10 Rules for Stain Removal

Stains are inevitable but there’s no need to resort to harsh chemicals to deal with them

1. Take immediate action. The faster you act, the better your chances of completely removing the stain.

2. Mop up the excess. Try to blot up as much of a spill as possible with a clean rag and paper towel. Lift off solids with a knife blade.

3. Don’t let the stain dry out. If you can’t deal with it straight away, sponge the stain with cold water, spray it with soda water or cover it with a damp towel.

4. Re-lubricate a dry stain. If a stain does dry (or you find an old one), rub it with vegetable glycerin before removing it.

5. Don’t use hot water. It “sets” many stains, making them much more difficult to remove. Always use cold or tepid water when you first tackle a stain.

6. Start with the gentlest approach. Quite often all you need for removing a stain is soda water or a soapy solution.

7. Always move from the outside in. to avoid leaving a ring, start from the outer edge of a stain and work towards the centre.

8. Don’t scrub at a stain. Instead, place an absorbent pad beneath the stain and dab it through the fibres. Change the pad frequently.

9. Work from the back of the fabric to the front. If possible, place the absorbent pad on the stain itself on the right side of the fabric and apply stain remover from the wrong side of the fabric.

10. In the case of stain removal, more is not necessarily better. If a cleaner is not working, don’t increase the strength of the solution. Rinse it away, and try something else.