Wine, coffee, grease and makeup all behave differently on fabric. Acting promptly can help, but the safest treatment still depends on the item, its colour and the instructions supplied with it.

A simple first response

  1. Remove or blot away as much of the spill as you can without spreading it.
  2. Use the water temperature and treatment allowed by the care label.
  3. Pretreat with a product suitable for the fabric and stain.
  4. Check the mark before drying. Heat can make some remaining stains harder to shift.

Seven common stains

1. Red wine

Blot the spill with a clean, colourfast cloth. Rinse with cool water if the care label permits, then apply a suitable laundry pretreatment before washing. Avoid rubbing, which can spread the wine further through the fibres.

2. Coffee and tea

Rinse cool water through the back of the mark, then pretreat with laundry detergent or a stain remover suitable for the fabric. Wash according to the care label and check the area before drying.

3. Grease and oil

Lift away any excess without pressing it deeper into the material. Apply a product made for oily stains, allow the recommended treatment time, then wash at the warmest temperature the care label allows.

4. Grass

Pretreat the mark with an enzyme-based laundry product when the garment and product labels allow it. Give the treatment time to work, then wash on the recommended cycle. Avoid improvising with bleach on coloured or delicate fabrics.

5. Fresh blood

Rinse with cold water because hot water can set a blood stain. Apply an appropriate detergent or enzyme pretreatment, then wash as directed. Repeat the treatment if needed before putting the item in a dryer.

6. Sweat and deodorant

Pretreat the affected area with liquid laundry detergent or a suitable stain product. Follow the label for soak time and water temperature, particularly on stretch fabrics, coloured items and activewear.

7. Makeup

Gently lift off excess product first. Because makeup formulas vary, use a pretreatment suitable for the product type and fabric, working from the outside of the mark inward. Wash only after checking that the treatment has not affected the colour.

Before you dry the item

Inspect the treated area while it is still damp. If the stain remains, repeat a care-label-safe treatment rather than applying dryer heat. Some marks or delicate fabrics may need professional help, and not every stain can be fully removed.