Stain Removal
2025-01-26
Sometimes I accidentally stain my clothing with something, and the stain doesn't come out with a straightforward laundry cycle. It's a shame to not be able to wear the article of clothing anymore, so I like to experiment and try to figure out how to get the stain out, with the risk of ruining it somehow, if the alternative is not wearing it anyway.
I am starting a definitive list here for myself so that I can remember how to remove certain tough stains that I've encountered, because the internet is full of crap information that doesn't actually work. I intend to update this list occasionally over time.
However, firstly, I have to refute a statement that I have read numerous times, which I believe to be a falsehood from personal experience:
Drying an article of clothing in the dryer will not "bake" the stain in. I have successfully gotten every one of my listed stains out, despite having put every stain through a dryer cycle.
Without further ado:
- Oil: cover the stain in Lestoil. Let rest overnight. Wash and dry. My husband is a chef and this just might be his most common stain. Lestoil has fully removed some truly terrifying stains he's gotten.
- Tea: soak the stain in OxiClean overnight. Wash and dry.
I asked my husband if he had anything to add to this list, and he only had this to say: "If you need a tip on how to get stains: marry me."
(Last updated 2025-01-26)