Stain Removal Guide: How to Remove 100 of the Most Common Stains

To use this handy guide, locate your stain and the numbered remedy. Refer to the remedy on the reverse side for the proper stain removal technique. Certain remedies require great caution, especially with selected fabrics (see cautions). Always test first on an inconspicuous area of the fabric. Carefully store hazardous stain removing chemicals.

Important:

Use caution when using detergents, bleaches and cleaning chemicals.
Improper removal techniques may set the stain in permanently.

 
Stain Remedy
Acids 9
Adhesive Tape 1
Aftershave Lotion 11
Alkalies 10
Asphalt 3
Auto Wax 1
Ballpoint Pen 11
Bath Oil 8
Beer 5
Blood 8
Bluing 7
Butter 3
Candle Wax 12
Candy (not choc.) *6
Carbon Paper 4
Casein Glue 5
Caster Oil 3
Catsup *2
Cheese *2
Chewing Gum 3
Chocolate *2
Coffee *5
Contact Cement 4
Crayon, Wax 1
Cream 2
Cuticle Remover 4
Deodorant 6
Egg White 8
Egg Yoke 2
Eye Drops 8
Eyeliner *1
Eye Shadow *1
Fabric Dyes (not red) 7
Felt-tip Marker *1
Fish Slime 8
Floor Wax *1
Food Coloring (not red) 7
Fruit *5
Furniture Polish *1
Grass 13
Gravy 2
Grease 1
Hair Dye (black) 7
Hair Spray 1
Hand Lotion 1
Household Cement 4
Ice Cream 2
India Ink 1
Ink (black, blue) 7
Insecticides 1
Stain Remedy
Jelly *5
Lacquer 4
Lipstick 1
Lubricating Oil 1
Makeup 1
Margarine 1
Mascara *1
Mayonnaise 2
Mercurochrome *6
Mildew 14
Milk 2
Mimeograph Ink *4
Mixed Drinks *5
Mouthwash 8
Mucus 8
Mud *5
Mustard 11
Ointments 1
Paint 1
Pencil 15
Perfume 16
Perspiration *6
Rouge 1
Rubber Cement 3
Rust 17
Salad Dressing 2
Sauces 2
Scorch 18
Shaving Cream 5
Shellac 19
Sherbert 8
Shoe Polish (not whlte) *1
Smoke *1
Soft Drinks *5
Soups 2
Starch 8
Suntan Lotion *5
Tar 1
Tea *5
Tobacco *5
Toothpaste 5
Typewriter Ink 1
Urine *6
Varnish 4
Vegetables 5
Vegetable Oils 3
Vinegar, colored *5
Vomit 8
Whiskey *5
Wine *5
Stain Removal Supplies

Absorbent Materials
    Sponges, paper towels, cloth
Alcohol
    Use rubbing alcohol (70% or 90% solution)
Ammonia
    Use household ammonia
Amyl Acetate
    Banana oil or nail polish remover
Chlorine Bleach
    Use cautiously
Coconut Oil or Mineral Oil
    Used In dry spotter
Detergent
    Use liquid dishwashing detergent
Dry Cleaning Solvent
    Trichloroethane
Dry Spotter
    1 part coconut oil,
    8 parts drycleaning solvent
Enzyme Solution
    Made of 1 quart warm water &
    1 tbsp. enzyme presoak or detergent
Glycerine
    Used to make wet spotter
Vinegar
    Use white vinegar
Wet Spotter
    Made of 1 part glycerine, 1 part detergent
    & 8 parts water.

 

Cautions

Caution 1
Alcohol fades some dyes. Dilute alcohol to 1/3 strength when using on acetate.

Caution 2
Ammonia changes some dye colors. Restore by rinsing thoroughly with warm water &vinegar solution. With wool & silk, dilute ammonia to 1/2 strength.

Caution 3
Amyl acetate Is poisonous & flammable. Avoid contact with plastics & furniture finishes.

Caution 4
Chlorine bleach cannot be used on silk, wool, spandex flbers or flre retardant finishes.

Caution 5
Drycleaning solvent is poisonous & flammable.

Caution 6
Hydrogen peroxide is safe for all fibers but check dyes for color fastness.

Caution 7
Vinegar is safe for all fibers, but changes some dye colors. If colors change, rinse with water & ammonia solution. then rinse with water.

*These stains may require chlorine bleach to remove the final traces. See the remedies listed below.

 

Stain Removal Remedies
Always test stain remover on an unexposed area of the garment. Keep the treatment area as small as possible and work from the center of the stain out. When the stain is gone, wash the article if it is washable. If it is not washable, be sure that all the chemicals are thoroughly flushed out. Use extra care in treating non washables and when using certain chemicals (see cautions above.) It may not be necessary to go through all the steps to remove the stain.

1. Washables & Nonwashables: Sponge with drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Apply dryspotter & blot. Flush with drycleaning solvent, dry, sponge with water. Apply wet spotter & few drops of ammonia, Caution 2. Blot, flush with water.
2. Washables: Use remedy 1. If stain remains, soak in enzyme solution far 30 min. Rinse with water.
Nonwashables: Use remedy 1. If the stain remains, moisten with enzyme solution, blot, flush with water.
3. Washables & Nonwashables: Place absorbent material under stain & apply drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Apply dry spotter, blot. Flush with drycleaning solvent. Dry.
4. Washables & Nonwashables: Sponge with drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Apply dryspotter & blot. Flush with drycleaning solvent. Apply amyl acetate to stain for 15 min. Caution 3. Then blot. Flush again with drycleaning solvent.
5.

Washables: Soak far 15 min. in solution of 1 qt. warm water. 1 /2 tsp. detergent, 1 tbsp. vinegar. Caution 7. Rinse with water, sponge with alcohol. Caution 1. Wash then soak in enzyme solution for 30 min. Wash.

Nonwashables: Sponge with wafer, apply wet spotter & a few drops of vinegar. Caution 7. Blot then flush with water. Apply alcohol to stain & blot. Caution 1.
6.

Washables: Soak in solution of 1 qt. warm water, 1/2 tsp detergent, 1 tbsp. ammonia for 30 min. Caution 2. Rinse with water. Soak 1 hour in solution of 1 qt. warm water & 1 tbsp. vinegar. Caution 7. Rinse with water & dry. Apply alcohol, Caution 1, blot, rinse with water.

Nonwashables: Sponge with water. Apply wet spotter & a few drops of ammonia. Caution 2. Blot, then flush with water. Apply wet spotter & a few drops of vinegar. Caution 7. Blot, them flush with water. Apply alcohol to stain. Caution 1. Blot, then flush with water.
7.

Washables: Soak 30 min. In solution of 1 qt. warts water, 1/2 tsp. detergent, & 1 tbsp vinegar. Caution 7. Rinse with water & dry. Flush with alcohol & dry. Caution 1. Soak 30 min. in 1 qt. warm water, 1/2 tsp detergent, 1 tbsp. ammonia. Caution 2. Rinse with water.

Nonwashables: Sponge with water, apply wet spotter & a few drops of vinegar for 30 min. Caution 7. Blot. Flush with water & dry. Flush with alcohol & dry. Caution 1. Sponge with water. Apply wet spotter & a few drops of ammonia. Caution 2. Let stand 30 min. Flush with water & dry.
8.

Washables: Soak in solution of 1 qt. warm water, 1/2 tsp detergent & 1 tbsp ammonia for 15 min. Caution 2. Blot, then soak another 15 min. Rinse with water. Soak in enzyme solution for 30 min., then wash.

Nonwashables: Sponge stain with cool water. Apply wet spotter & a few drops of ammonia. Caution 2. Blot, flush with water. Moisten stain with enzyme solution, blot, then flush with water.
9. Acids: Sponge with water & ammonia. Caution 2. Flush with water.
10. Alkalis: Rinse with cold water. Add vinegar. Caution 7. Flush with water.
11. Ballpolnt Pen: Apply lukewarm glycerin & blot. Flush with water, apply wet spotter & a few drops of ammonia. Caution 2. Flush with water.
12. Candle Wax: Place stain between paper towels & Iron at low temperature.
13. Grass: Sponge with drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Dry, use mild bleach. If necessary, Caution 4 & 6.
14. Mildew: Wash with soap & water. Rinse thoroughly, & dry in the sun. Nonwashables send to dry cleaner.
15. Pencil: Try erasing first. Flush with drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Apply dry spotter & nub gently. Cover for 30 min. with pad dampened with dry spotter. Flush with drycleaning solvent. Dry.
16.

Perfume, Washables: Sponge with water, apply wet spotter. Flush with water. Apply alcohol & blot. Caution 1. Flush with water.

Nonwashables: Same, except don't use dryspotter.
17.

Rust, Washables: Sprinkle salt on the stain, add lemon juice & dry in the sun.

Nonwashables: Take to drycleaner.
18. Scorch: Wet stain with hydrogen peroxide & drop of ammonia. Caution 6 & 2. Flush with water.
19. Shellac: Sponge with drycleaning solvent. Caution 5. Apply dry spotter, flush with solvent. Apply alcohol, them flush with alcohol. Caution 1.

*Chlorine bleach may remove the final traces of stains marked by* Use solution of 1 tsp. bleach & 1 tsp. water. Before 2 minutes, flush with water. Apply 1 tsp. vinegar & flush again with water. (See caution 4.)