Stains be gone! As annoying as they are, there’s no need to live with them. Easily remove any stain from your laundry with our free printable Laundry Stain Removal Cheat Sheet!
With so many types of spills, it can be difficult to remember the right formula for removing each of them. That’s why I created this printable with instructions for removing all common types of household stains.
I made a small binder with these and I am keeping it in the laundry room so it’s always nearby when I need it. It saved me so many times and I hope it will help you keep your laundry spotless as well.
❗ Why It Works
The cheat sheet is a collection of popular and time-tested stain removal formulas for all common stains so you can easily consult it when needed to make your laundry sparkle and get rid of those stubborn spots and discolorations.
I made sure there are multiple formulas for difficult types of stains such as grease, baby poop, grass, and others. Some of them may work better than others depending on the material and age of the stain, so you will have enough options to find a method that gets the job done!
📒 How It Works
All of our printables are designed for ease of use, and this one is no exception. Locate your stain in the printable and see the instructions below the title. If there are multiple options, they are numbered so you can quickly identify them.
You simply need to follow the instructions using the presented formula. In some cases, you will need to repeat the steps multiple times until the stain is completely removed.
The last page in the printable has one stain removal formula for each of the most common types of stains. It’s the perfect sheet to take when traveling!
Laundry Stain Removal Cheat Sheet
Having clean clothes shouldn’t be that difficult! With the practical formulas available in our free printable, stains won’t stand a chance! We’ve got you covered for all the common kinds of spills, smears, and splats.
👶 Baby Poop Stains
If you are a new parent, you will have to deal with baby poop for a few years, so it’s best to learn how to remove these stains from the beginning.
I can definitely recommend one thing: don’t let that stain get old! Do something about it as soon as possible. Even if you’re on the go, at the very least rinse it with cold water and you can treat the stain when you get home.
There are quite a few methods for removing baby poop stains. Here are some of the most effective ones:
Baby Poop #1 – Rinse in cold water right away & wash normally. For stubborn stains, soak in hydrogen peroxide & let sit for an hour before washing.
Baby Poop #2 – Spray with Spray ‘n Wash and allow to sit for five minutes before washing.
Baby Poop #3 – Spray with Stain Remover and allow to sit for five minutes. Scrub with scrubber before washing.
Baby Poop #4 – Combine two parts peroxide, one part dawn, and one part baking soda. Apply to stain and sit for 15 minutes before washing.
Baby Poop #5 – Apply one part peroxide to one part Dawn and rub into cloth. Allow to sit overnight before washing.
Baby Poop #6 – Apply lemon juice to the stain and allow to sit out for several hours before washing.
💩 Yellow Poop Stains
As weird as it may be for us adults, yellow poop is pretty common for babies. It turns out, the color comes from partially digested fat and calcium which are abundant in breast milk.
Now that we’ve concluded your baby’s yellow poop is nothing to worry about, here’s how you can remove it from laundry. Just scrape off the excess, spray with Dawn, let sit for 15 minutes, and scrub before washing.
🍷 Wine Stains
Wine is another type of common household stain, but for this one, we grown-ups will have to take full responsibility. Luckily, wine is pretty easy to remove so no, your favorite blouse is not ruined!
Wine #1 – Make a paste with hydrogen peroxide & dish soap. Rub into stain & let sit at least six hours before washing.
Wine #2 – Apply white vinegar, then apply detergent and follow by washing in hot water.
Wine #3 – Use bleach if the piece of clothing is white.
Wine #4 – Blot stain with a clean cloth. Pour 2-3 tbsp kosher salt and allow to sit overnight. Rinse and then wash.
Wine #5 – Pour club soda over the stain and allow to sit overnight before washing.
💪 Deodorant Stains
Mornings can be rough! It’s really easy to get deodorant on your clothes. It can also transfer from our skin as we get dressed. Safe to say, deodorant stains are the norm but we also have plenty of ways to remove them!
Deodorant #1 – Rinse in cold water right away & wash. Put out in sun to remove stubborn stains.
Deodorant #2 – For white colors, soak is one part peroxide to 1one part water before washing.
Deodorant #3 – Mix three parts baking soda to one part water to create a paste. Spread on and soak before washing.
Deodorant #4 – Make a paste with vinegar, dish soap, & baking soda. Rub into stain & let sit overnight before washing.
Deodorant #5 – Mix two tablespoons of vinegar to one of cup water and soak clothing before washing.
Deodorant #6 – Combine one part lemon juice to one part water and apply to stain. Let it sit before washing.
💦 Sweat Stains
Some people’s perspiration stains clothes more than others, so if you’ve never experienced sweat stains, you’re among the lucky ones. For everyone else, the printable Stain Removal Cheat Sheet may come in handy!
Sweat #1 – Mix one part vinegar with two parts water and soak fabric before washing.
Sweat #2 – Mix one part water to four parts dishwashing detergent and place in a spray bottle. Spray stains before washing.
Sweat #3 – Dab stains with hydrogen peroxide. Let sit at least four hours before washing.
Sweat #4 – Mix two parts baking soda to one part water to make a paste. Rub on the stain and sit for one hour before washing.
Sweat #5 – Make a paste with two parts baking soda to one part vinegar and rub on stain. Let it sit an hour before washing.
Sweat #6 – Mix one cup vinegar to ½ cup baking soda, one tbsp peroxide, and one tbsp salt. Use a toothbrush to brush the stain before washing.
🚗 Grease Stains
Grease stains can be stubborn but they’re not impossible to remove. Grease clings easily to fabric and is insoluble in water which is why the usual laundry cycle may not be enough. They are easier to get rid of if they’re new so if possible, act quickly. Here are some efficient methods for grease stain removal you can try:
Grease #1 – Make a paste with vinegar, dish soap, & baking soda. Rub into stain & let sit overnight before washing.
Grease #2 – Rub laundry detergent on clothes and rub together with hands. Allow to sit before washing.
Grease #3 – Pour baking soda on the stain, and cover with dishwashing detergent. Allow to sit 10 minutes before washing.
Grease #4 – Apply Dawn dish soap to stain and rub it in before you put it in the washing machine.
Grease #5 – Spray with WD 40 and let it soak. Apply Dawn and rub it into clothes before washing. I would only do this for a piece of clothing you’ll only use for working around the house.
Grease #6 – Sprinkle with baking soda and watch for it to change colors before washing. Repeat 3-5 times as needed.
Grease #7 – Rub aloe vera gel on the stain in a circular motion before washing.
Grease #8 – Sprinkle baby powder on the stain and allow to soak. Brush with a toothbrush before washing.
Grease #9 – Sprinkle with cornstarch and allow to soak in. After 15 minutes, brush off with a toothbrush before washing.
🌿 Grass Stains
Grass contains natural dyes that easily bind with natural fiber, such as cotton. That’s why they are one of the most difficult types of stains to remove. They are also occur frequently. If you have outdoor-loving kids or you enjoy physical activities outside yourself, you probably have to deal with grass stains a lot.
Common household ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, and alcohol will work wonders. Surely, you have at least one of them on hand!
Grass #1 – Make a paste with baking soda & vinegar. Rub into stain & let sit for two hours before washing.
Grass #2 – Pour on rubbing alcohol and allow to dry. Add detergent and scrub before washing.
Grass #3 – Rub stain with detergent, allow to sit for 15 minutes before washing.
Grass #4 – Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a couple drops of peroxide. Spread on the stain and leave for 30 minutes. Scrub before washing.
Grass #5 – Mix one part vinegar with one part water and apply to stain. Scrub, rinse, and apply detergent to scrub and rinse. Then wash as usual.
✒️ Ink Stains
As long as you have family members who use pens to write, ink stains will happen at least occasionally. And yes, children are experts at staining their clothes, the couch, your pants, and anything else they can get their little hands on.
Next time you need to deal with a pesky ink stain, try some of the removal methods below. Your clothes will look spotless in no time!
Ink #1 – Pour rubbing alcohol or hairspray directly onto the stain. Rinse off with cold water. Blot excess ink with a paper towel before washing.
Ink #2 – Place a paper towel under clothing, apply rubbing alcohol and soak for 15 minutes before washing.
Ink #3 – Make a paste with two parts baking soda and one part water. Rub into stain & let sit for two hours before washing.
Ink #4 – If the stain is fresh, cover it with salt and dab with a wet paper towel. Brush off the salt. Repeat the process if needed.
🍫 Chocolate Stains
Chocolate is so delicious, but definitely not on clothes! The world’s favorite sweat treat has two main components: cocoa powder and cocoa butter. The powder is responsible for the dark stains, while the butter adds an oil stain just so we can have a harder time removing it.
Even so, chocolate stains can still be dealt with. We have several methods you can try but be careful. For gentle fabrics like silk or wool, try a method that doesn’t involve rubbing.
Chocolate #1 – Soak fabric in water and detergent, dish soap, or vinegar. Rub fabric and wash.
Chocolate #2 – Pretreat stain with lemon juice for five minutes. Use a toothbrush to brush the stain before washing.
Chocolate #3 – Remove excess. Make a paste with hydrogen peroxide & dish soap. Rub into stain & let sit at least four hours before washing.
Chocolate #4 – Rub Dawn in the stained area and soak in cold water for 30 minutes prior to washing.
Chocolate #5 – Mix one part Dawn plus two parts peroxide into a paste and rub it into the fabric before washing.
Chocolate #6 – Rub stain with equal parts vinegar and baking soda. Let sit for 15 minutes before washing.
☕ Coffee Stains
Coffee’s brown color is actually a tannin, which is why it can be difficult to remove from clothes once it dries. For a fresh coffee stain, you might be able to get rid of it by simply rinsing it with cold water. Sadly, there will always be times when we can’t deal with the stain right away or you notice it too late.
The methods below are very effective but depending on the material and the age of the stain you may need to try more than one. Let’s get to work!
Coffee #1 – Mix water, Dawn, and vinegar to stain and rub it before washing.
Coffee #2 – Blot stain with two parts water to one part vinegar and rub before washing.
Coffee #3 – Whisk one egg yolk and blot stain, rinse, and continue to wash.
Coffee #4 – Pour water on the stain. Make a paste from one cup of water and one tsp baking soda. Apply to stain. Rub and then continue to wash.
Coffee #5 – Rinse the stain in water. Apply lemon juice and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse and continue to wash.
Coffee #6 – Apply rubbing alcohol and allow to dry. Rinse and continue to wash.
🩸 Blood Stains
Blood stains can appear stubborn but there are some solutions that work really well for this type of stain.
You simply need to wet the area with cold water and apply OxiClean or hydrogen peroxide. If the stain was fresh, you can wash it right away. For an older stain, you can let it sit for 15 minutes before washing and repeat the process if needed.
💡 Laundry Stain Removal Expert Tips
As you can see, there are plenty of methods for removing old stains from clothes but your job will be a lot easier if you deal with it early.
Always read the fabric care instructions before laundering and make sure you follow them. Never use a setting that’s too warm for the fabric. Also, a dryer cycle can further set the stain so don’t use it until the stain is completely removed.
If you’re not sure if the fabric is colorfast you can do a quick test. Simply dab a wet white cloth in a less visible area. If there’s any dye transfer, dry-cleaning is the best option.
Some say using bleach on clothes will ruin the fabric, which is true. However, bleach is an excellent stain remover for white clothes, just use it sparingly. Allow it to work for up to one minute and rinse it off. The damage will be minimal but the stain should have disappeared.
Things are trickier for “dry-clean only” clothes. In that case, blot off the excess stain and take the item to a professional dry cleaning service. Dry cleaning is also a good idea if the stained item is delicate, an expensive purchase, or has sentimental value. Even if you could treat the stain yourself, there’s no point in risking destroying the item.
Keep in mind that not all stain removal methods work for every situation. If one doesn’t work, get ready to try another. You will eventually find the perfect solution for the stain you’re dealing with.
🖨️ How To Get It
Hopefully, you are now well equipped with all the information you need to tackle all kinds of stains. Click on the free printable Laundry Stain Removal Cheat Sheet and it will open in a new tab for you to save and print.
Iwill definitely make your life easier when it comes to having spotless clothes.
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