Queen of Clean Stain Busting Guide
Stains happen and that is just a fact of life but hopefully, my stain-busting tips will help you save your favourite top and freshen up your carpet.
My Top Tips
- Act Quickly: As soon as you spot a stain act as quickly as you can. If you are out and about, hand sanitiser is a good place to start!
- Flush it Out: If the stain is on your clothes, turn inside out and flush the stain out under the tap.
- Read Instructions: If using a stain-remover product, read the instructions and stick to the measurements given. Never Mix Stain-removing Products.
- Patch Test: If unsure, test a patch first—behind the sofa, under a table, or under the collar area of a top.
- Be Patient: Product takes time to work; it is very rare you get an instant result, so give it time but check regularly.
- Check Before Drying: Ensure the stain has gone before drying, as heat will set the stain even further into the fabric. Use a gentle laundry detergent for the final wash.
My Stain Removal Must-haves
All of these stain-busting ingredients can also be used to make amazing eco-friendly natural household cleaners. Pair them with a quality glass spray bottle for the best results.
A - Z of the Most Common Stains
For more secrets, grab a copy of my books to transform your routine!
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo
Stains and mess are a fact of life, but they don't have to be permanent! Click each category below to reveal my expert tips for saving your favourite fabrics and furniture.
The Stain Buster Directory
Baby Stains
It isn’t easy keeping baby clothes and bibs clean; most babies will create stains and mess daily. If you catch the stain quickly, run the item under a cold tap from the reserve to flush out and rub in a little washing-up liquid. Leave it submerged in water until you put your next wash load on.
If you have missed the stain, which is often very common when we have babies, scrape off as much of the stain as you can using a blunt knife but be very careful not to rub the stain further into the fabric. Once removed, run under a cold tap, add a spritz of white vinegar and some washing-up liquid, leave for 15 minutes to allow the products to work, and then rinse. Keep it wet until your next washing load.
Breast Milk & Formula
Breast Milk: Breast milk leaves a protein-based fatty stain. Run under a cold tap and rub into the stain a little of your liquid laundry detergent. Keep wet until you wash as normal.
Formula: For formula stains, soak in cold water with some oxi active non-bio stain remover.
Baby Poop Stains
Rinse off as much of the poop as you can, using warm water. Mix a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with a tablespoon of washing up liquid and gently work into the stains using a soft bristle brush. Leave the products to work before rinsing and washing as normal.
Butter Stains
A butter stain is oily by nature so never rub in the fabric as this will only make it worse and spread all over the fabric. Scrape as much as you can off using a blunt knife. Then using a piece of kitchen roll, blot the stain to get as much of the oil out as you can. Sprinkle the stained area with bicarbonate of soda and let it sit for 30 minutes. After this, using your fingers and a tiny amount of water, gently rub over the stain and again leave to sit, this time for 15 minutes. Rinse off and wash as normal.
Blood Stains
With blood stains ensure you get to them as soon as possible and flush with cold water. NEVER use hot water as it will cook the protein into the fibres making the stain much harder to remove. If the stain is fresh, after rinsing under cold water add some liquid laundry detergent, rub in, and wash as normal. If it is an older stain, scrape off any crusted blood, mix water with oxi action and keep submerged for at least 2 hours, then wash as normal.
Mattress Tip: For blood on the mattress, use hydrogen peroxide. Add 30ml to a spray bottle, add a drop of washing-up liquid, then fill the rest with water and liberally spray. Scrub in, leave, then blot dry using a white cloth.
Candle Wax
If you have caught the wax drip early, pop an ice cube on the top to harden it quickly. Once hardened, remove as much as you can using a blunt knife. Then cover the stain with brown parcel paper, cover completely, and then apply heat from either a cool iron or your hair dryer. The heat will lift the stain and it will stick to the paper. Repeat until the stain has gone.
Chocolate Stains
Chocolate is one of the easiest stains to get rid of! Use a blunt knife or credit card to scrape off as much of the chocolate as you can, flush under a cold tap and then rub in some washing up liquid before washing as normal.
Coffee & Tea Stains
If you catch the spill, blot out as much liquid as you can with kitchen roll. Rinse under cold water, rub in some liquid detergent, and pop it in the machine. If the stain is on a carpet or sofa, blot away first and then use a soft bristle brush to scrub gently with water and detergent. Leave to sit, then blot dry with a cold wet cloth until vanished.
Deodorant Stains
For Whites: Use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, bicarbonate of soda, and water. Rub into the stain, leave to sit, then wash as normal.
For Darks: Liberally spray with neat white vinegar, leave it to soak in, then wash as normal.
