It is mainly advisable to quickly wash off stains from your clothes before they set in, but sometimes, you can’t get them off right away, and the stains get set into the clothing, which will become difficult to watch and, in no time, become an old stain you’re trying to get out of your clothes.
If this is the category you find yourself in, this article will help you learn about ten different ways to get old stains out of clothes.
How To Get Rid of Old Stains on Clothes
Depending on the material, there are different techniques to try to get old stains out of your clothes. This is because one method might work for a cotton material but won’t work for wool; always test the stain removal method on a small area of the cloth first to see if it removes the stain or causes a different problem with the fabric.
Here are ten ways to get old stains out of your clothes:
Method 1: Use Baking Soda
Baking soda works well for stain removal, especially old stains. You can make a paste with baking soda and water, then apply it to the stain and allow it to sit overnight.
Method 2: Use Lime Green or Lemon Fruit Juice
Fresh or bottled real lemon or lime green juice has a natural bleaching action on fabrics because of the acetic acid, and it is perfect for removing old stains.
Additionally, it is a good scouring paste when combined with sodium. However, despite its cleaning powers, it is to be used with caution as it can whiten your clothing.
To make use of lemon or lime green juice, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Make a paste with half lemon juice and some salt.
Step 2: Adjust the consistency with more or less salt to work it into the stained area without the salt dissolving.
Step 3: Expose the material to the sunlight to dry.
Step 4: When dried, you can wash normally.
Method 3: Use Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is relatively cheap and gentle on materials; it is safer to use distilled white vinegar than chlorine bleach and material softeners.
To use white vinegar to get rid of old stains, fill a clear water bottle with the distilled white vinegar and then completely saturate the stain on the cloth with it.
Then sprinkle cooking soda within the area and gently rub the mixture into the material, respraying vinegar where necessary. Allow the mixture to sit for about thirty minutes.
Or, fill a bucket or kitchen sink with about a gallon or even more water, then add a ½ cup of white vinegar to the water and a few tablespoons of laundry washing detergent. Soak the fabric in the solution and leave it overnight.
Method 4: Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another choice for other chlorine bleaches if you want to whiten your clothes. You can easily remove yellow armpit stains caused by nail polish, curry, and red wine.
To use this, pour the hydrogen peroxide on old stains but be extra careful when using the product in darker colors; test it on a fabric swatch before using.
Method 5: Use Borax
Borax is an ordinarily occurring mineral constructed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and drinking water. It has no toxic fumes, and it is safe for the atmosphere. Borax boosts the performance of any soap in cleaning clothes and removing unsightly stains; it softens hard water and also assists in controlling smell.
To use this method, presoak your laundry washing items for about 30 minutes in the borax solution. Rinse the clothes and fabrics with water for tougher stains, then presoak in hot water.
Do not forget to add even more borax to your wash to improve your laundry detergent’s cleaning power.
METHOD 6: Use Enzymatic Presoak
Mix the cleaner with lukewarm water and soak the shirt for 30 minutes. Although you can handle old stains from coffee spills are more difficult to remove! Mix 1 quart (946 ml) of warm water in a large basin or bucket with 1 tbsp (15 ml) of enzymatic prison product. Then, dip the shirt in the solution. Put the garment out after 30 minutes to check if the stains are gone or not. If it feels good, rinse the shirt on a regular wash cycle as you normally would.
METHOD 7: Use Table Salt
Desk salt helps to absorb unsightly liquid stains before they stay on clothes. Should you have a red wine spill, sprinkle it with table sodium, and allow it to absorb the water and clean away before washing the product. If you don’t wash it out, salt can leave unsightly white stains on your material.
Method 8: Use Glycerin
Glycerin is a type of alcohol that can melt in other alcohols and drinking water. Functions very well on various types of stains. One of the types of spots that functions exceptionally well on, and is often typically tricky to remove, is mustard.
To use it, dab some glycerin onto the spot, and leave it on for about an hour; as soon as that time has passed, use a clean white material or paper bath towel and blot at the stain to remove it and the excess glycerin once the spot is removed cleanly as usual.
Method 9: Use Acetone
Acetone is good for removing color and ink stains. You can use acetone on 100 % cotton clothes or other artificial materials, but it should not be used on fine natural fibers like wool or silk.
Before using acetone, look at the clothing label first to see if the product is washable. If the fabric includes acetate, modacrylic, or triacetate, use a non-acetone nail gloss remover.
When the stain is still wet, dab it with a clean, white cloth to remove the mark as possible. For washable materials, use a white cloth or clean sponge and apply a little bit of the acetone. Using a light hand, work externally and keep using clean parts of the sponge or material for every motion.
If you can no longer see the stain, rinse it in cool water and wash just like you usually would.
Method 10: Use Laundry Washing Soap
This is the most popular material for washing clothes, and sometimes, it can be perfect for removing old stains. The laundry cleaning soaps brighten and lighten fabrics and help remove persistent stains.