Rinse the garment and launder as usual. Once the clothing is removed from the wash, inspect for any remaining stains. Repeat the stain removal process if necessary before placing the clothing in the dryer.
There are stain removers that you can apply directly and let stay on clothes before washing. Others will require you to rinse or wash immediately after laundry pretreatment. Not all clothing stain removers are made equal! Some laundry pretreatment products use borax or hydrogen peroxide.
Allow the stain remover to sit for at least fifteen minutes, then wash the garment in the hottest water appropriate for the fabric following the guidelines on the care label. After washing, inspect the stained area before tossing it into the dryer.
The last thing that you want to do when you have any stain is to rub the fabric together while pre-treating. Rather than helping to remove the stain, this just pushes it into the fabric further and possibly spreads the stain further.
Using too much stain remover
Using too much can make the area harder to rinse or dry, especially on carpets and upholstery. Light, repeated applications of a remover work much better than flooding a stain.
Letting the stain remover sit too long.
Ironically, some stain removers can cause more damage to fabric if they're left to sit on a stain. Make sure to read and follow instructions, particularly when it comes to how long the stain remover should treat a stain.
For set-in stains, allow the spray to penetrate overnight or up to a week. For fabrics prone to color change, do not let stand longer than 5 minutes. Do not treat the garment while wearing it.
Pre-treat with a stain remover, then let it soak in. Launder according to the fabric care instructions. Regular stains should come out in cold water but for extra dirty clothing or very tough stains, use the warmest setting safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, repeat the steps above.
Many food or beverage stains, such as chocolate, jam, baby food, beer, and dairy are more easily removed with cold water soaks and washes. Cold water is also recommended for urine and blood stains. Other stains, especially oily or greasy ones, do better in warm or hot water.
Using too much solution. It may seem logical to use as much stain remover as possible to lift your stain, but the opposite is in fact true. Using a lot of stain remover on one small stain can cause irreversible damage to your clothing, and may not even lift the stain.
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.
The longer the stain is left on, the deeper and richer the color will be. For consistent color, use careful timing. Never allow any stain to dry on the wood surface—it will prevent the clear finish from adhering and cause other issues.
You can use any stain-removing solution you have. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes (and up to overnight) and then launder as usual. The stain should be gone, but launder on cool settings and repeat if the stain persists.
Use a Stain Removal Pen or Wipe
The first option to consider when removing a food stain on clothes without washing them is to use a stain removal pen or wipe.
The good news is that most stain removers are going to lift the dirt and stains on your wardrobe. However, some are better at erasing certain types of stains than others, whether that's last night's wine or dried, set-in stains of turkey gravy, or fresh ones from today's chocolate bar you just munched on at lunch.
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.
Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off. Be sure to wipe off all the excess stain going in the direction of the grain of the wood.
Wait to Dry for about 12 hours, or until the formula has completely dried to a powder. Sweep off the dry powder. White residue may remain. Clean residue with firm, dry brushing, and then strong rinsing.
What happens if you leave Vanish on for too long? Vanish is a cleaning solution, so if you leave the product on your garment for too long you run the risk of fading your item. To keep your items in pristine condition, always follow the instructions on the back of the packaging.
Workers performing stain removal may be exposed to these toxic chemicals through skin absorption, eye contact, or inhalation of vapors. The primary hazard is dermatitis from chronic or acute exposure.
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.
As these ingredients evaporate, they become harmful volatile organic compounds, more commonly known as VOCs, that linger in the air for days or even months.
Leaving stain remover on fabric overnight can sometimes be beneficial for tough stains, allowing the product more time to break down the stain particles. However, it's important to follow the instructions on the stain remover's label, as some products may cause damage or discoloration if left on too long.
Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
This reliable stain remover is our favorite for its ability to effectively remove various types of stains, including set-in makeup, oil, and grease. (It struggled to remove fresh foundation and set-in wine stains, though.)