How to Remove Stains from White Clothes

There’s nothing worse than a big stain on a freshly washed white shirt. Stains always look worse on white clothes. Stains like these can be difficult to avoid or hide, but you can try cleaning them up. There are different methods for treating stains on white clothes, depending on the type of stain. While it’s impossible to guarantee every stain will be removed, one of the methods below may help.

Table of Contents

Remove stains before putting in the washing machine

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Determine the type of stain. To get rid of a stain, the first thing you need to do is figure out what made it dirty. It is crucial to determine whether the stain is oil-based or oil-free. This is important because it will affect the first step you need to take.

Most stain removers contain chemicals that work to remove all types of stains. You’ll be able to react appropriately if you know the stain contains oil.
Information on which homemade cleaners are most effective for which types of stains is given in Method 3.

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Avoid using water to treat oil-based stains. If the stain contains oil, do not rush to flush it immediately under cold running water. Oil is inherently hydrophobic, so the stain will stick more tightly when it comes in contact with water. ^{[1] X Research Source} Instead, blot with a dry paper towel. Oil stains can be caused by many sources, but the most common are:

Grease stains
Mascara
Lipstick
Foods with a lot of oil or butter

Use cold water to remove oil-free stains. For non-oily stains, the first thing to do is usually blot the stain and rinse under cold running water. You can dislodge the stain from the fabric by running the back of the stained fabric under cold running water. ^{[2] X Research Source} If you place the stained fabric surface directly under a stream of water, the stain can be pushed deep into the fibers of the fabric. The most common non-oil stains are:

Sweat stains.
Oil-free cosmetics
Food without oil
Blood
Land

Use a stain remover. You can buy stain removers in spray, liquid, and powder form at the supermarket. These products usually come in a wide variety, so look for one that’s specifically designed to bleach white clothes if possible. The next step is just to sprinkle the powder or pour the product over the stain according to the instructions on the package.

Some products need to be poured over the edge of the stain, others recommend pouring into the center of the stain.
Usually you don’t need to use a large amount of product to treat a small stain.

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Put the clothes in the washing machine. Once you’ve poured the product onto the stain, simply put the garment in the washing machine and wash as usual. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to see if the product you are using requires a specific temperature.

Mix a stain remover with hydrogen peroxide

Buy hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid. There are many stain removers that you can make yourself, but one that is both effective and simple is a solution of hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid. ^{[3] X Research Source} The recipe is very simple. You just need to pour 2 parts low concentration hydrogen peroxide (3% or 4%) and 1 part dishwashing liquid into the bucket. ^{[4] X Research Source} The amount of solution is more or less depending on your needs.

You can use this solution for stains that contain oil or grease, and also for common stains caused by food and dirt sticking to fabrics.
This product is effective on cotton, canvas and other common fabrics.
Do not use this product on silk or wool.

Dissolve the liquids together and pour into a spray bottle. After dissolving the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap in the bucket, carefully pour the solution into a washed spray bottle. You may need to use a funnel to pour the solution, especially if you are pouring from a large bucket into a spray bottle.

Test the product on fabric first. As with all cleaners, especially homemade products, it’s a good idea to test before using in large quantities. The only way to test is to dab a small amount of the solution on an inconspicuous part of the garment.

You need to check to make sure that the solution does not discolor or damage the fabric.
This blend is generally safe for all fabrics, but it’s still a good idea to test before using it. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Spray the solution directly onto the stain. Tighten the nozzle and test spray into the sink. If the spray is working well, you can spray it directly on the stain. Spray plenty of solution on the stain and let it soak for a few minutes or so, depending on how patient you are.

Rinse off with cold water.
If necessary, repeat the process for more stubborn stains.

Consider soaking large or difficult-to-remove stains in the solution. For large stains that cannot be effectively treated with a spray bottle alone, you can modify this method for better results. A dilute solution of this mixture will be very suitable for soaking large stains. You just need to mix hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid with the above ratio into a bucket of hot water. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Soak the garment in the solution and let it soak.
Rinse the fabric and repeat the process if necessary.
You can gently rub the stain while soaking to help loosen the stain.

Treat stains on white clothes with natural ingredients

Use baking soda. The chemicals in store-bought products can be very effective, but they can also irritate the skin, so many people prefer natural ingredients. Baking soda is one of the traditional cleaning agents that people often remember as soon as it gets dirty. You just need to mix baking soda with a little water to make a paste, rub it gently on the stain and let it soak. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can also add some undiluted white vinegar to the baking soda mixture. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use lemon juice. Lemon juice is especially effective at treating sweat stains on white shirts and t-shirts, especially under the armpits. Make a solution of 1 part water and 1 part lemon juice and rub it into the stain. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Lemon juice and salt can be very effective when dealing with mold and rust stains on white clothes. ^{[10] X Research Source}
You can pour lemon juice into the washing batch of white clothes to keep the clothes clean and fragrant.

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Use white wine. Red wine spilled on white clothes is one of the worst stains. Surprisingly, one way to treat this stain is to use wine. This time, use a little white wine to carefully pour over the stain to treat the red wine stain. ^{[11] X Research Source} Dab white wine with a clean cloth on the edge of the stain to prevent the stain from spreading. ^{[12] X Research Source}

This step won’t make the stain go away right away, but it can help loosen the stain when you wash it.

Use white chalk to tackle oil-based stains. Oil-based stains are difficult to deal with, as water can make the situation worse. A natural way to deal with oil stains is to use white chalk. Gently rub the white chalk on the fabric. The oil will be drawn to the chalk instead of the clothes. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Dust off some chalk before putting the clothes in the washing machine.
Wash only in cold water, and don’t put the garment in the dryer, as the heat can cause the oil to adhere to the fabric. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Use bleach to remove stains

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Distinguish between oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach. Oxygen bleach is not as strong as chlorine bleach, and is therefore less harmful to fabrics. Hydrogen peroxide is also an example of an oxygen bleach commonly used to remove stains. Chlorine bleach is stronger, more toxic, and needs to be handled with care. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Chlorine bleach will ruin the color of the fabric, but with white clothes this shouldn’t be a problem.
If you regularly use bleach in your washing machine, you may see yellow streaks appear on white clothes. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Use bleach to spot stubborn stains. For really tough stains on white clothes, you can remove them by carefully dabbing bleach on the stain. After doing a quick test on the fabric, dab the bleach on the wrong side of the fabric where the stain is with a cotton swab. ^{[17] X Research Source} Next, you will place the stained fabric side down on a clean towel. ^{[18] X Research Source} Do not press down on the fabric or rub it against the fabric.

After treating the stain with bleach, you can wash it as usual.
Wear rubber gloves when using bleach in this way.

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Add bleach to the laundry. A less precise way to whiten clothes and remove stains is simply to add a little bleach to the normal load. You need to read the product label to know how much bleach to put in the washing machine. In addition to reading the bleach label, you should also check the label on the garment to see if the fabric is bleach-resistant, such as silk and wool, which will be damaged if you use bleach. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Use ammonia to treat stains

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Pour ammonia into the laundry. Ammonia is an alkaline solution that is very effective in treating grease and dirt stains. You can use ammonia in a similar way to bleach, i.e. add a small amount to a normal load. Ammonia is also a strong chemical commonly found in cleaning products, but you can also buy ammonia separately. ^{[20] X Research Source}

NEVER mix bleach with ammonia, as the reaction will produce toxic and potentially deadly gases. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Work in a well-ventilated room and wear gloves when handling ammonia.

Use a solution of pine oil mixed with ammonia. If you want to apply ammonia directly to the stain, you can mix ammonia with an equal part pine oil to make an effective cleaning solution. When you’re done mixing, pour some solution onto the stain and let it soak into the fabric. You can leave it on for up to 8 hours before washing. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Remember to separate the clothes treated with the ammonia solution and the turpentine in the first wash.
Concentrated ammonia can damage and stain clothing. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Use sponge and ammonia to clean stubborn stains. Hard-to-remove stains can be treated by using a sponge dipped in ammonia and dabbing on the stain. This is especially recommended for cleaning stains caused by bodily secretions, such as blood, sweat and urine. ^{[24] X Research Source} After dabbing an ammonia-soaked sponge on the stain, you can wash it as usual.

Warning

When applying any of the above methods, be sure to test the bleach on a small spot on the fabric first.
If harsh chemicals are used, make sure the workroom is well ventilated.
Wear gloves when using bleach or ammonia.

Steps