Remove Stains: How to Save Your Favorite Piece

Cooking, grilling, or just enjoying – culinary adventure travel can leave marks on clothing. From the red wine stain on the summer dress to the grease stain on the shirt. With our washing tips, you can remove the stains and your favorite items are ready for new adventures.

3 basic rules: Pre-treat stains

1. Be quick: No matter the type of stain, the quicker you act, the better chance you have of getting your clothes stain-free again.
2. Blot: Remove as much of the stain as possible. Kitchen paper or a clean, soft towel is best for liquids. First, remove large amounts of leftover food such as jam with a spoon. Important: Never rub or rub hard. This roughens the fibers and the stain penetrates deeper into the fabric.
3. Soak: Soak the fabric in lukewarm water. This will ensure that the stain does not dry and set. Exceptions are stains containing protein such as blood. Be sure to use cold water to avoid setting the stain.

Even more effective: Add some color or heavy-duty detergent to soak. Leave it on for an hour and then wring out your clothes thoroughly.

Be careful with delicate fabrics

Basically, you should first test all home remedies on an inconspicuous area to prevent unsightly discoloration or fading of the fabric. This applies in particular to delicate textiles such as silk, wool, or cashmere, for which it is best to use a mild detergent anyway. If in doubt, it is better to contact the experts in a cleaning service.

Remove tomato and red wine stains

Tomatoes and red wine are among the classics of Italian cuisine. Tagliatelle al Vino Rosso even contains both ingredients. For your favorite piece, this means a red alert. If something goes wrong, the following emergency plan comes into play:

• Pick up leftover tomato with a spoon, sauce, or red wine with a cloth.
• Soak a blouse, shirt, or trousers in lukewarm water.
• Wash your favorite item at the highest possible temperature according to the washing instructions.
• If the stain is still visible afterward, repeat the procedure and, if necessary, use a suitable stain remover.

Good to know: red wine stains cannot be removed with salt alone. At best, it is suitable as an alternative to paper towels to absorb the liquid. Never rub as the crystals can damage the textile fibres. However, you can rub off stains on your pizza stone: Read how to clean your pizza stone with kitchen scrapers, paper towels, and emery paper.