What stain is the hardest to remove?

Author: Mallie Schneider  |  Last update: Saturday, December 13, 2025

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. For coffee or tea stains, rinsing in hot water or treating with dishwashing liquid can be effective.

What is the most difficult stain to remove?

Let's explore five common stains, the immediate actions you can take, and how professional laundry services can ensure your garments remain pristine.
  • Stain #1: Red Wine. ...
  • Stain #2: Coffee. ...
  • Stain #3: Grease/Oil. ...
  • Stain #4: Blood. ...
  • Stain #5: Ink.

Can some stains be impossible to remove?

The short answer is unfortunately no, not all stains can be removed, and here are three reasons why. The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed.

What is the hardest thing to unstain?

Hot cocoa, blood, permanent marker and tomato sauce are the hardest stains to remove from fabrics. Greasy and oily stains can be very difficult to remove using a water-based washing and detergent, but these are more easily removed with dry cleaning.

What stains fabric permanently?

Common Causes of Permanent Stains

-Beverages: Spills from coffee, tea, sodas, and other drinks can permanently stain textiles, especially on wool, nylon, silk, and cotton. Even “stain-resistant” nylon carpets are vulnerable to hot liquids and bleach-based household chemicals.

HOW TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS || CLEAN LIMESCALE OFF FIXTURES

What stains won't come out?

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. For coffee or tea stains, rinsing in hot water or treating with dishwashing liquid can be effective.

What is the hardest thing to get out of fabric?

8 Stubborn Stains and How to Remove Them
  • Hot Cocoa. Hot cocoa may be the drink that you've always turned to for comfort, but it can also be your worst and hardest enemy as a stain. ...
  • Poop. ...
  • Blood. ...
  • Permanent Marker. ...
  • Tomato Sauce. ...
  • Grass Stains. ...
  • Red Wine. ...
  • Chocolate.

What is the hardest color to remove?

Specifically, lighter colors like white, yellow, light blue, and pink are the most difficult to remove, as are green, red, and neon colors. White ink (and light colors that were made by combining darker ink with white ink) sometimes turns darker before it begins to fade.

Why are some stains harder to remove than others?

While we understand what it takes to wash clothes effectively, laundry detergents still have difficulty getting certain items clean. This difficulty occurs when the molecules in a stain are larger than the molecules in a detergent, or when there are no active spots on a stain for a detergent to connect with it.

What is the most stain resistant?

Quartz is the most stain resistant material because it is engineered with ground-up natural stone and resin. This creates a non-porous material that is highly stain resistant. Quartz is also easy to maintain as no sealer is required.

What is the best stain remover for old stains?

OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray is another laundry stain remover you need to help get rid of old stains. It can surround and loosen some of the toughest set-in stains. Still seeing a little bit of dried blood on your shorts after scraping your knee during a hiking trip?

Can old stains still be removed?

Deal with it as early as possible. The less time a stain has to soak in, the easier it will be to remove, although there are ways to remove old stains out of clothes as well. Pre-treat with a stain remover, then let it soak in. Launder according to the fabric care instructions.

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.

Which stain lasts the longest?

Stain Application Frequency
  • Clear and transparent stains need a touchup every year or two.
  • Semi-transparent last 2 to 3 years.
  • Semi-solid stains are good for 2 to 4 years of protection.
  • Solid stains on decks may protect up to 5 to 7 years.

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.

What is the number one rule of stain removal?

Amongst all the golden rules for stain removal, acting quickly is by far the top of the list. The longer you leave the stain, the harder it will be to remove. As soon as the stain lands, we recommend getting onto it. How quickly and speedily you get to the stain determines how successfully it is removed.

What type of stain is the hardest to remove?

8 Kinds Of Stubborn Stains And How To Remove Them
  • Why are some stains harder to remove? As a homeowner, you may have dealt with tons of stains, some far easier than others. ...
  • Red wine. Red wine spills can quickly turn a celebration into a stain-induced panic. ...
  • Tomato sauce. ...
  • Grease and oil. ...
  • Ink. ...
  • Grass. ...
  • Organic stains. ...
  • Makeup.

What is the hardest stain to remove from a couch?

Upholstery Cleaning: 4 Hardest Stains to Remove
  • Chocolate. Chocolate, particularly if melted or in the form of hot cocoa, can cause a huge headache when it lands on your upholstery. ...
  • Blood. ...
  • Tomato Sauce. ...
  • Red Wine.

Are some stains not removable?

Yes, there are absolutely stains that can't be removed. Time + the original method of cleaning + whatever the stain actually is can all make them difficult(if not impossible) remove. Different chemicals are supposed to be used for different stains. Tannins, protein-based, oil-based, etc.

What is the hardest color to keep clean?

Lighter colors like silver, gray, and beige are easier to maintain and show less dirt, while darker colors like black, red, and dark blue can be more challenging but offer a striking appearance when freshly cleaned.

Is black ink easier to remove?

Black and Dark Blue Inks: Leading the pack regarding removability, black and dark blue pigments absorb all laser wavelengths effectively, making them the most susceptible to the laser removal process. These colours break down more readily than others, allowing for a smoother and often quicker removal experience.

What color is the easiest to remove?

Easy Ink to Remove

Black ink, green ink, and blue ink are easier to remove than some other colors, such as red, white, yellow, or orange ink.

Which stain should never be removed with hot water?

Protein stains such as dairy, blood, egg, glue, and white deodorant marks should always be washed in cold water. Hot water can actually cook the protein, causing it to absorb into the clothing fibres, and making it almost impossible to remove.

What is the best stain remover?

We tested more than 20 stain removers to see how they fared against a wide variety of both fresh and seriously set-in stains on washable fabrics. Amodex Ink & Stain Remover did the best job overall, and we have five other recommendations to help you fight the good fight.

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.

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