Stain Removal
Getting marks out of clothes, carpets, sofas and hard surfaces, fresh or set in, for anyone holding something stained and wondering where to start.
A stain is two questions: what it is, and what it has landed on. Blood and egg are protein, which sets with heat, so cold water comes first. Patch test before anything stronger, and leave dry-clean-only fabrics to a professional.
In this section
- Food and drink stains
- Grease and oil
- Ink and marker
- Blood and sweat
- Make-up, fake tan and hair dye
- Mud and grass
- Candle wax, gum and sticky residue
- Rust and water marks
- Stains on carpets and upholstery
- Old and set-in stains
- Stains on whites and delicates
- What never to do with a stain
Stain Removal guides
4 guides, newest first
Express Stainless · Stain RemovalNewest first
- How to get blood out of clothes, sheets and carpetCold water first, because heat sets blood: how to get fresh and dried blood out of clothes, sheets, carpets, sofas and mattresses, and what never to do.
- How to get oil and grease out of clothesSoak up the oil with a powder, break it up with washing-up liquid and wash as warm as the label allows. Fresh spills, washed-in spots, sportswear and bike oil.
- How to get red wine out of carpet, sofas and clothesBlot, cold water, then washing-up liquid with a little white vinegar: how to get fresh and dried red wine out of carpet, sofas and clothes, in that order.
Stain Finder: a free stain removal guide
Find your stain
