Stain Removal Tips | Clever Wash

No one enjoys getting their favorite clothes or fabrics stained — especially when dealing with stubborn marks that are hard to remove.


But rest assured: a tough stain doesn’t mean an impossible one.


Below you’ll find detailed tips for removing persistent stains, helping you solve virtually any problem you may face.


Eliminate even the toughest stains easily by following these steps:

  • Oil or Tomato Sauce Stains

    Oil stains

    1. Dampen with a little lighter fluid (or dry cleaning solvent), sprinkle with talcum powder, brush, and then wash normally. If the fabric isn’t washable, simply brush the talc once it has absorbed the oil.

    2. Pour boiling water over the stain, then apply baking soda or a solution of ammonia and water.


    Tomato sauce stains


    1. Soak in a warm water and glycerin solution for 1 hour. Then wash as usual.

    2. If not treated quickly, the stain may set. Immediately rub with liquid detergent, let it sit for a while, and then wash normally.


  • Makeup, Lipstick, or Chewing Gum

    Makeup stains

    Dampen with liquid detergent and let it sit. Then wash normally. You may also try oil-free makeup remover.


    Lipstick stains

    1. Rub with cleansing milk, then wash with regular detergent.

    2. Rub with rubbing alcohol, apply detergent, and optionally add a few drops of ammonia to the wash water. Rinse thoroughly.


    Chewing gum

    Place the garment in the freezer until the gum hardens. Then break it off like glass.


  • Blood, Urine, or Sweat

    Blood stains

    • White fabrics: Soak in cold water and treat with diluted hydrogen peroxide. Soak in water with bleach and wash.

    • Colored or delicate fabrics: Cover with a paste of flour and water, let dry, brush off, and wash.

    • Wool: Rub with aspirin dissolved in water, then wash per care label.


    Urine stains

    Rinse thoroughly with cold water and wash immediately. For set stains, soak in water with detergent or hydrogen peroxide for deeper treatment.


    Sweat stains

    Rub with diluted vinegar or lemon juice and water.


  • Ink, Wax, or Mold

    Ink stains


    1. For ballpoint ink on cotton: Place absorbent cotton under the stain and dab with cotton soaked in milk.

    2. For fountain pen ink on white fabric: Soak in lukewarm water with bleach.

    3. For colored fabrics: Soak in warm milk and rinse with lemon juice and water.

    4. For synthetics: Rub with half a lemon.

    Alternative method: Dab with alcohol from outside in, lay over paper towel, and press with alcohol until no more ink transfers.


    Wax stains

    Scrape excess wax. Place fabric between two paper towels or absorbent cloths and iron until wax is absorbed. Then gently dab with lighter fluid and wash.


    Mold stains

    • Soak whites in bleach for 10 minutes. Wash at the highest allowed temperature.

    • Apply soap, then salt, and leave under the sun, keeping the area moist. Repeat if needed.


  • Fruit Juice, Chocolate, or Coffee

    Fruit juice stains

    1. Wash with hot detergent solution, followed by ammonia, then vinegar. Dry with paper towel between steps.

    2. For white fabrics: soak in water with ammonia, rinse, then soak in bleach.

    For colored fabrics: apply hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.


    Chocolate stains

    1. Remove as much chocolate as possible, rub with liquid detergent, rinse with cold water, then wash.

    2. Scrape excess, apply cold detergent solution, follow with ammonia then vinegar if needed. Rinse and dry well.


    Coffee stains

    Wash immediately with warm water and bleach detergent.

    • Whites: Dab with hydrogen peroxide, rinse well.

    • Colors: Soak in cold water with a bit of ammonia.

    • Wool: Rub with egg yolk dissolved in water, then wash with wool detergent.


  • Paint, Glue, or Grease

    Paint stains

    Use thinner similar to the paint base (test on hidden area first).

    • Acrylic: Cover with paper towel soaked in dish soap, wait, then wash.

    • Oil-based: Rub with turpentine, soak in water with detergent, then wash.

    Glue stains

    • Transparent glue: Dab with acetone (test for colorfastness) or synthetic paint remover.

    • White glue: Wash with cold water, rub with ammonia and water mixture. Rinse well.

    • Vinyl-based glue: Rub with vinegar diluted in water.


    Grease stains

    Cover with talc, wait 3 mins, and brush vigorously. Wash at the hottest safe temperature.

    • White cotton: Rub with lighter fluid, wash in hot water with detergent.

    • Wool: Rub with turpentine and wash with liquid detergent.


  • Mud, Grass, or Rust

    Mud stains

    Let dry completely. Then brush off and wash at the highest allowed temperature.

    Alternative: Rub with solution of 30ml washing soda + 250ml hot water.


    Grass stains

    For large stains, gently rub with alcohol, rinse with cold water, and wash.

    If stubborn or delicate fabric: soak in cold water, wash in lukewarm water with detergent, rinse with cold water + hydrogen peroxide, then again with cold water + vinegar.


    Rust stains

    Avoid bleach — it sets rust permanently.

    • Use rust remover or lemon juice + salt without letting fabric dry in between.

    • Rinse and wash with liquid detergent.

    Alternative: Rub with salt and lemon juice, leave in sun to dry.


  • Milk, Egg, or Ice Cream

    Milk stains

    Soak in cold water, then wash with detergent. Use ammonia or vinegar for persistent stains. Rinse and dry thoroughly.


    Egg stains

    Blot excess with cloth, apply detergent solution, dry. Follow with cold ammonia solution if needed. Rinse and dry.


    Ice cream stains

    Start with detergent solution, then ammonia and vinegar. Rinse and dry thoroughly.


  • Beer or Wine

    Beer stains

    Apply detergent solution and blot. If persistent, apply vinegar solution and let air-dry. Rinse and dry completely.


    Wine stains (on fabric)

    1. Sprinkle with salt, let sit 30 mins, then scrub with sponge dipped in warm water and detergent. Rinse with cold water.

    2. Blot with cloth, wash with cold detergent solution, then vinegar and ammonia (with drying between each). Rinse with water.


    Wine stains (on carpet)

    Pour salt or baking soda directly on the stain. Let it absorb. Then vacuum.