How to remove tough stains from clothes (a Brighton laundromat's field guide)

Stains are mostly about how fast you act and what kind of stain it is. Get those two things right and you’ll save almost any garment. Here’s the stain guide we’d actually give a customer who walked in panicking.

First: don’t make it worse

Three rules before you do anything else.

1. Blot — never rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the fibers and spreads it sideways. Press a clean dry cloth straight down to lift as much as you can.
2. Cold water only. Hot water sets most stains permanently — especially blood, sweat, and dairy. Always start cold.
3. Don’t put it in the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone. Heat from the dryer locks in anything that’s left.

If you remember those three things, you’ve already done 80% of the job.

Know your stain type

Different stains need different chemistry. The four broad categories:

• Water-soluble — coffee, tea, juice, soda, washable ink. Cold water gets most of these out by itself.
• Oil-based — butter, salad dressing, cooking oil, lotion, some makeup. Need a degreaser like dish soap.
• Protein-based — blood, sweat, dairy, egg. Need cold water + enzyme treatment, never heat.
• Combination — mud, ketchup, gravy, lipstick. Need a multi-step approach.

If you don’t know what kind of stain you have, start with cold water + a drop of dish soap. That covers a lot of ground.

Specific stains

Red wine

1. Blot up everything you can with a dry towel.
2. Pour cold water through the back of the fabric (push the stain out, not in).
3. Sprinkle salt or baking soda generously on the wet area. Let sit 5–10 minutes.
4. Brush off, rinse again.
5. Wash on cold with regular detergent. Air dry first to check before tumble-drying.

Grease and oil

1. Blot any liquid oil — don’t add water yet.
2. Cover with baking soda. Wait 15 minutes (it pulls oil out).
3. Brush the powder off.
4. Work a few drops of dish soap directly into the stain with your fingers.
5. Rinse with warm water and wash normally.

Ink (ballpoint, marker)

1. Test rubbing alcohol on a hidden spot of the garment first — some dyes will run.
2. Blot the ink with a clean cloth.
3. Hold the stained area against a paper towel and pour rubbing alcohol or unscented hairspray through the back.
4. Keep moving the paper towel as it absorbs ink.
5. Rinse, then wash on cold.

Grass

1. Scrape off any solid plant material with a dull knife or spoon.
2. Mix 1 part dish soap with 2 parts white vinegar. Apply to the stain.
3. Wait 30 minutes.
4. Wash on the warmest setting the fabric label allows.

Blood

1. Cold water only. Hot water permanently sets blood.
2. Run the fabric under cold running water from the back.
3. If the stain remains, soak in cold water with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (test for colorfastness first).
4. Wash on cold.

Sweat / yellow underarm marks

1. Make a paste: equal parts baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a few drops of dish soap.
2. Apply to the stain. Let sit 30 minutes to an hour.
3. Wash on cold.
4. For old, set-in stains, repeat the treatment two or three times before giving up.

What to keep around the house

You don’t need fancy products. Most stains come out with:

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dish soap (Dawn or any de-greasing brand)
• Hydrogen peroxide (3% from any drugstore)
• A clean white cloth

A small kit of these will handle 95% of stains.

When to bring it to the laundromat

For really set-in stains or large items (comforters, rugs, jackets), our 45-pound front-load washers give the agitation and water volume you need. Pre-treat at home with whatever’s appropriate from the list above, then bring it in.

→ See washer sizes and prices → Or see what visiting us looks like