Most stains are easiest to remove in the first few hours. A few calm minutes at home can make the difference, as long as you avoid the habits that set a stain for good.
First steps for any stain
- Blot, do not rub. Press a clean white cloth or paper towel on the stain to lift what you can. Rubbing spreads it and roughs up the fibres.
- Work from the outside in, so the mark does not grow into a ring.
- Check the care label. If it says dry clean only, or the fabric is silk, wool, velvet or leather, skip home treatments and bring it in.
- Test first. Try any product on a hidden seam before you use it on the front.
- Keep heat away. Hot water, the dryer and the iron can fix a stain into the fabric. Air-dry the item until you are sure the mark is gone.
Common stains on washable fabrics
- Coffee and tea: rinse from the back with cold water, then wash as usual.
- Red wine and berries: blot, then flush with cold water from the back of the fabric. Do not add salt or hot water.
- Blood, egg and milk: always use cold water. Warm water cooks the proteins into the fibres.
- Grease and make-up: blot off the excess and work in a drop of washing-up liquid with your fingertips before washing.
- Ink: blot only. Ink spreads easily, so it is often a job for a professional.
When you bring a stained item to a dry cleaner, tell the counter what caused the mark and what you have already tried. It helps the cleaner choose the right treatment. Some stains, especially old or heat-set ones, cannot be removed safely, but the sooner a stain is treated, the better the chances.