No matter how careful you are, spills are inevitable: sticky summertime ice cream, coffee dribbles, the occasional muddy paw print. Stains may be a bit of a drag, but we like to think they’re also usually indications of a good time. With the right supplies, a solid game plan, and some patience, you can remove even the toughest stains from the seemingly unsalvageable pieces in your laundry bin. We’ll walk you through our step-by-step advice below, plus a few other stain-related recommendations, including shirts that repel spills altogether. Our ultimate stain-busting game plan→ We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›
A note before we get started: This advice is for machine-washable items only. For garments you need to hand-wash, our hand-washing detergent guide might be a good place to start. And if the item’s label reads “dry-clean only”, well … you might be able to hand-wash those, too. Step 1: Identify the stain. You’ll need to know exactly what you’re up against. A stain’s color, odor, texture, and shape will often provide clues to its origins, so look closely. Step 2: Blot or scrape the stain. When tackling fresh stains, blot any excess with a cloth, napkin, or paper towel. For dried stains, you can gently scrape off the top layers of the stain before pretreating it. (The flat side of a butter knife might be useful here.) Step 3: Determine your strategy. Now that you know what kind of stain you’re dealing with, decide on a stain remover. The type you choose will depend on the splatter at hand. Consult our rundown of common stain types and what to use on them. Read the guideThe very best stain removers→Step 4: Pretreat or soak. If your stain is fresh or on the lighter side, massage the stain remover fully into the stain with a gloved hand or a stain brush, and follow the wait time advised by the instructions. If a stain is on the older side or particularly severe, try soaking it in a solution of water and laundry detergent. Step 5: Wash and (air!) dry. Wash your clothing according to the care instructions on the label. Just be mindful of water temperature: After pretreatment, most stains should be washed with cold water first. Heat can set stains and make them harder to remove. And, for the same reason, when it comes to drying, don’t pop the item into your dryer. Instead, dry flat or line-dry it.
When testing stain removers, one must first have a ton of stains ready to tackle. So we stained T-shirts with grass, pizza, pig blood, a turmeric-based sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, blueberry, chocolate almond milk, coffee, baby formula, foundation makeup, lipstick, pomegranate cherry juice, and both red and sparkling white wine. Yikes.
And if all that fails: Here’s our guide to the best button-ups. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you. Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
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