Learn how to get out 4 common types of stains without using any special laundry products.
There are few things more frustrating than getting a stubborn stain on a brand new garment or on an old favorite. Fortunately, you can rescue your clothes from many types of stains more easily than you might think. You don’t even need to buy any special products. Instead, just check out these tips for fighting common stains with your regular laundry detergent.
Step 1: Have a Reliable Washing Machine
Obviously, you’re not going to be able to wash your clothes properly and remove stains effectively if you can’t count on your washing machine to do its job right. For example, maybe you’ve tried hot wash after hot wash and just can’t get that stubborn stain to come out. Have you checked to make sure your washing machine really is filling with hot water and running through all its cycles properly? Is the agitator working properly or is it treating every cycle like a “hand wash cycle”? Is all the dirty water draining when it should? It may seem silly to suggest, but if you’re having trouble with your laundry not coming clean you should at least consider the possibility that you may need washing machine repair.
Step 2: Pick the Right Strategy for the Stain
Different types of stains adhere to fabric differently and require different strategies to remove. Here’s how to tackle the 4 most common stains using just your ordinary laundry supplies.
Tomato sauce/ketchup: With this type of stain, the best approach is to remove as much of the sauce as possible, then pretreat with detergent. Let the detergent sit 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Next, let the garment soak in some soapy water overnight. Finally, wash in the hottest water the fabric can handle.
Dirt: Stains from good old fashioned dirt should be approached first with a soak in cold water. Try rubbing the fabric against itself to loosen the dirt. If desired, you can pretreat with a bit of detergent to help with this step. When you’ve done all you can to loosen the stain by hand, wash the clothing in warm water. Remember that hot water may set the stain, and cold water may not activate your detergent properly.
Oil: When facing an oil stain, the best thing to do is let the stain dry and then gently rub liquid detergent onto the cloth. You’ll want to allow this pretreatment to set for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash in the hottest water permitted for the fabric.
Grass: Like tomato stains, grass stains need to be pretreated with detergent, rinsed thoroughly, and then soaked overnight in a diluted mix of water and liquid detergent. The next day you can wash the stained clothes in the hottest water the label allows.
