Even with all of the things we can spill on our laundry, there are really only five types of stains - protein, oil-based, tannin, dye and combination. Once you learn the correct way to treat each of these groups, you'll be a stain-removal pro.
Fresh protein stains like baby food, formula, blood, egg, milk or ice cream can be removed by soaking or rubbing the stain with cold water before washing. Never use hot water because it can actually cook the stain and drive it deeper into the fabric fibers.
Oily stains like butter, salad dressing, hand lotion and automotive oil need a stain-removal pretreatment to remove them. After treating, they also need the hottest water safe for the type of fabric to rinse them away.
Tannin stains include beer, coffee, fruit juice, soft drinks and tea. The most important thing to remember is that natural soaps will set the stain. Use a detergent and the hottest water acceptable for the fabric to wash them away.
Dye stains like grass, red foods and felt-tip pens are hard to remove. They will need pretreating, soaking and perhaps, bleaching.
Combination stains like ballpoint ink, crayon, gravy and makeup contain both an oily/waxy component and a dye/pigment component. Start by removing the oily portion first and then tackle the dye stain. Take your time and most will come out completely.
Sometimes stains appear that no one seems to know how or when they happened. Before you dive in, check a few clues and first, do no harm. Begin with the most gentle methods and ramp up the treatment as needed.
