Clothing Care: Remove Nearly Any Stain from Your White Clothing 

An essential skill for any woman is learning how to properly take care of your clothing so that it lasts. This means things like reading the care instructions, being gentle with your clothing and understanding how to properly store clothes. For those of us who like to wear white, staining is one of the biggest hazards you can encounter. So if you’re an avid red-wine drinker like myself but also love to wear white, this quick guide will share the simple combination of three household items that will keep your clothes clean and fresh looking for years to come.

The Stain Remover Triad:

The wonderful thing about this is that not only is it highly effective, but these household items will also be much gentler than bleaching your clothes. They’re also versatile so by taking or removing an ingredient, you can use some combination of these items for nearly any type of stain. The basic cleaning agents are:

~Dishwashing soap – similar to how you might use it when washing your dishes, dishwashing soap removes grease and food stains. However, use only a very small amount and apply it to the affected area.
~Baking Soda – great for breaking down tough dirt stains and absorbing oils and spills. Baking soda is versatile and safe to use on most colored clothing.
~Hydrogen Peroxide or Vinegar – Hydrogen Peroxide is a very mild form of bleach which is great for removing mildew, blood, fruit or vegetable stains on white clothing. Vinegar will work great to remove stains, especially in combination with baking soda. This is safe to use on both white and colored clothing.

This combination of items will remove nearly any stain from your white garments. From personal experience I have been able to remove red wine, grease, turmeric, blood & coffee stains as well as yellowing around the armpit and neckline that usually occur on collared shirts (although for this last one, I typically omit the dishwasher soap). It’s difficult to recall a time this stain remover combination hasn’t worked.

Treating the Stain

To apply as a stain remover, mix a small amount of liquid dish soap with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and apply directly to the stain. Let it sit for some time (~20 mins) and then you can rinse it out with water. Generally, it’s helpful to start with cold water to avoid setting the stain – although I’ve found hot water to be very effective depending on the stain. It’s best to do a quick look up if the type of stain you’re treating is more likely to set in hot water before deciding to use it. On one occasion where I had a fresh red wine spill on white jeans (a very tough fabric) I treated it with multiple rounds of the stain remover and hot water until the stain eventually disappeared. Some stains may be a bit more laborious than others, but it’s worth it. Always address as soon as possible and be patient.

As you use this method more often, you’ll start to get a sense for how much time, potency or rounds of rinsing a garment and a stain will need. Generally, try to start with gentler approaches before resorting to more taxing methods like using very hot water.

While I think you’ll find this method to be the most effective stain removal process for a good portion of your clothing needs, here are a few added bonuses for removing or reducing stains in a bind:

~Salt – Salt works great for freshly spilled wine stains – especially on carpets or thick blankets. Just apply a generous amount on the affected area and press it in to allow it to soak up the wine.
~White Wine – while this isn’t truly a stain remover, it’s a good option if you happen to spill red wine on your dress at a party – or worse yet, someone else’s. The white wine neutralizes the pigment and dilutes the concentration so it will make the stain significantly less noticeable.
~Water – If you are able to address a stain in the making right away, water is very effective for removing or reducing the appearance of stains. This will reduce wine stains and can completely remove coffee stains if you’re able to blot it or run it through cold water right away.

While these methods will help you address some of the most common stains, it’s still important to learn the nuances of different substances and clothing over time. While hot water can work for fresh wine stains at times, it’s not a good idea for something like an egg stain that hardens in the heat. Whenever you encounter a new stain, simply take a few seconds to look it up and understand the properties of the substance you’re dealing with so you can target it most effectively. This will help you start to build your knowledge over time and the skills you gain stay with you.