Removing stains from clothes: an overview

Treat with alcohol or milk, then wash.

Wash out as quickly as possible with cold or slightly warm water and a small amount of synthetic detergent. Fresh stains can be removed completely this way. Pre-wash older stains in a biological detergent solution; stubborn stains are best left to soak overnight in that solution. Watch out: the stain may be gone but could have left a new one behind.

Treat the stain as quickly as possible, ideally before it dries. Pour some full-fat milk on the stain and let it soak in for a moment. Then wash according to the care instructions. Doesn't work? Use something stronger, like white spirit or ox gall soap. Dab the stain and then rinse it out in soapy water.

Wash out in lukewarm soapy water, if needed after soaking with a biological detergent.

Dampen with a solution of lactic acid and water or with alcohol, dab with a soap-based detergent (like Marseille soap) and wash. Bleach white fabrics afterwards with bleach.

Treat with turpentine, white spirit, alcohol or acetone, then wash.

Dab alternately with alcohol and vinegar, then rinse with water.

Loosen the wax. Iron out the remaining bits between two paper tissues (careful with synthetic fabrics). Dab stains with alcohol on an absorbent surface, treat with stain remover if needed, then wash as usual.

Freeze it off immediately with ice cubes. For old stains, treat several times with stain remover if needed (see stubborn stains).

Clean several times with acetone. Don't use acetone on acetate and chlorofibre fabrics. Treat fresh two-component glue stains with acetone immediately.

Soak, rub in detergent, wash. Soften old stains with glycerine and wash with biological detergent.

Dab with alcohol and wash with a delicate detergent (liquid Dreft).

Treat with acetone. Acetate, triacetate and chlorofibres can't handle acetone. You'll end up with holes!

Blot immediately with paper tissues and pour white wine over it! Rinse. Wash. Bleach with chlorine bleach if needed.

Remove with rust remover according to the instructions. Rinse well in cold water and wash. To avoid bleach damage, rust stains must be removed before washing with a detergent that contains bleach.

Wet the fabric, apply liquid delicate detergent, roll it up and leave it overnight, then wash as normal.

Dab with turpentine or white spirit, then wash.

Immediately rub the stain with margarine or butter and have the item dry-cleaned.

Same as coffee and chocolate stains. Bad or old stains are hard to remove from fabrics that can't be boiled.

Rinse with lukewarm water; if necessary, soak for 1 to 3 hours in lukewarm biological detergent suds, then rinse and wash as normal.

Treat immediately. Soak a clean white cotton cloth in a solvent (turpentine, white spirit or thinner) and use it to treat the stains on an absorbent surface: dab, don't rub!

Dab with white spirit, stain remover or stain removal paste.

Rinse immediately in cold water, then wash. If needed, bleach afterwards with a cold, very diluted solution of bleach or chlorine bleach. Then rinse thoroughly.