Stain Removal

When life leaves its inevitable marks, you’ll want to act fast—and accurately. Use this as your basic guide to handle any stain.

Stain-Fighting 101

The sooner you deal with the stain, the less time it has to set—and the more likely you will be to get it out.

1. First identify the spot:

• Blot liquids with a damp cloth, working from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain.
• Scoop up solids (jam, chocolate) with a spoon before blotting as above.
• Place ice on gum or candle wax to harden before scraping.
• Sprinkle cornstarch, salt, or talcum powder on oily stains, such as butter or cooking oil.

2. Next dampen entire area with tepid water, dabbing (never rubbing) it onto the stain. For oily stains and makeup, cover with undiluted dishwashing or laundry detergent (because oil and water don’t mix).

3. Choose an appropriate solvent (see chart) and apply from the back of the garment to drive the stain to the surface.

4. Lay the garment right-side down on a clean white towel so it can soak up the stain for as long as an hour.

5. Always rinse the garment in lukewarm water to remove solvent before laundering.

6. Treat any residue with enzyme detergent or oxidizing (non-chlorine) bleaches.

7. Launder garment as soon as possible (preferably with enzyme detergent) in the hottest setting possible (see fabric-care label).

8. Check garment after washing and reapply solvent as needed; dry heat will set stains, so do not line-dry items in the sun or tumble-dry.