How to bleach out stains on white clothes

Bleach converts soils into colorless, soluble particles which are easily removed by detergents, then carried away in the wash water. Bleach can also brighten and whiten fabrics and help remove stubborn stains.

Sodium hypochlorite bleaches (also called chlorine or liquid household bleach) are the more powerful laundry bleaches; they disinfect, as well as clean and whiten. They work on many whites and colorfast washables - but not on wools or silks. Oxygen (color-safe) bleaches are gentler, working safely on all washable fabrics. They work best in maintaining whiteness, not in restoring it.

For Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach, read the label and dilute as directed. For best results, add 5 minutes after the wash cycle has begun to agitate in order to avoid destroying enzymes and fluorescent whiteners in the detergent.

For Oxygen Bleach, add directly to the wash water before the clothes are added. Do not pour powdered bleach directly on wet clothes. Oxygen bleaches are most effective in warm-to-hot water.

Using Bleach to Remove Stains on White Clothes

IMPORTANT: Read the fabric care label first! The fact that the item is white doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it’s safe to use bleach, especially chlorine bleach. Factors such as the fabric’s fiber content (including silk, wool, mohair and spandex), finishes (such as the flame-retardant finish on children’s nightclothes) and certain trims will affect the item’s suitability for bleach.

If bleach is a no-no and there are stains, pre-treat them with a pre-wash stain remover, check the cleaning product label first to make sure it is safe for the fabric, or presoak the item, using detergent or a presoak laundry product that’s safe for the fabric. Mix the soaking agent with water, and then add the item. Minimum soaking time is 30 minutes; longer, as much as overnight, may be necessary.

If bleach is safe for the fabric, follow the tips below.

Tips for Using Bleach in Laundry

1. Read the Label: Check the garment label before laundering; some fabrics cannot be washed using liquid household bleach (sodium hypochlorite). If liquid household bleach is not recommended, you can use a color-safe (oxygen) bleach to help remove stains and odors. Also read the cleaning product label. Some detergents have color-safe bleach or bleach alternative built into the product. However, remember that these products do not disinfect.

2. Test: Dip a cotton swab in the bleach/water solution and dab on an inside seam. If the fabric color remains, then you should be safe.

3. Start small: Lay the stained section of the garment flat and be sure there not layers of fabric or anything underneath that can be affected. Work from the outer edge of the stain in, rinse with fresh water when the stain is gone.

4. Bleaching the whole load: Read the label on the bleach product to determine the amount to use when adding bleach to an entire load of laundry. Consult your washing machine use manual to see if you should add the bleach to the drum or to a special dispenser drawer or section.

Chlorine bleach can be used to disinfect and sanitize laundry and well as kitchen, bathroom and other surfaces around the home. Disinfectants and disinfectant cleaners are the only products that kill germs—but they only work if the label directions are followed. Products that claim to kill germs must meet efficacy requirements and guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and must be registered with EPA and carry an EPA registration number on their label.

Blood, wine, grass, pet urine, coffee ... consider this your guide to removing the gnarliest of stains from almost every surface.

There’s nothing like putting on a new item of clothing only to spill something on it right after. Or, that proud feeling of showing off a brand new rug only for a beloved pet to make their mark on it. But fret not — where there’s a will to get a stain out, there’s a way.

Stain removal experts Patric Richardson, owner of Mona Williams, also known as The Laundry Evangelist, and Mary Marlowe Leverette, laundry and housekeeping expert at The Spruce, were kind enough to share a few tips on how to get the toughest stains out of your clothing, and various surfaces, too.

How to remove wine stains

Clothing

Leverette recommends “flushing” the stain by holding the fabric wrong side up under running cold-water to force the stain out — contrary to advice, club soda doesn’t work any better than plain water, she says. Mix a solution of oxygen bleach and cool water (or use a product with those ingredients) and soak the entire garment for at least one hour. “Four hours are better, overnight is best,” she says. Check the stains and wash as usual.

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Rugs and upholstery

Richardson says to dab a solution of water and bleach alternative on the stain and follow up by dabbing it with a towel of clear hot water. Then, use a clean towel blot up the wet area. “If your carpet is white or a light color, it will appear bleached but If you leave it for a few weeks the color will even out once again,” he says.

Leverette says to bear in mind that hydrogen peroxide can bleach out the color of darker carpets and upholstery.

Granite or marble countertops

Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a thick paste the consistency of peanut butter. Spread the mixture about one-fourth inch thick over the stain and cover with plastic wrap. Tape down the edges of the plastic wrap to hold it in place. Allow the mixture to remain on the stain for 24 hours. Remove the plastic wrap and allow the mixture to dry completely, then wipe away. Repeat as needed until the stain is gone. After cleaning, the stained area will need to be resealed to prevent further staining.

How to remove ink stains

Clothing

Leverette recommends dipping a cotton swab in clear rubbing alcohol and gently lifting the stain from the outside edge toward the center, swapping swabs as soon as each absorbs the ink. She warns permanent ink (as in Sharpies) are permanent.

Rugs and upholstery

Use the same techniques. When stain is removed, blot the area with plain water and allow to air dry.

Granite/Marble

Again — same as above. Rinse with plain water and do not allow the alcohol to dry on the stone.

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How to remove grease stains

Clothing

Richardson says it can be “very frustrating” to get grease stains out of clothing — but there is a simple trick. “Use a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water on the stain. Apply liberally and then treat with laundry soap and water. “DO NOT put the garment in the dryer until you have seen that the stain is gone,” he warns.

Rugs and upholstery

Richardson advises dabbing grease stains with laundry soap and rinsing with water. Follow up by dabbing a little white vinegar on the spot if the stain still shows.

How to remove pet urine stains and smells

Clothing

Leverette says washing the item with a heavy-duty detergent in the hottest water recommended for the fabric should do the trick. “Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse water to help with odor removal. If the stain is old and the odor is strong, mix a solution of cool water and add two cups white distilled vinegar. Completely submerge the fabric and allow it to soak overnight,” she says. Wash as recommended above. Line drying the items outside will also help get rid of the odors.

Rugs and upholstery

As soon as possible, soak up urine stains with white paper towels, an old cloth, or a wet/dry shop vacuum, says Leverette. If using a cloth, press it firmly into the stain using an old shoe and keep moving to a dry area or new paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible. Commercial pet stain removers work fine but you can easily make your own by mixing one-part distilled white vinegar and one-part cool water and pouring it into a spray bottle, she says. Be sure to completely saturate the carpet all the way to the backing. Use a soft-bristle brush to work it deep into the fibers, and blot the solution away using paper towels or a shop vacuum, allowing the stain to air dry.

When the carpet is dry, sprinkle the area with baking soda. Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide with two cups cool water. “This should be mixed fresh each time because hydrogen peroxide turns to pure water after exposure to light,” Leverette explains. Spray or pour this solution onto the baking soda and use a soft bristle brush to work it into the carpet. Blot or vacuum away the moisture, allowing the carpet to air dry away from direct heat. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to lift the fibers.

How to remove grass stains

Clothing

Leverette recommends treating grass stains with a stain remover or a bit of heavy-duty laundry detergent (Tide and Persil contain the needed enzymes to remove the stains). “Work the stain remover into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. Set aside for 15 minutes and then wash as usual. If the stains remain or are older, mix a solution of oxygen bleach and cool water and allow the garment to soak overnight, then wash,” she says.

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How to remove coffee stains

Clothing

Richardson says the easiest way to remove coffee stains is to run hot water directly through the stain. “If the stain sets, spot treat it with a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water, then use a brush and a little laundry soap to remove the vinegar.

Rugs and upholstery

Leverette recommends blotting the stain and mixing a solution of two teaspoons of dishwashing detergent in two cups of warm water. Dip a clean white cloth, sponge, or soft bristle brush in the solution. Working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to keep it from spreading, work the cleaning solution into the stain. Blot with a dry cloth to absorb the solution. “Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is transferred. Finish by dipping a clean cloth in plain water to rinse the spot. This is especially important because any soapy residue left in the carpet will actually attract more soil,” she explains. Allow the stain to air dry away from direct heat, then vacuum to lift the carpet fibers.

Granite or marble countertops

Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide with two cups cool water. “It will solve almost all tough stains,” says Leverette, who advises against using acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice, which can etch the stone.

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How to remove mud stains

Clothing

Richardson says the easiest way to remove mud from your clothes is to use laundry soap and a brush directly on the fabric. “Wet the area and then rub the stain with soap and a brush — repeat twice if the stain is really set,” he says.

Rugs and upholstery

Richardson says to wet the stain generously with water, use laundry soap and a brush to remove the mud, then spray vinegar and water on the area to dissolve the soap. Finally, blot with a clean dry towel.

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How to remove blood stains

Clothing

Leverette says to flush the stained area with cold (never hot) water as soon as possible. “Hot water will cook the protein in the blood, making it more difficult to remove from the fabric,” she explains. Treat the stain with stain remover or a bit of liquid heavy-duty laundry detergent, working it into the fibers with a soft-bristled brush. Set aside for 15 minutes and then wash as usual in cool water. “If the stain remains, mix a solution of oxygen bleach and water and submerge the entire garment, allowing it to soak at least four hours,” she says. Repeat if needed and wash as usual.

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Rugs and upholstery

Blot up as much moisture as possible with a white paper towel, says Leverette. Keep moving to a clean area of the towel as the blood is absorbed to prevent making the stain larger. If the stain has dried, use a soft bristled brush to loosen the dried blood and vacuum away before treating.

Mix one teaspoon of liquid hand dish washing detergent in two cups of cold water. Dip a white cloth or the brush in this solution and work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to prevent spreading. Blot or lightly scrub the stain and blot with a dry paper towel to absorb the moisture. When the stain is gone, dip a clean white cloth in plain cold water and rinse the area to remove all cleaning solution. Allow the carpet to air dry away from direct heat and then vacuum to lift the fibers.

If this method doesn’t work, Leverette says to mix one tablespoon household ammonia with 1/2 cup water. Apply to the stain and let it sit on the carpet for at least 10 minutes. Blot away and rinse with plain water and repeat until the stain is removed.

So go ahead — get dirty without fear. At least now you know how to clean it all up.

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