A woman stands next to an opened Whirlpool Dryer. On the dryer's door are articles of clothing, some of which have fallen on the floor

The Ultimate Guide to Stain Removal

Stains happen to everyone, every day. There’s little we can do to protect our favourite jeans, work clothes and kids’ soccer uniforms from getting stained by ketchup, red wine or grass. Even laundry detergents find a way to stain our garments. 

Luckily, by acting fast and having the right knowledge about how to treat common and tough stains, you can avoid frustration and not have to replace a single article of clothing because of a stain.  

That’s why we’re here! We’ve created the ultimate guide to keeping your clothes stain-free. This comprehensive guide contains all our stain removal content. Each offers all the helpful tips, including the recommended supplies and techniques, you need to remove many of the more common stains and also some of the extra stubborn ones.

Use this guide to learn how to eliminate most stains and make sure to keep it handy so you can combat future stains in a way that will preserve your clothing. 

Don’t forget that knowledge is the best stain-fighting tool.

Supplies for Removing Common Stain

Keep these supplies in your laundry room, so they’re accessible whenever a stain happens.

  • Stain remover
  • Scrub brush
  • Laundry detergent 
  • Dish soap

Tips for Removing Common Stains

These tips can ensure that common stains don’t set further, becoming even tougher to remove. 

  • Follow a garment’s care instructions. Review a garment’s care label for the specific washing and drying instructions and requirements. You need to confirm which water temperature a garment should be washed in. Look to see if an item is dry clean only. If so, take it to a dry cleaner right away.
  • Don’t mix cleaning products. Do not use a mix of detergents or stain removal products. Some think this will improve the product’s cleaning power but that is simply not true. This could damage or stain a garment. 
  • Wash post-treatment. Wash an item after it’s been treated for a stain. 
  • Treat tough stains differently. To remove tough stains, rinse the garment in warm water before washing it. You can treat most regular stains in your washing machine on a cold water cycle.
  • Tackle a stain immediately. The trick to removing most stains is to act fast. Ensure a stain doesn’t set and flush it out by immediately running it under cold water. 
  • Inspect the item before drying. Always inspect a stain to see if it’s been removed before drying the item.
  • Keep a stain remover in your laundry space. Most laundry detergents can remove general everyday stains with no problem. Still, it’s wise to keep a stain remover on hand for when you encounter those pesky, stubborn ones.
  • Spot test. Select a small and hidden area of a garment. Then, perform a spot test to confirm that the products you intend to use won’t ruin or discolour the garment. If the spot test is a success, then move on to treating the stain.

Stain Removal Guides

Find the stain removal guide that applies to your situation and learn the steps to remove a specific stain from clothing.

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