What are your tips for removing stains? See what Mumsnet users shared with Fairy Non Bio

[JustineBMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

Mums(netters) know best when it comes to stain removal and that’s why Fairy Non Bio wants to hear about the stain removing secrets you have up your sleeve.

Here is what Fairy Non Bio has to say: “With the summer holidays on the horizon, we know all those BBQs with ketchup, Pimms and playing on the grass is going to give you a bit more of a challenge with your laundry. What are your quick tricks of the trade when faced with a stain?”

What’s your go-to method for removing red wine stains? Do you use the classic technique of adding white wine straight away, or is there a trick that we’re missing? Do you use kitchen staples for stain removal: perhaps vinegar or salt? Perhaps you have a method for removing tough grease stains that you swear by?

Whatever your methods are, share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[UpOnDown]

I soak ketchup stains in cold water for an hour, then put vanish paste on and wash.

[MrsFrTedCrilly]

I find that soaking tge stain quickly to avoid it drying in and a good scrub with vanish soap bar works well. Drying outside in sunlight also does wonders especially for those leaky nappy stains!

[BristolMum96]

I never remove stains because I never let them set. Straight into the wash and comes out every time. If out with no washing facilities, soaked, straight into a nappy bag, sealed tight, and washed ASAP when Home.

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

Depends what the stain is. If it's something that's run in the machine and stained other clothes it's in the sink with boiling water and a good slush of white vinegar. Preferably still wet from the rogue load.

Other stuff must things come off with vanish bar and a good scrub.

If not line drying works wonders on stains you have to try it to believe it.

Stains that I have failed to remove ever have been banana and mould.

[ColdCottage]

No tips here but I'd love to know how to get the yellow/oil stained colour out of towels after using baby bath oil in bath and drying with a white towel (now yellow).

[TheWizardofWas]

Get it in water with soap right away and scrub gently, then hope.....

[Orphanblackfan]

My hacks

Dark black blotches in carpets:Car upholstery cleaner. Wire brush to tease fibres apart and damp cloth. Hey presto!

Bleach on carpet - get a colour pen that matches carpet colour. Wire brush to tease fibres apart and colour in. Dry cloth to blot excess ink. Job done!

General marks on wall paper - baby wipes!

Marks on upvc (paint), damp cloth with washing up liquid, and a blunt Stanley knife. Scratch the paint or mark gently and wash over with w/up liquid

[Sleepysausage]

Sunlight seems to remove all the stains! I love the summer!

[LittleMe03]

Soak in vanish gold (cold water) and then put in a normal wash. Usually does the trick x

[JellySlice]

Vodka shifts fresh whiteboard pen marks.

[Caillou]

Sunlight to remove tomato stain :) though wouldn't really work these days...

[Treaclespongeandcustard]

I use ace bleach and fairy non bio and wet and wash it as soon as possible. Line drying also seems to help with stains, my grandma used to say the sunshine helped to bleach them out but this might be a (very old) wives tale

[abitoflight]

I got some spray on magic stuff from crufts. Lord knows what's in it but it shifts everything (apart from EL DW)

[biffyboom]

Soak in baking soda solution, then leave in the sunlight.

[Yogeybear89]

Food stains it has to be soak ASAP Dylon whites and stain remove sashes on a 60 wash...works every time!
For carpets/sofa...it has to Muck Off my uncle has always used it on his motorbikes but it is Fantastic on upholstery!

[Terfing]

I find that an overnight pre-soak in laundry powder and washing up liquid, followed by a machine wash gets everything out.

[CommonFishDiseases]

Stained clothing off the DC immediately and straight into hot water with a scoop of Vanish powder!

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Definitely soak it in cold water ASAP.
I use some sort of stain remover bar / spray too when necessary before washing in the machine.
And I hear sunlight is good!

[MrsMarigold]

Rinse with water as soon as you can. Avoid white clothes and make your life easier by only buying water soluble paints like crayola rather than poundshop paints and good bibs, I found Mum2Mum bibs good as they machine washable and soft to protect clothes.

[asuwere]

Best thing is to catch the mark before it's set. I tend to give any bad marks a scrub with cold water and soap before going in machine. Anything missed usually is sorted when drying in the sun. Anything still remaining just adds character to the garment :)

[IToldYouIWasFreaky]

Washing up liquid is great on any oily marks - just apply neat and rub it in well before washing as normal.
As most people have said, catching it when it happens is key! I managed to get beetroot juice all over a white top recently but I took it straight off, applied the Vanish and set it to soak before washing and it all came out.

[SusanWalker]

I use vanish and then sunlight on the line. It does work best if the stain is fresh. I have very occasionally added a bit of bleach to a white sheets wash and then given them an extra rinse at the end. But I don't do that very often as my mum always said bleach degrades the material if used too much.

[itsallgravybaby]

Hairspray or vodka sprayed on ink seems to dissolve it - then pop in the wash ASAP with a scoop of vanish and gets rid completely!

[CointreauVersial]

Sunlight bleaches away stains on white fabrics (nappy stains, tomato etc).

With an oil mark, I use a concentrated stick detergent (Vanish, or similar) or a liquid like washing-up liquid - dampen the fabric and rub in before washing as normal. Sometimes two or three washes are needed to shift it entirely, but it goes eventually.

Deodorant/sweat stains - as above!

[foxessocks]

I usually use some vanish rub it on stain then stick it in the wash. Also try to wash straight away when something gets spilt ...which reminds me I forgot to put dd t shirt with egg yolk stains on in the wash yesterday oops.