couple minutes.
  2. Pour salt onto the stained area, then work it in with your fingers.
  3. Put the garment in the sun and let it air dry.
  4. Wash as usual.
  5. Check to see if the stain's gone, repeat the steps if not.

How do you get hard stains out of clothes in the washing machine?

The heavy-duty or stain removal cycle works best for tough stains. If your washer has a pre-wash or steam function, use it for added cleaning power. Hot water settings are ideal for greasy stains, while cold water helps with protein-based stains. For delicate fabrics, stick to a gentle cycle to avoid damage.

Can I get stains out of clothes that have been washed and dried?

Yes, you should be able to. Soak the item of clothing in warm water, then apply a few drops of dish soap on the stain. Hold the material around the stain and start rubbing the sides against each other to work up a lather. This will help the fabric absorb the soap.

BEST Homemade Stain Remover EVER! DIY, Cheap and EASY!

What is the best wash cycle for tough stains?

For heavily soiled items, the Heavy Duty or Intensive cycle is recommended. This cycle provides longer wash times, increased agitation and higher spin speeds to tackle tough stains and dirt.

Can you get permanent stains out of clothes?

You probably can't remove stains that have been set that way. Heat makes most of them permanent. You can try repeatedly soaking in an Oxy clean type stain remover and not using the dryer to dry the clothing in between but there is no guarantee of success.

What is a strong stain remover for fabric?

Here are the top three scorers from our stain remover powder test:
  • Sard Whiter & Brighter Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker.
  • Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action Gold Pro Advanced Crystal White Stain Remover.
  • Sard Power Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove stains?

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful stain remover, natural disinfectant, and whitening agent – all without leaving harmful residues behind. It's safe for most washable, dye-stable fabrics and works effectively when added to your regular wash cycle or as a pre-treatment solution.

What is the best stain remover for clothes that have been dried?

With OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover powder, you can remove old stains from clothes even after they have dried, grease and oil stains included. Plus, VSR is color safe, so you can use it to restore the life of old clothes and avoid having to buy new ones!

What is the best stain remover for old stubborn stains?

Strong Contenders
  • Seventh Generation Laundry Stain Remover.
  • Grove Co. Stain Remover Spray.
  • Carbona Laundry Stain Scrubber.
  • HEX Performance Stain & Stink Remover.
  • Ingredients Matter Stain Stick.

Does OxiClean work on old stains?

Don't worry if an item is stained or looks dingy because it's really simple to get used items looking like new with OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover. Plus, by giving new life to old clothes, you're not only helping the planet, you're saving money too.

Can you get really old stains out of clothes?

For those persistent stains that refuse to budge, a baking soda paste is your secret weapon: Mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste generously onto the stubborn stain, ensuring complete coverage. Let the paste dry on the fabric for approximately 30 minutes.

Does Dawn work as a stain remover?

Dish soap can be applied to stains before you run the wash, to better prevent them from settling into the fabric. Handwashing small loads: Dawn® Platinum can help remove stubborn oil and food stains, making it an ideal option for handwashing small loads of laundry.

How do you get tough stains out of clothes?

What Cleaning Materials Remove Tough Stains From Clothes?
  1. Laundry Detergent: Your Stain-Fighting Ally.
  2. Color Safe Bleach Products: Safe and Effective Stain Removal.
  3. Dish Soap: The Unexpected Stain Fighter.
  4. Vinegar: The All-Natural Solution.
  5. Baking Soda: Multi-Tasking Marvel.
  6. Rubbing Alcohol: Quick and Effective.

What is the best product to get stains out of fabric?

We recommend wearing gloves when working with them.
  • Our pick: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover. ...
  • Our pick: OxiClean On the Go Pen Stain Remover. ...
  • Our pick: Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Our pick: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Also great: Zout. ...
  • Also great: Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Brightener.

What is the best stain remover trick?

Sponge with white vinegar and rinse again. Repeat, treating the stain with liquid detergent, then with white vinegar until you've removed as much stain as possible. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and launder with bleach that's safe for the fabric.

How long to soak clothes in hydrogen peroxide?

Wash the stained item with cold water and normally used soap or detergent. You can also soak the entire garment in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the stained clothing from the hydrogen peroxide and rinse it out in cold water.

What is the best homemade stain remover for clothes?

Mix Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide

Add 2 parts hydrogen peroxide (1 cup suggested). Add 1 part dishwashing liquid (1/2 cup suggested).

How to remove a set-in stain?

Soak the stained portion of the fabric in undiluted white vinegar for 30 minutes. Depending on the size of the stain and the size of the garment, fill a large bowl or wash basin with enough vinegar to cover the stain and allow the fabric to soak. Then launder the garment as you usually would.

Is it better to wash in hot or cold water?

Delicate fabrics (lace and silk) and dark, colorful fabrics actually do best in cold water. Not all stains respond to warmer water. For example, blood and sweat can actually set into fabric in hot water. Also, hot water tends to shrink, fade, and wrinkle certain fabrics.

What to put in a washing machine to remove stains?

You can add bleach to every load of bleach-safe laundry along with your regular detergent to clean, whiten, remove stains and sanitize your clothes. Detergent alone is not enough. Discover more ways to clean. Use as directed.

What laundry detergent is best for tough stains?

We tested dozens of laundry detergents and found that Tide Ultra Oxi Powder and Tide Free & Gentle Liquid tackled the widest range of stains with ease.

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