Certain types of fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, and some nylons are particularly susceptible to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine, etc. Be aware of hot liquids, especially. Of course, bleach and household chemicals (see below) can cause permanent staining as well.
Over time, stains absorb into the fabric and permeate the fibres. They begin to react with the fabric's dye. A chemical change takes place and the stain literally changes the colour of the fabric.
The heat of the dryer can set the stain and make it permanent. If the item is marked "dry-clean only," blot off the excess stain and take the item to a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible.
If you find a stain on an item that has been through a hot dryer, it doesn't have to be permanent. By using the right laundry products and the right technique, stains that have been dried do come out. Back-to-school cleaning.
You're Using Too Much Detergent or Softener
Higher-efficiency washing machines need less detergent and/or detergent pods, so if you're finding white or blue cast stains on your clothes right after the wash, you could be putting too much soap into the drum.
Certain types of fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, and some nylons are particularly susceptible to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine, etc. Be aware of hot liquids, especially. Of course, bleach and household chemicals (see below) can cause permanent staining as well.
Does Sweat Stain Clothes Permanently? Sweat stains don't have to be permanent, but they can become more difficult to remove if you don't treat them quickly or follow the right process.
Storing your seasonal items “dirty” without laundering them first allows sweat, body oils, cologne, hidden spills and grime to “set” in to the fibers over a long period of time. Next time you want to wear the item, the stain will be so old and set in, it may be set for life.
Sadly, there is no one-size-fits-all stain remover, so that's why we always ask that you share as much information as possible at drop off. There are some stains that are incredibly stubborn, but place that stain on a delicate fabric, then it becomes even more challenging and sometimes impossible to remove.
If you feel like it's your only option, though, start with diluted oxygen bleach and move on to chlorine bleach if necessary. Really old, stubborn stains sometimes respond best to liquid glycerin. Rub it in, let it soak and then launder again.
As the hard water passes through pipes and fixtures in your home and evaporates, it can leave behind hard water stains. These stains are caused by the high levels of calcium carbonate in the water. It is this that causes a build-up of what we tend to call calcium deposits or – more frequently – limescale.
Old Stains There is often the effect of time upon a stain: the older the stain, the harder it is to remove. Drycleaners who are trained in stain removal prefer to work on fresh stains which have not had time to "set" or react with the fabric, dyes, finish, or atmosphere.
Chromhidrosis is a disorder of the sweat glands that manifests with colored sweat on the face, in the underarms, or on the areola of the breasts (the darker circle of skin around the nipples). Sweat may be yellow, green, blue, brown, or black.
Pit stains happen when the aluminum in your antiperspirant or deodorant mixes with your sweat and gets absorbed into your clothes. Over time, more residue builds up on your clothes and yellows the stain.
The increased numbers of lipofuscin pigments in the secretory apocrine cells are presumed to be the cause of apocrine chromhidrosis. Several extrinsic causes of eccrine chromhidrosis and pseudochromhidrosis include chromogenic bacteria, especially Corynebacterium species, fungi, dyes, drugs, and chemical contactants.
Unfortunately, some stains are permanent, and not even the best cleaning methods can remove them. If you notice a stain on your clothes, do not try to remove it yourself. Washing a stain or attempting to remove it with a home remedy can actually ingrain it further into the fabric and make it permanent.
Stains are classified based on the pH of their chromophore (color bearing ion) into acidic, basic and neutral.
Laundry detergent stains are annoying, but they don't have to be permanent. Use our guide to learn how to help remove detergent stains from clothes or review our guide to learn how to use laundry pods correctly.
One of the most common causes is using too much detergent. If you add too much detergent, the fabric will react with the washing powder, leaving behind brown flakes. Another common cause is using too much Fabric softener. The product is made of oil, and when you use too much, it causes a stain.