You could remove stains from white clothing without having to spend a single penny.
Let’s face it, we’ve all had an accident involving white clothes before. Whether you’ve spilt food down your new shirt, had an accidental wine spill, or even stepped in something you shouldn’t have in bright white trainers – almost all of us have had to deal with staining on clothes that were once bright white.
If this has happened to you, you’ll also know that trying to clean these stains can be a real headache. You can spend a small fortune on stain removal products only to find that the marks don’t budge.
But according to cleaning fans, there is something you can do to restore your stained whites to their former glory. What’s more, the hack is completely free – and we can all do it right now.
The cleaning hack was shared in a Facebook group for fans of Mrs Hinch, after one person asked for help because they had spilt tomato down their brand-new white jeans.
They said: “Anyone got any ideas for getting tomato stains out of brand-new white jeans? I have tried Vanish and Dr. Beckmann’s fruit stain remover to no avail. I’m not sure what else to do.”
Among the suggestions was one tip that can be done for free – hanging the jeans out on the washing line. In the sunny weather that much of the UK has been facing in recent days, the stain on the jeans should fade on its own.
This is because sunlight can act as a natural bleach to help remove or fade stains, particularly on light-coloured fabrics. Sunlight contains UV rays that can break down the chemical bonds in stain molecules, causing them to fade or dissolve.
One person said: “Hang on the line. The Sun will take it out, same as curry stains.”
Another added: “Hang them out in the sun after washing.”
And a third wrote: “Sunshine. Put them on the washing line and leave in full sun. Can take a couple of days, but works well.”
Other suggestions included spraying white vinegar on the stain or rubbing washing up liquid into the affected area and then washing as normal. There was even one comment that recommended soaking the jeans in milk to help pull the tomato stains out of the fabric before adding them to the washing machine.
How to remove stains from white clothing
Removing stains from white clothing depends on the type of stain you have. For all stains, you should pre-treat with cold water by rinsing the affected area. This will help to remove as much of the stain as possible before it sets.
Food or grease stains
- Sprinkle baking soda, cornstarch, or talcum powder on the stain to absorb the grease
- Wait 10-15 minutes and then brush off
- Dab the area with some dish soap and warm water, then wash as usual
Sweat stains
- Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and water
- Apply t othe stain and gently scrub with a soft brush
- Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and wash
Wine, juice, or coffee stains
- Immediately blot with paper towels to absorb excess liquid
- Soak the fabric in cold water with a small amount of white vinegar
- Once soaked, rub with liquid laundry detergent before washing
Blood stains
- Rinse the stain with cold water – not hot, as this can set blood stains
- Apply a paste of baking soda and water directly onto the stain
- Leave for 10-15 minutes, gently scrub, and wash in cold water
