Stains on clothes—here’s how to remove them! A to Z

Stains: how to remove them in alphabetical order. Here is the blog about stains beginning with O and continuing through Ö

Oil
There are many different types of oil, and naturally, dirty motor oil on white fabric is more difficult to remove than a splash of cooking oil on dark fabric. Here is some advice, and the principle is the same. Dissolve grease with grease, then remove the final greasy residue with dish soap. If there is a larger amount of cooking oil, first try to absorb as much of the grease as possible with cornmeal or potato flour. Scrape off / shake off as long as the stain feels moist with grease. Then wet the stain with lukewarm water and treat it with soap. When you feel you are finished, use laundry detergent or dish soap for a final treatment of the oil stain before rinsing and washing in the machine according to the care instructions.

Paprika 
Red paprika in particular can be difficult to remove. But follow these steps and it will usually come out. Start by scraping off any remaining paprika, but be careful not to spread the stain further. Rinse with lukewarm water. The key here is to fill the textile fibers with water; they need to be saturated with water in order to release the paprika’s color. Hold the stain under running water from the reverse side of the fabric. Gently rub in a little liquid laundry detergent and rinse again with lukewarm water. If the stain is still visible, rub in a little more liquid laundry detergent and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing again, then wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

Rapeseed oil
If there is a larger amount of cooking oil, first try to absorb as much of the grease as possible with cornmeal or potato flour. Scrape off / shake off as long as the stain feels moist with grease. Then wet the stain with lukewarm water and treat it with soap. Rinse and repeat before washing in the machine according to the care instructions.

Candle wax
-Oh dear, candle wax! This may take some time to remove, but it can be done. A first step is to freeze the fabric with all the wax still on it. Do not try to remove it while it is soft. Instead, place everything in the freezer and let it freeze thoroughly. Then take it out of the freezer and use a blunt knife to “flick” away the lumps of wax. This should remove most of the wax. 
Can you still see the stain? Then take an iron and blotting paper / a coffee filter, place it over the stain and iron on top of the paper until you see the wax being absorbed into the paper. Move the paper/filter and iron again. 
Then use liquid laundry detergent, preferably an all-purpose detergent, and wash in the machine according to the care instructions.

Sweat
Sweat often leaves unsightly stains, especially under the arms of garments. To remove them, use a couple of tablespoons of baking soda and half a deciliter of vinegar. Mix them together, spread the mixture over the stain, and let it work before washing in the machine according to the care instructions. If the garment is white, you can add a little lemon to the mixture; this has a bleaching effect.

Makeup
Removing makeup stains from clothes can be tricky, but with the right technique, you can succeed. Here are some steps you can follow to effectively remove makeup from clothes. If there is a thick layer of makeup on the fabric, use a spoon, a knife, or something similar to carefully scrape off as much as possible without spreading the stain. Use a clean cellulose sponge, lukewarm water, and all-purpose detergent to work on the stain. Use plenty of water; it is best to do this in a sink or basin. Sleeves and collars are often affected, so treat the entire collar with the sponge. Rinse and repeat. Makeup often contains fats, so slightly warmer water can help dissolve the stain. If it is a really greasy stain, from a cream for example, you may need to use soap first and detergent afterward on the sponge. Then wash in the machine according to the garment’s care instructions. 

Urine
Urine can leave stains, but above all, an unpleasant smell. If a carpet has been stained, start by absorbing as much of the urine as possible with a dry towel. Dampen the area with lukewarm water and repeatedly press the towel onto the stain until you have removed as much as possible. If possible, it is preferable to get water through the carpet and the stain. Place a container under the carpet, beneath the stain, and carefully pour lukewarm water through the stain so that the water is collected in the container underneath. If it is a garment, you can skip this step and apply a little glycerin directly. Rub it into the stain and leave it for at least half an hour before dampening the stain again and applying liquid laundry detergent to remove the glycerin residue. Wash the garment in the machine according to the care instructions. For a carpet, use the same method as above: press with a towel and use liquid laundry detergent in the water.

Wine
Red wine has a strong color, so it is best to treat it immediately. As with other stains, make sure to saturate the textile fibers with water. Rinse the stain under lukewarm water for as long as possible. The fibers need to be saturated with water in order to release the wine’s color.
If it is a carpet, the same principle applies. Try to saturate the fibers with water. You may want to read the tip above about placing a container under the carpet. Once you have done this and absorbed as much water as possible, apply plenty of salt. The salt will absorb the water and wine mixture. When the salt has dried, you can vacuum it up. If the stain is still visible, treat it with soap and lukewarm water. Use a dry towel to absorb the liquid. 
Garments with red wine stains are treated in the same way, using plenty of running water. Then bring milk to a boil, let it cool slightly, and dip the stain into the milk. Let it sit before rinsing with lukewarm water and treating it with a little liquid laundry detergent before washing in the machine according to the care instructions.
Do not use milk on carpets, wall-to-wall carpeting, or anything else that cannot be washed in a machine. Any milk residue may leave a sour smell.

Egg
Eggs contain proteins, so you should avoid all acids and heat. The easiest way to remove egg is with cold water and soap. Treat the stain with soap and rinse with plenty of water, then wash according to the garment’s care instructions. 

Beer
Beer can cause stains, but it rarely has a particularly strong color. Treat these stains with lukewarm water and all-purpose detergent. Carpets, furniture, and other fixed items that cannot be washed in a machine should be cleaned with a detergent mixture, lukewarm water, and a dry towel.

Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa