Become a stain-removing pro

Whether you’ve been making the most of brighter weather and have the grass marks to show for it, or you’ve just dropped a plate of spag-bol down your front, stains happen. Luckily, they don’t have to last, and there’s definitely no need to panic. Here are our top tips on tackling pesky common stains, without wrecking your stuff.

Act fast, if you can

As a general rule, the longer a stain is on your clothes, the tougher it’s going to be to remove it. But before you tackle it, make sure you’ve checked the care label, as the last thing you want to do is damage the item.

Can you still tackle a dried-on stain? Yep! But it’s definitely trickier. Try soaking the stained area in vinegar, then rubbing it with a baking soda and vinegar paste before giving it a wash. Or try a special stain removing product.

Remove a chocolate stain

Chocolate fixes most problems, however it ups the risk of a chocolatey mess up on your clothes. Get a head-start by scraping off any excess, then run the stain under cold water before you add a spot of laundry detergent. Rub in the detergent, leave it to sit there for 5-10 minutes, then sling the garment in the washing machine.

Removing grass stains

Clean up those knees with a spray bottle mixture that’s equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray this on the stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, before gently rubbing at the stain with an old toothbrush. Next, send it through the washing machine on a cold cycle, and enjoy the results!

Tackle red wine stains

The first rule of Stain Club is, don’t rub a red wine stain! Instead, gently dab at it with the corner of a white cloth soaked in soda or cold water. Blotting this way should work wonders, but if you’re at home, baking soda will quickly soak up the liquid. You can also up the ante with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and washing-up liquid. Rinse thoroughly in cold water after 10 minutes, then pop the garment in the wash.

Removing oil stains

Oil – natural or not – can be a tricky beast to get out of clothes and pillow cases. But with a little effort and some household essentials, you can still see the back of it. Start by blotting the stain with a clean cloth, then sprinkle on some baking soda. After 15 minutes or so, brush away the baking soda, apply some washing-up liquid dish, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Lastly, pop the garment through a cold wash.

Remove an ink stain

Anyone who went to school in a white shirt and met the wrong end of a fountain pen knows that getting ink out of clothing is difficult. But there are still ways to get rid! One secret weapon is hairspray: spray it on, let it sit for 10 mins or so, then dab the stain with a clean cloth until it’s gone.