Stain Fighting Tips & Tricks

Getting dirty is bound to happen. Sometimes it’s your favorite tote breaking the fall for some apricot jam at the farmers market, other times it’s the salmon fillet splattering your go-to apron in the kitchen. Napkins, of course, get the brunt of the abuse. But getting out stains is much easier than you think and we’ve compiled a quick-list of solutions for each staining culprit.

General stain fighting

Before getting into the more nuanced stain removal techniques, we recommend just soaking your stuff with a couple scoops of Oxiclean stain remover for a few hours. Then, run through a normal laundry cycle. If that doesn't do it, move on to the strategies below.

Grease

If fresh, sprinkle cornmeal or talcum powder over the spot and remove with a dry cloth. If not, scrub with high-grade dish soap (like Dawn) and then rinse with boiling water. Finally, run it through a quick laundry cycle.

Wine

Red: Blot first with a damp towel and follow up with a little white wine or vinegar. If that that doesn’t do it, scrub with baking soda and let sit for half an hour, then spot wash with a damp cloth.

White: Lightly dab with water and clear dish soap, then spot wash with a damp cloth.  

Coffee & tea

Spray with 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water, then alternate with dabbing a wet cloth onto the stain. Finish with a couple of sprays of diluted ammonia (1 tbsp ammonia : 1 cup of water) and a some more dabs with a wet cloth.

Chocolate or mustard

Mix together 10oz of water with 1 tbsp high-grade soap in a spray bottle and apply to stain. Finish off by placing a little detergent directly onto the stain before laundry cycle.