How to get stains out of clothes
The basic rules that work for almost any stain, plus what to do for blood, grass, red wine, grease, tomato sauce, sun cream and more.
- Time
- 10 minutes plus soaking
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Low cost
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Biological laundry detergent (liquid is easiest to apply neat)
- Washing-up liquid
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Clean white cloths or kitchen roll
- Stain remover spray or bar (optional) Search Amazon for laundry stain remover
- Old soft toothbrush
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Safety first
- Don't use bleach on coloured or dark fabrics, wool or silk.
- Don't use biological detergent on wool or silk. The enzymes can damage protein fibres.
- Never mix cleaning products together, particularly bleach with vinegar or ammonia.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Act quickly
The sooner you deal with a stain, the more likely it is to come out. Scrape off any solid bits with a blunt knife or spoon.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Blot, don't rub
Dab the stain with a clean cloth or kitchen roll, working from the outside in so you don't spread it. Rubbing pushes it deeper into the fibres.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Check the label and test first
Check the care label for the fabric and maximum temperature. Test any product on a hidden area, such as an inside seam, and wait a few minutes to make sure the colour doesn't run.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Use cold water first
Rinse from the back of the fabric with cold water. Heat can set many stains, especially protein stains like blood, egg and sweat, so don't use hot water until the stain has gone.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Pre-treat with the right product
- Most everyday stains: rub in a little neat liquid biological detergent and leave it for at least 10 minutes before washing. Bio detergents contain enzymes that break down food and protein stains.
- Blood: soak in cold water with a little salt, then wash on a cool cycle.
- Grass: work in a paste of washing-up liquid and bicarbonate of soda, rinse, then wash.
- Red wine: blot, apply neat washing-up liquid, rinse and repeat, then wash cool.
- Grease and oil: work in washing-up liquid (it's designed to break down grease), leave for a few minutes, then wash at the warmest temperature the label allows.
- Tomato sauce: work in neat washing-up liquid, leave overnight, wash, then dry in sunlight if you can.
- Sun cream: soak in diluted white vinegar, or work in a bicarb paste overnight, then wash.
-
Step 6: Wash and check before drying
Wash as the label says. Before you dry it, check the stain has gone. Tumble drying or ironing a stain that's still there can make it permanent. If it's still visible, repeat the treatment.
Tips
- Keep a stain remover pen or a small bottle of liquid detergent handy for spills when you're out.
- Bio detergents are effective at low temperatures, so a cool wash is often enough once you've pre-treated.
- On white cotton, an oxygen-based stain remover (sometimes called oxi) can help. Check the label first.
When to call a professional
Take delicate, dry-clean-only or valuable items (silk, wool suits, wedding dresses) to a dry cleaner as soon as possible, and tell them what the stain is.
Questions people ask
Does hot water remove stains better?
Not always. Hot water can set protein stains like blood and egg. Start with cold water, then wash at the temperature the label allows.
Can old, dried-in stains come out?
Sometimes. Soak the item in cool water with biological detergent for several hours, then treat and wash. Stains that have been through a hot dryer are much harder to shift.
Is non-bio as good at stain removal?
Bio detergents generally perform better on stains because of their enzymes, but non-bio is gentler and may suit sensitive skin.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- Which?: how to get rid of common stains (which.co.uk)
- Persil: stain guide (persil.com)
- Which?: washing machine temperature guide (which.co.uk)
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-get-stains-out-of-clothes/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.