How do I get a stain out of clothes?

The universal first steps, and the specific treatment for the stain types that need different chemistry.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 30 min
Read: 2 min

Short answer

Act immediately, blot rather than rub, and use cold water first — heat sets protein and many other stains permanently. Never put a stained item in the dryer until you are sure the mark has gone.

Stain removal is chemistry. Protein stains set with heat, oil needs a detergent or solvent, and tannin stains respond to different treatment again. Using hot water on the wrong one makes the mark permanent.

What you'll need

Cold water
Washing-up liquid or detergent
Stain remover (optional)
White cloth (optional)

Step by step

Act immediately.Fresh stains come out far more easily than set ones. Even a rinse in cold water while you find something better makes a substantial difference.
Blot, never rub.Rubbing spreads the stain and works it into the fibres. Blot from the outside inwards with a clean white cloth.
Use cold water first, always.Heat sets protein stains — blood, egg, dairy, sweat — permanently. Cold is the safe default until you know what the stain is.
Treat oil and grease with washing-up liquid.It is formulated to break down fat. Work it in gently, leave a few minutes, then wash. This works on cooking oil, butter and most cosmetics.
Treat tannin stains — tea, coffee, wine, fruit — with cold water and detergent.Do not use soap on them, which can set the stain. Cold rinse, then a stain remover or detergent.
Test any product on a hidden area.Inside a seam or hem. Some treatments remove colour as well as the stain, and that is not reversible.
Check before drying.This is the critical step. Heat from a dryer or an iron sets any remaining stain permanently. Check while wet and re-treat if needed.
Repeat rather than escalating.Two gentle treatments usually beat one aggressive one, and they carry far less risk of damaging the fabric or colour.

Tips

Keep a stain remover in the house rather than buying one when you need it. The first hour matters more than the product.
Sunlight bleaches some stains out of white cotton remarkably well, and it costs nothing.
For anything valuable, delicate or heavily stained, a professional cleaner is worth it. Tell them what the stain is — it changes their treatment.

Common mistakes

Using hot water on an unknown stain — Heat sets protein stains permanently. Cold water is the safe default until you know what you are dealing with.
Rubbing at the stain — It spreads it outwards and drives it into the fibres. Blotting from the outside in is the correct technique.
Drying an item before checking — Dryer heat and ironing set any remaining stain permanently. Always check while wet and re-treat before drying.

Questions people ask

Should I use hot or cold water on a stain?

Cold, unless you are certain of the stain type. Heat sets protein stains such as blood, egg and dairy permanently, and cold water is safe for almost everything.

Why did my stain come back after washing?

It was probably not fully removed and the heat of drying set what remained. Always check the item while wet and re-treat before it goes anywhere near heat.