Stained your favorite outfit again? Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
By: El Paño
Tags: Washing, Care, Consulting, Stains, Fabric

We’ve all had our fair share in fabric disasters that have ended up ruining our favorite OOTD’s, be it spilled coffee, leaked ink, or an oil stain. One thing we can all agree with is the fact that festivals bring some really harsh stains. But we’re here to save the festivals for you, here’s what experts have to say about getting rid of some of the toughest fabric stains.

Holi color stains

For white clothes, simply soak the fabric in hot water and a small amount of non-chlorine bleach. Wash and dry the whites separately to prevent the color from leeching on to other clothes. Do refer to the wash care label before using bleach.

For colored clothes, add half a cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of detergent powder in 2–3 liters of cold water. The acid will pull out the color from the fabric. Lemon or diluted alcohol can also be used by rubbing them onto the stain and running the fabric through a regular wash cycle.

Pen Marks

Place a towel under the stain and dab it with a solvent rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based sanitizer. Immerse the stained area and soak for 15 minutes. The ink should begin to dissolve almost immediately. Wash the fabric in regular detergent, the stain would be gone after 3–4 washes.

Haldi

First, soak the stain in cold water with mild detergent for 20 minutes. As the stain fades, apply lemon juice to the stain. Let the lemon work its way into the yarn for 15 minutes. Then rinse the spot with cold water.

Oil

Remove any excess oil with a paper towel or cloth. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the affected area and allow it to sit for a minimum of 24 hours. Now, vacuum or brush the baking soda away. Spray the stain with vinegar and water solution. Scrub the fabric with detergent soap and then rinse.

Mehendi

Drip a small amount of laundry soap onto the stain and scrub in short, circular movements using an old toothbrush. Scrub until the stain fades, and then rinse with cold water.

Nail Paint

Apply several drops of non-acetone-based nail polish remover onto the stain with a cotton swab, working from the outer edge toward the center to remove nail polish. Change swabs as needed. Do not over-wet the area or you’ll spread the stain or damage the fabric. Blot with a clean white cloth and repeat as needed. Finally, rinse the fabric with cold water.

Tea

Gently rub a liquid detergent into the stain. Leave the detergent on to the stain for at least 5 minutes. If the stain is old or dry, rub the stain with detergent and allow the fabric to soak in cold water for about 30 minutes. Rinse the fabric thoroughly.

Mud

Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Using a wet toothbrush and a few drops of laundry detergent, scrub the detergent into the stain, scrubbing both sides of the fabric. Machine wash separately and repeat until the mud is gone.

Paint

Saturate the stain with a mix of half detergent, half warm water, and blot it vigorously with a paper towel. Rinse and repeat until the paint is gone or no longer coming up. Note: spot test a small, hidden part of the garment first to ensure that none of these agents ruin/discolor the fabric.

If the stain is old, scrape off any wet paint and then run the stain under warm water. Wash as usual and the stain should be gone.

Chewing/ Bubble gum

To remove chewing gum from clothes, start with ice. When frozen, you can remove chewing gum easily, so keep the fabric in a freezer or hold an ice cube onto it for 30 seconds or more. Once the gum is hard, peel it off by hand or use a spoon and gently scrape it off.

Leaked Dye from other clothes

Dissolve oxygen bleach in hot water and add enough cold water to cool the mixture. Soak the fabric in this solution for 15–30 minutes, then rinse. If the stain remains, try wetting the stains with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly again. Always remember to do a spot check before using these products on the fabric.