Complete Guide: How to Remove Stains From Clothes

The quick answer

When a stain happens:

1. Remove any excess material.
2. Blot liquids instead of rubbing them.
3. Check the garment’s care label.
4. Rinse from the back where appropriate.
5. Pre-treat using a product suitable for the stain and fabric.
6. Wash at the warmest temperature permitted by the care label and suitable for that stain.
7. Check the item before putting it in the dryer.

Do not tumble dry or iron the garment until the stain has disappeared. Heat can make some remaining stains significantly harder to remove.

Quick clothing stain-removal table

Stain	Best first response	Avoid
Blood	Rinse or soak in cold water	Hot water and immediate drying
Coffee or tea	Rinse from the back with cool water	Rubbing the stain
Red wine or juice	Blot, rinse and pre-treat promptly	Heat before the mark disappears
Cooking oil or grease	Remove excess and apply liquid detergent	Washing without pre-treatment
Tomato sauce	Scrape off excess and rinse with cool water	Rubbing sauce deeper into fibres
Chocolate, milk or egg	Scrape off excess and rinse in cool water	Starting with hot water
Mud	Allow it to dry, then brush it off	Rubbing wet mud into the fabric
Grass	Pre-treat with detergent or a suitable stain remover	Drying before checking the stain
Sweat or deodorant	Pre-treat and wash according to the label	Chlorine bleach unless permitted
Makeup	Lift excess and treat the oily component	Smearing or vigorously rubbing
Ink	Identify the ink and test treatment first	Applying heat
Paint	Identify whether it is water- or oil-based	Using an unknown solvent

Seven rules that prevent stains from getting worse

1. Act promptly

Fresh stains are generally easier to treat because they have had less time to dry and bind to the fabric.

If you cannot wash the garment immediately, remove the excess material, rinse or blot it where appropriate and keep it away from heat.

2. Blot instead of rubbing

Rubbing can spread a liquid stain and push it further into the fabric.

Use a clean, colourfast cloth to blot from the outside of the mark towards its centre. For solids such as sauce or chocolate, carefully lift the excess with a spoon or blunt edge first.

3. Read the care label

The care label tells you how the garment can be washed, bleached, dried, ironed or professionally cleaned. The ACCC explains that these instructions are intended to help consumers clean clothing properly and avoid damage such as shrinking or dye transfer. See the Australian care-labelling guide.

If the label says dry-clean only, do not assume a home stain treatment is safe.

4. Test treatments on a hidden area

Before using a stain remover, oxygen bleach, rubbing alcohol or another treatment, test a small amount on an inside seam or hidden section.

Stop if the colour changes, transfers to your cloth or the fabric’s texture is affected.

5. Work from the back where possible

For many liquid stains, rinsing from the back helps push the substance out through the same direction it entered rather than forcing it further into the fibres.

6. Never mix cleaning chemicals

Follow the instructions on every cleaning product and never create an improvised mixture of different products.

In particular, never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, ammonia, acids or other cleaners. Dangerous fumes can be produced. Australian health guidance recommends keeping chemicals in their original containers and using them only as directed. Read the Better Health Channel’s household chemical guidance.

7. Check before drying

Inspect the garment while it is still wet. If the stain remains, repeat an appropriate treatment rather than putting it in the dryer.

A wet garment can also hide a faint mark, so let it air dry when you need to determine whether the stain has completely disappeared.

How to remove blood stains from clothes

Blood is a protein-based stain, so cold water should be the first treatment.

For a fresh blood stain:

1. Rinse the stain under cold running water.
2. Work from the back of the fabric where possible.
3. Apply liquid laundry detergent or a fabric-safe enzyme stain remover.
4. Leave it for the time specified on the product.
5. Wash on a cold cycle or according to the care label.
6. Check the stain before drying.

For dried blood, soak the garment in cold water before pre-treating it. Several attempts may be required.

Do not begin with hot water. CHOICE advises that heat can bind blood proteins to the fabric and set the stain. Read its Australian blood-stain removal advice.

Hydrogen peroxide can bleach or discolour some textiles, so it should not be presented as a universal blood-stain treatment. Use a purpose-made product that is suitable for the garment instead.

If the stain involves bodily fluids from someone who is unwell, follow appropriate hygiene precautions and see our guide to sanitising laundry during illness.

How to remove coffee and tea stains

For black coffee or tea:

1. Blot any excess liquid.
2. Rinse the stain from the back with cool running water.
3. Apply liquid laundry detergent.
4. Let it sit for the time recommended on the detergent label.
5. Wash using the warmest appropriate setting permitted by the care label.

Coffee containing milk or cream is a combination stain. It contains both tannins and proteins, so begin with cool water rather than heat.

If the stain remains, use a colour-safe oxygen-based stain remover where the care and product labels permit it.

How to remove red wine, fruit juice and soft drink stains

Red wine and brightly coloured drinks can spread quickly, so blot them promptly.

1. Blot the liquid with a clean white cloth.
2. Rinse from the reverse side with cool water.
3. Apply liquid detergent or a suitable pre-wash stain remover.
4. Wash according to the garment’s care label.
5. Check the fabric before drying.

Salt can absorb some fresh liquid, but it does not replace proper rinsing and pre-treatment. It may also be difficult to remove from delicate or textured materials.

For persistent colour on a washable, colourfast garment, consider a fabric-safe oxygen-based product. Avoid chlorine bleach unless both the garment and product instructions explicitly permit it.

How to remove cooking oil, grease and salad dressing

Greasy stains need to be pre-treated before entering the washing machine.

1. Scrape or blot away as much excess oil as possible.
2. Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or grease-cutting dishwashing liquid to the stain.
3. Work it in gently with your fingers or a soft brush.
4. Leave it for the recommended treatment time.
5. Rinse if required by the product instructions.
6. Wash using the warmest setting that is safe for the fabric.
7. Air dry and check the mark.

Do not place a visibly oily item straight into the dryer. The heat can make the mark harder to remove, and heavily oil-contaminated textiles can present a fire risk.

How to remove tomato sauce, ketchup and barbecue sauce

These are combination stains containing pigments, sugars and often oil.

1. Lift away any solid sauce with a spoon or blunt edge.
2. Rinse from the back using cool water.
3. Apply liquid laundry detergent.
4. Gently work it into the stained area.
5. Wash according to the care label.
6. Re-treat any remaining colour before drying.

If an oily shadow remains after the coloured component has disappeared, repeat the detergent pre-treatment.

How to remove chocolate, milk and egg stains

Chocolate and dairy products contain a combination of protein, fat and colour.

1. Remove excess material without spreading it.
2. Rinse or soak in cool water.
3. Pre-treat with liquid detergent or a suitable enzyme product.
4. Wash according to the garment’s instructions.
5. Check before drying.

Do not begin with hot water because it may make the protein component more difficult to remove.

Enzyme products may not be suitable for protein-based fibres such as wool or silk. Check both labels before use.

How to remove mud stains

Unlike many stains, mud is usually easier to manage after it has dried.

1. Allow the mud to dry completely.
2. Take the garment outside and brush off as much loose soil as possible.
3. Apply liquid detergent or a pre-wash product to the remaining mark.
4. Wash according to the care label.
5. Repeat the treatment if necessary.

Do not vigorously rub wet mud because this can spread the soil through the fibres.

How to remove grass stains

Grass stains contain plant pigments and can become difficult to remove after drying.

1. Rinse away loose dirt.
2. Apply liquid detergent or an enzyme stain remover suitable for the fabric.
3. Work the product in gently.
4. Leave it for the instructed treatment time.
5. Wash according to the care label.
6. Check the area in good light before drying.

For white or colourfast washable garments, a suitable oxygen-based product may help with remaining pigment.

How to remove sweat and deodorant marks

Sweat, body oils, detergent residue and antiperspirant ingredients can combine to create yellowing or stiff marks around underarms and collars.

1. Apply liquid detergent or an appropriate pre-wash product.
2. Gently work it into the affected area.
3. Allow the product time to act.
4. Wash using the warmest care-safe temperature.
5. Repeat before drying if discolouration remains.

Avoid automatically applying chlorine bleach to yellow underarm marks. It can damage some fibres and may make certain discolouration more noticeable.

For washable whites, a colour-safe oxygen-based soaking product may be more suitable. Follow our separate guide to brightening white clothes for more information.

How to remove makeup and lipstick

The correct treatment depends on whether the product is powder-, water- or oil-based.

Powder makeup

Brush or shake off loose powder before adding water. Wetting it immediately can spread the pigment.

Liquid foundation and concealer

Blot away the excess and apply liquid detergent or a grease-targeting pre-wash product. Work from the outside towards the centre.

Lipstick

Lift away excess lipstick with a blunt edge. Pre-treat the oily residue using a product suitable for both the fabric and colour.

Avoid vigorously rubbing makeup because this can spread pigment beyond the original mark.

How to remove ink from clothing

Ink formulas vary, so no single method works for every pen.

Water-based ink

Blot the stain, rinse it with cool water and pre-treat it with liquid detergent.

Ballpoint ink

Rubbing alcohol may help dissolve some ballpoint inks, but it can also affect dyes and synthetic finishes.

1. Test it on a hidden area.
2. Place a clean white cloth behind the stain.
3. Dab rather than rub.
4. Replace the backing cloth as ink transfers.
5. Rinse thoroughly and wash according to the care label.

Permanent ink may not be completely removable. Expensive or delicate garments should be taken to a professional garment cleaner.

How to remove chewing gum

1. Harden the gum with ice or place the garment in a bag in the freezer.
2. Carefully lift off the hardened gum with a blunt edge.
3. Apply a fabric-safe pre-wash treatment to any remaining residue.
4. Wash according to the care label.

Avoid pulling soft gum across the fabric because this can spread it into a larger area.

How to remove candle wax

1. Allow the wax to cool and harden.
2. Carefully scrape away the surface wax.
3. Check the fabric label before applying heat or a solvent.
4. Treat any remaining oily or coloured mark with an appropriate garment-care product.

Coloured candle wax and delicate synthetic fabrics can be particularly difficult. Consider professional care rather than risking heat damage.

How to remove old or unknown stains

Old stains may have already been exposed to heat, oxidation or several unsuccessful treatments.

If you do not know what caused the stain:

1. Begin with cool water.
2. Apply a mild liquid laundry detergent.
3. Avoid strong chemicals and heat.
4. Wash according to the care label.
5. Let the garment air dry so you can assess the result.
6. Repeat rather than escalating immediately to a harsher treatment.

Some permanent marks are actually changes to the fabric rather than removable material. Bleaching, colour loss, scorching and fibre damage cannot be washed away.

Do expensive stain removers work better?

Not necessarily.

CHOICE’s 2026 testing assessed more than 40 stain-remover sprays and soaking powders against stains such as sweat, grass, makeup, oil, blood and tomato. Products varied substantially, and one of the highest-scoring sprays was also among the least expensive. See the latest CHOICE stain-remover test summary.

When choosing a product, look for:

1. Suitability for the particular stain
2. Compatibility with whites or colours
3. Fabric restrictions
4. Required treatment time
5. Whether it contains enzymes
6. Whether it is suitable for your washing machine

A good product used incorrectly can still damage clothing or fail to remove the stain.

Special care for wool, silk and delicate fabrics

Do not use ordinary stain-removal advice blindly on delicate materials.

Wool, silk, acetate, leather, embellished garments and structured clothing may react badly to enzymes, bleach, solvents, scrubbing or heat.

The Australian-founded Woolmark organisation provides stain-specific advice for wool and emphasises blotting rather than rubbing. See its wool stain-removal guide.

Seek professional care if:

• The label says dry-clean only
• The garment is wool, silk, leather or suede
• The fabric is not colourfast
• The item contains beading, adhesives or delicate finishes
• The stain involves paint, glue or an unknown solvent
• The garment is expensive or irreplaceable

Tell the cleaner what caused the stain and what treatments you have already applied.

The final answer

Successful stain removal is less about finding one miracle ingredient and more about making the right decisions in the right order.

Identify the stain, check the care label, use the gentlest suitable treatment and avoid heat until the mark has disappeared.

When in doubt:

1. Remove the excess.
2. Rinse or blot with cool water.
3. Apply a fabric-safe pre-treatment.
4. Wash according to the care label.
5. Check before drying.

That approach gives you the best chance of removing the stain without turning a small accident into permanent fabric damage.

FAQs

Related articles