How to remove unknown set-in stains from clothes?

Author: Celine Parisian  |  Last update: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes with 1 cup of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar and stir. Use a Dobie All Purpose Cleaning Pad to apply the detergent-vinegar mixture to your unidentified stain. Blot with the pad until the stain is gone.

How do you get old unknown stains out of clothes?

  • Mix equal parts of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide.
  • Apply the mixture directly to the stain and gently rub it in.
  • Let it sit for about 30 minutes.
  • Rinse with cold water and launder as usual.

How do you remove set-in stains that have been washed and dried?

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. Let it sit for about an hour or so before putting it through the washing machine.

How do you get stubborn set-in stains out of clothes?

1. Apply white vinegar directly to the stain, let it soak in for a few minutes (don't let it dry). 2. Wash the garment in your machine using the hottest water the fabric can tolerate.

What is the best stain remover for unknown stains?

Soak item in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent, and 1 tablespoon ammonia for 30 minutes. Rinse well. If stain persists, soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 1 hour.

How to Get (Almost) Every Kind of Stain Out of Your Clothes

Can old stains still be removed?

Pretreating old and fresh stains can play a massive role in getting stains out of clothes. Laundry pretreatment helps remove stains in the wash the first time around. Using stain removers as pretreaters can also help you remove old set-in stains from clothes.

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 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.

Can vinegar remove set in stains?

Removes Stains

Vinegar is a great solution. "Especially on white fabrics, vinegar can tackle stubborn stains by being added directly to your laundry or used as part of a pre-treating soaking solution," says Morgan LaLonde, laundry brand manager for Whirlpool.

How do you remove excess dried stain?

To get rid of the excess stain now, take a cloth dampened with mineral spirits and use that to scrub down the piece. This should remove the excess stain. Alternatively, apply another coat of stain, wait a couple of minutes for it to soften up the old, tacky, excess stain, then take a cloth and rub away the excess.

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.

Does OxiClean remove ink stains?

Removing Ink and Marker Stains with OxiClean™

Whether at home or on vacation, Max Force™ Spray can help you get rid of pesky marker stains so you and your kids have less stress and more time for fun!

How do you get stains out of clothes that have been dried?

If the stain is already dry, apply liquid laundry detergent or stain remover and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. If the stain persists, apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda for 30 minutes. Rinse again with cold water before laundering.

What is the hardest stain to get out of fabric?

Here's a list of five of the hardest stains to get out of clothes, and the best tactics to remove them.
  • PERMANENT MARKER. It's made to be permanent, so this can be a challenge to remove from clothes. ...
  • TOMATO SAUCE. First, remove as much of the tomato sauce as possible from the fabric. ...
  • BLOOD. ...
  • CHOCOLATE. ...
  • GREASE.

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.

Is vinegar or peroxide better for stains?

Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for stains? Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work differently to remove stains. Vinegar is more of a general stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide may have a slight bleaching effect on fabric so it's best to use it on white or light-colored items.

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 much Dawn and peroxide does it take to remove stains?

mix one part Dawn dish soap. to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and agitate. soak the stain in it. a little bit bigger than what the stain is actually. and then put baking soda on top and rub.

What is a stain that Cannot be removed?

Key Takeaways. Some of the toughest food stains to remove include coffee, tea, gum, peanut butter, mustard, berry juice, tomato-based sauces, baby food, red wine, chocolate, cooking grease and butter.

What is the number one stain remover?

Final Verdict. For our best overall pick, we love Shout's Advanced Grease Busting Foam, which is simple to use and formulated to remove tricky oil and grease stains.

How do you get rid of a stain that has been there for a long time?

Soak the stain in a solution of one cup of liquid laundry detergent and a few drops of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) for at least 30 minutes. Launder using liquid laundry detergent.

What is the best stain remover for vintage clothes?

Safe Stain Removers for Vintage Garments

It is best to start with 'natural' stain removers such as lemon juice and vinegar and baking soda, for vintage items, before moving onto harsher chemicals – not only are these milder stain removes safer to use on your vintage fabrics but they are also better for the environment.

What removes permanent stains?

Methylated spirits and rubbing alcohol (which can be found at your local DIY store or chemist) are often very useful, but if you'd rather use items you have lying around the house, alcohol-based hairsprays and alcohol-based antibacterial hand soaps (in liquid form) are also good choices.

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.

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