Stain Removal Guide

Got stains? Look no further. Our comprehensive A-Z stain removal guide will show you how to keep your laundry sparkling no matter the mishap.

Stain

Treatment
Alcohol, wine, and fruit beverages
  1. Sponge stain with cold water or soak in cold water for 30 minutes.
  2. Rub detergent into stain and launder in hottest water possible for fabric. If fabric is not safe for bleach, sponge with vinegar, rinse and launder.
Blood
  1. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes.
  2. Rub detergent into stain and rinse.
  3. Use a small drop of ammonia if stain does not come out. If stain remains, wash in hottest water possible with fabric bleach.
Candle wax
  1. Rub area with an ice cube and carefully scrape off excess wax with a dull knife.
  2. Place area between several layers of paper towel and press with warm iron.
  3. If stain remains, sponge with stain remover and launder per fabric instructions, preferably using the warmest water possible.
Coffee & Tea Black

  1. Immediately rinse with cool water.
  2. If stain is already dry, soak for 30 minutes in cool water.
  3. Rub the stain with detergent and then wash with fabric safe bleach.

With Milk or Cream

  1. Rub with detergent.
  2. Wash with colour safe bleach in hottest water safe for fabric. Additionally, you can try pretreating with a stain remover.
Chocolate & Cocoa
  1. Soak in cool water and pretreat with stain remover.
  2. Rinse and then wash in hottest water possible with appropriate bleach product if necessary.
Cosmetics
  1. Dampen stain with water.
  2. Rub detergent into stain while still wet.
  3. Launder with hottest water possible for fabric.
Fingernail polish
  1. Test fabric in an inconspicuous area to ensure it will not damage the fabric.
  2. Place stain face down on a paper towel.
  3. Sponge with nail polish remover.
Grass
  1. Rub detergent into dampened stain.
  2. Launder in hot water and use chlorine bleach (if fabric allows).
  3. If stain remains, sponge with alcohol.
  4. Rinse thoroughly.
Gravy
  1. If stain has dried scrape with a dull knife.
  2. Soak for at least 30 minutes in cold water.
  3. Rub detergent or stain remover into stain.
  4. Wash in warmest water possible using fabric safe bleach.
Grease & Oil
  1. Pretreat with stain remover or liquid laundry detergent.
  2. Wash garment in hottest water possible for fabric.
Gum, Grease & Oil
  1. Apply lanolin brand hand cleaner (available at most hardware stores) to dissolve the stain.
  2. Wash with regular detergent at highest possible temperature for fabric.
Ink
  1. Pretreat with stain remover or rubbing alcohol.
  2. Sponge area around the stain and place stain face down on paper towels.
  3. Apply rubbing alcohol directly to the back of the stain, replacing paper towels frequently to absorb the stain.
  4. Rinse thoroughly and wash immediately in appropriate temperature for fabric.
Mayonnaise or salad dressing
  1. Dampen fabric and rub detergent into stain.
  2. Rinse and let air dry.
  3. If stain remains, sponge with stain remover.
  4. Launder in hottest water possible for fabric.
Milk, ice cream, cheese or eggs
  1.  Soak in cold water and wash in appropriate temperature for fabric.
Mildew and mold
  1. Try bleach, Tilex bathroom cleaner, or Lysol Mold and Mildew.
Mustard
  1. Dampen fabric and rub detergent into stain.
  2. Soak stain in hot soapy water for several hours. If stain remains, sponge with stain remover.
  3. Launder in the hottest water possible for the fabric.
Paint Water-based or Acrylic

  1. You must treat paint while wet to be effective.
  2. Soak in cold soapy water with detergent.
  3. Wash in hottest waster possible for fabric.

Oil-based

  1. Use paint thinner as a spot treatment to soften paint.
  2. Wash in hottest water possible for fabric.
Perspiration
  1. Pretreat stain with stain remover product.
  2. If perspiration has changed the colour of the fabric, you can apply ammonia or white vinegar to the stain and rinse.
  3. Launder in hottest water possible for fabric and use bleach if appropriate.
Ring around the collar
  1. Apply liquid laundry detergent directly to collar area. Let sit for 30 minutes.
  2. Launder as per fabric instructions.
Rust
  1. Lemon juice or white vinegar can be applied directly to the stain.
  2. Blot area with sponge.
  3. Rinse thoroughly and launder as usual. Do not use bleach as this can actually set rust stains.
Soft drinks
  1. Sponge stain immediately with cold water.
  2. Wash in hottest water possible for fabric with detergent and fabric safe bleach.
  3. Some soft drink stains may dry invisible but yellow over time, therefore it is important to treat them immediately.

Disclaimer

Due to fabric, dye, stain, chemical variation, time and other variables, this stain removal guide and the suggestions herein should be considered guidelines only. Coinamatic will bear no responsibility for damaged fabrics due either to laundry stains or the outcome of following these guidelines or suggested products. Furthermore, always test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure any products used will not damage fabric. When in doubt, please consult a professional dry cleaner.

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