Stain guide

Removing stains from textiles: Here's how!

Special stain removers from various manufacturers can help with some stains. But if these are not to hand, simple agents such as water, lemon juice or gall soap can also help. To help you remove red wine stains, sauce splashes and traces of make-up, here are some tips on how to remove stains.

Beer stains

Mix wine vinegar and warm water and rub it onto the stain with a sponge, then rinse and wash with the detergent you would normally use.

Blood stains

Wash out immediately with cold water and then soak in salt water. For dried stains, a little diluted ammonia will help before washing.

Coke stains

Dissolve old cola stains with sparkling mineral or soda water and soak in a detergent bath. Otherwise, cola stains are quite easy to remove during normal washing.

Vinegar/balsamic stains

Rub in gall soap from the outside to the inside with a soft brush, then leave to work in, rinse and finally wash as hot as possible.

Grease/cream stains

A little washing-up liquid or warm soapy water (gall soap) and a subsequent wash in the machine are usually sufficient. Liquid detergents are particularly good at removing grease as they contain more surfactants than powder detergents. You can also remove sun cream stains in this way.

Fruit juice stains

First soak the stain with a little mineral water and then machine wash the fabric as normal. For stubborn stains, treat the stain with a little liquid mild detergent before washing.

Spice stains

Curry and paprika in particular are difficult to remove due to their intense coloring. First step: wash out with lukewarm water. Then a treatment with gall soap or a bath in a glycerine solution (about 30 minutes), then rinse and wash with compact detergent.

Coffee stains

Fresh stains can often be removed by immediately pouring carbonated mineral water over them. For stubborn stains on white laundry, use stain remover and then wash.

Cocoa stains

Fresh cocoa stains can usually be removed with lukewarm water. For stubborn or dried stains, gall soap can be used.

Ketchup stains

First carefully remove the ketchup with the back of a knife. Then wash it out with lukewarm soapy water or an ammonia solution. Another option is to carefully rub the stain with vinegar using a damp cloth. Then wash as normal.

Lipstick stains

All traces are usually removed after the first normal wash. For additional treatment, soften the stain with eucalyptus oil or glycerine. Stubborn stains can be removed with a little ammonia or white spirit.

Make-up stains

Soak make-up stains in lukewarm water with gall soap for a long time. Light-colored fabrics can also be dabbed with alcohol.

Oil stains

A little washing-up liquid or warm soapy water (gall soap) and a subsequent wash in the machine are usually sufficient. Oil stains can be removed particularly well with liquid detergent. These contain more surfactants than powder detergents.

Red wine stains

Treat the stain as quickly as possible! Sprinkle the fresh stain with salt so that the salt can draw the liquid out of the fabric. Then rinse well with lukewarm water. If necessary, apply a splash of lemon juice to the stain before washing.

Chocolate stains

First remove the chocolate with the back of a knife, then carefully rub off the remaining grease stain with washing-up liquid or gall soap, a little lukewarm water and a sponge. If necessary, soak in lukewarm soapy water.

Sauce stains

If the gravy has solid particles, carefully remove these with the back of a knife. First dab the gravy stain with an absorbent cloth (preferably a little kitchen roll). Now take a little liquid detergent and apply it directly to the stain. Gently rub the detergent into the stain from the outside inwards, applying a little pressure, and leave it to work for 5-10 minutes. You can also use liquid gall soap instead of liquid detergent.

Mould stains

Stubborn stains are best removed with Javel water (pharmacy). However, this bleaching process lightens the fabric and is only possible with light-colored or white fabrics. UV rays are effective and environmentally friendly for removing light mildew stains. Simply place the affected fabric in the sun.

Tea stains

Fresh stains can often be removed by immediately pouring carbonated mineral water over them. Rub the remaining stain with gall soap and leave to soak for approx. 10 minutes. Then wash as hot as possible. For stubborn stains, you can use lemon juice or, on white laundry, decolorizer.

Wax stains

First carefully scrape off the coarsest wax residue with the back of a knife and then place the affected area between blotting paper or kitchen paper. Iron over the wax from the inside to the outside at a low temperature. Change the paper more often. If any paint residue is still visible, dab the stains with a little white spirit. With scented candles, scented oils and other ingredients can be problematic to iron.