What Gets It Out
Plain answers to "how do I get X out of Y", by stain and by material, using methods from care-label bodies, extension services and the makers of products you can buy in UK shops. Every step is sourced.
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Laundry fixes
Things that go wrong in the machine: colour runs, detergent marks, stains that went through the dryer, and which remover to buy.
4 guides →Clothes & fabrics
Sweat, grass, coffee, drool and more, on cotton, denim, lace and delicates. Spot-treat first, then wash the way the label allows.
9 guides →Mattresses & sofas
Things you can't put in the washing machine. Use as little liquid as you can, blot rather than rub, and check the cleaning code first.
5 guides →Carpets & bathroom
Spills on the carpet and black mould in the shower: what to blot with, what to spray, and when to call in a professional.
3 guides →
All guides
- Laundry · Dye transfer
Clothes turned pink in the wash: how to fix a colour run
One red sock, one pink load. Here's what actually gets transferred dye out, in the order to try it.
Read the fix → - Laundry · Detergent marks
Blue marks on clothes after washing: what they are and how to get them out
They're usually undissolved detergent or fabric conditioner, not dye. Here's how to shift them, and how to stop them coming back.
Read the fix → - Laundry · Set-in stains
Stain went through the dryer: can you still get it out?
Sometimes. Heat sets stains, so the odds drop, but a soak and a rewash are worth trying before you give up on it.
Read the fix → - Laundry · Buying guide
Which stain remover should you buy? A UK guide by stain type
Bio detergent, oxygen powder, a Stain Devil or a colour run remover: match the type of product to the type of stain, then follow the pack.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Sweat and deodorant
Yellow sweat stains: how to get them out (even without washing the whole thing)
Treat the underarms before anything else. Here's what works on washable shirts, and what to do with a jacket you can't put in the machine.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Outdoor stains
Grass stains: how to get them out of clothes, uniform and trainers
Grass is both a protein stain and a natural dye, so treat it fast, keep it away from heat, and use an enzyme or oxygen stain remover.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Food and drink
Coffee and tea stains: clothes, sofas, carpet and mugs
Rinse it in cold water as soon as you can, dab rather than rub, and soak before it dries. Here's what to do on each surface.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Denim
How to get a stain out of jeans without fading them
Spot-clean small marks, pre-treat bigger ones, then wash cold and inside out. Hot washes are what fade denim.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Faux leather
How do I get stains off white PU (faux) leather?
Act fast with mild soap and water. Dye from jeans or dark clothes often wipes off while it's fresh, but it can sink into the coating and stay.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Body stains
Drool stains on pillowcases and T-shirts: how to get them out
Dribble marks are a body stain, so they respond to the same thing as sweat and blood: an enzyme pre-treat or soak, then a normal wash.
Read the fix → - Clothes · Delicates
Stains on lace and delicates: how to get them out gently
Lace snags and stretches when it's wet. Read the label, test first, treat the stain with a light touch, and hand wash without rubbing or wringing.
Read the fix → - Mattress · Blood
Blood or period stain on the mattress: how to get it out
Cold water, as little liquid as possible, and blot, don't rub. Fresh or dried, here's the order to try things.
Read the fix → - Sofas · Food stains
Chocolate on the sofa: how to get it out
Chocolate is grease plus a brown stain. Scrape it, check the sofa's cleaning code, and use as little liquid as you can.
Read the fix → - Carpets · Spills
Carpet stains: red wine, coffee, mud and more
Blot, don't rub. Then treat from the outside of the stain inwards, rinse, and weigh down kitchen towel to draw out the damp.
Read the fix → - Bathroom · Mould
Black mould on shower sealant and grout: clean it or replace it?
A mould spray can clear mould on the surface of tiles, grout and silicone. If it has grown into the sealant, replacing the sealant is often the only fix.
Read the fix →