Be SPOT ON to get the SPOT OFF! Solutions for removing many common stains.

Treat stains as soon as possible after staining. The older the stain, the more difficult it will be to remove. All stain removal methods should be applied prior to laundering washable garments. Stains that have been laundered and dried are almost impossible to remove. Treat stains as soon as possible after staining. The older the stain, the more difficult it will be to remove.

***Caution*** Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia - fumes are hazardous.

Removing Bleach Stains 

from Upholstery

• Detergent
• White vinegar

1. Mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears, or no longer absorbed into the cloth.
5. If the stain remains, use mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water.  Sponge the stain with the solution.  Blot until liquid is absorbed. .
6. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Removing Blush (make up) Stains 

from Upholstery

• Detergent

1. Mix one (1) tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two (2) cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.
5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the detergent solution.

Removing Spaghetti Sauce Stains 

from Upholstery

• Detergent

1. Mix one (1) tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two (2) cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.
5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the detergent solution.

Removing Furniture Polish, Wax Stains 

from Upholstery

• Dry cleaning solvent

1. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the dry cleaning solvent.
2. Blot until the solvent is absorbed.
3. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.

Removing Dirt Stains 

from Upholstery

• Detergent

1. Mix one (1) tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two (2) cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.
5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the detergent solution.

Removing Candle Wax Stains 

from Washable Fabrics

• Ice cube
• Iron
• Bleach

1. Rub with ice and scrape off excess with a dull knife.
2. Place folded paper towels over and under stained area and press with a warm – not hot – dry iron.
3. Use clean towels, repeat until no more wax melts.
4. Remove color with bleach or color remover as safe for fabric.

Removing Grease Stains 

from Washable Fabrics

• Pretreatment laundry stain remover
• Heavy-duty liquid detergent
• Chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach
• Dry cleaning solvent
• Absorbent paper towels

1. Saturate area with pretreatment laundry stain remover (aerosol types work better on greasy stains) Wait one minute for product to penetrate the stain. For stubborn stains, rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder immediately.
2. If color stain remains, soak/wash in chlorine bleach if safe for fabric, or in oxygen bleach.
3. For extra heavy stains, apply dry cleaning solvent to back of the stain over absorbent paper towels. Let dry, rinse. Proceed as above.

Removing Scorch Stains 

from Washable Fabrics

• Detergent
• All-fabric bleach

1. If fabric is thick and fuzzy, brush to remove charring.
2. Rub liquid detergent into scorched area.
3. Launder.
4. If stain remains, bleach with all-fabric bleach.
5. Melted or glazed areas on synthetic blends cannot be fully restored.

Removing Toothpaste Stains 

from Washable Fabrics

• Liquid hand dishwashing detergent
• White vinegar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Enzyme presoak product
• Chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach

1. Soak for 15 minutes in mixture of one quart lukewarm water, one-half teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar. Rinse.
2. Sponge with rubbing alcohol, using light motions from center to edge of stain.
3. Soak for 30 minutes in one quart warm water with one tablespoon enzyme presoak products.
4. If color stain remains, launder in chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric, or in oxygen bleach.

Removing Honey Stains 

from Carpets

• Detergent
• Ammonia

1. Scrape off excess foreign material.
2. Mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water.
3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain disappears.
6. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia – fumes are hazardous)
7. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution.
8. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
9. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Removing Red Wine Stains 

from Carpets

• Detergent
• White vinegar

1. Mix one teaspoon of a mild detergent containing no alkali or bleaches with one cup of lukewarm water.  Blot the stained area.
2. Mix one-third cup of white vinegar with two-thirds cup of water. Blot.
3. Repeat step one.
4. Sponge the stained area with clean water. Blot.

Removing Chewing Gum Stains 

from Carpets

• Ice cube
• Citrus based product

1. Freeze the chewing gum using an ice cube in a plastic bag.
2. Shatter the frozen chewing gum with a knife handle and vacuum.
3. Shampoo. Let dry, and then vacuum.
4. Some citrus based products such as De-Solv-It® or Orange-Sol® have been demonstrated to break down the stickiness of gum so that it can be removed.

Removing Crayon Stains 

from Carpets

• Ice
• WD40
• Detergent

1. If the crayon is soft, freeze it by applying an ice cube wrapped in a small plastic bag, and then scrape off the excess crayon.
2. Spray the stain with WD-40 and let it stand for a few minutes.
3. Tamp the stain.  Wipe off residue with a paper towel.
4. Re-spray with WD-40; then apply liquid dishwashing detergent directly on the sprayed area.
5. Tamp again.  Wipe off the residue with paper towel.
6. Repeat Steps 2 to 5 until the stain disappears.

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Source: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/

Stain Solutions was developed by:

Susan Taylor - Former University of Illinois Extension Educator