How to get stains out of white clothes: the 6 tricks you need to know

Nothing’s more frustrating than discovering a stubborn stain on your favourite white clothes. Whether it’s a splash of red wine or those inevitable yellow sweat marks, stains on white fabric can be notoriously tricky to remove. While many of the best washing machines boast stain removal cycles, there are tried-and-tested methods to restore your clothes to their former brightness—without damaging the fabric.

From everyday mishaps like food stains to tougher marks like blood and baby poo, each stain requires a different approach for the best results. When you know the best techniques for pre-treating stains, it can make all the difference in preventing them from setting.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through expert-approved methods for removing stains from white clothes, with specific advice for tackling everything from sunscreen smudges to stubborn blood marks. Whether you're dealing with a fresh stain or trying to revive an older garment, these practical tips will help keep your whites looking crisp, clean and stain-free.

1. Yellow sweat stains

These dreaded stains appear in the armpits of white clothes after a while, especially during warm weather. More frequent washing won’t help, and it might even make the stains harder to shift, according to Heather Nixon, sustainability, NPD and regulatory manager at Bio-D. 

“Using more washing detergent will also not solve the issue as too much can leave a residue on the garments which actually helps dirt or bacteria to cling on!” she says. “One option to remove sweat stains is to pour a small amount of laundry liquid onto the area, before working into a lather and leaving to sit for 20 minutes before machine washing.”

Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol, shared her fail-safe DIY stain remover recipe for tackling stubborn sweat stains. “Those dreaded yellow stains under the arms can make white clothes look permanently worn, but don’t worry. Mix equal parts baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water to create a paste. Then apply it directly to the stain, let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then wash as normal at 30°C or 40°C.”

Related: Best laundry detergent sheets

2. Suncream stains

“Sunscreen is great for your skin, but not so much for white tops,” says Catherine Green. “The oils and minerals can leave yellow or greasy marks, especially around the neckline and straps. Soak the stained area in a mix of one cup distilled white vinegar and two liters of cold water for 20 minutes before washing with your usual detergent.”

Speaking of white vinegar, Mumsnet users swear by this multi-talented cleaning essential, especially when mixed with bicarb. “White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda mixed into a paste removes all stains from white clothes,” says poster Krouse64. “Dab on and soak in cold water, wash as normal.”

Related: Best tumble dryers

3. Red wine stains

Catherine Green says time is of the essence when you’re facing a red wine stain. “Act fast! Lay the fabric flat over a clean towel, pour white vinegar directly onto the stain, and let it sit for five minutes. Dab with a damp cloth, then wash as usual.”

Cleaning experts at The Lab Co agree that fast action is key, but they suggest a different ingredient. “The best way to remove a red wine stain is by blotting it with white wine immediately. Then you can throw on some salt to soak up all the wine moisture and treat it with spot stain remover. Leave to soak and wash as normal.”

4. Blood stains

Hot water sets the proteins in blood, making the stain more difficult to shift, so it’s important to rinse blood stained clothing and bedding in cold water first. “Rinse the back of the stain under cold running water,” says Catherine Green, “then rub with a bar of soap and rinse again. Repeat until the stain fades, then wash on a cold cycle with bio detergent.”

While non-bio laundry detergent is preferred by many families thanks to its gentleness on sensitive skin, bio laundry detergent is often a better choice for tackling stains and keeping white clothing looking great. Bio laundry detergent contains enzymes, which actively break down and shift stains. 

Non-bio detergent doesn’t contain enzymes, so it relies on other cleaning agents to wash your laundry. Because of this, you’ll need to wash clothes for longer and at higher temperatures to achieve the same results as a bio detergent. 

5. Food stains

“With oily stains such as greasy food, you should avoid soaking it in water as this can make it worse.” says Sarah Dempsey, cleaning expert at MyJobQuote. “Oil repels water, so you need a different approach. The best thing to do is try to absorb as much of the oil as possible – without spreading it – before washing it using an enzyme-based or biological detergent.”

Blotting stains is a good place to start, but Sarah recommends a little-known hack for soaking up oily stains that you might have handy in your kids’ art supplies. 

“For a small stain, try blotting it with chalk. Chalk is very absorbent, so it should help to soak up the oil. For larger stains, use paper towels or blotting paper to soak up as much of the oil as you can. Or sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the stain. Much like chalk, the powdery granules should absorb the oil.”

For chocolate, The Lab Co recommend a completely different approach. “Simply pop the item of clothing into the fridge or freezer and then scrape it off with a knife or spoon when it has hardened. If it’s not completely gone, run hot water on the back of the stain to push the melted chocolate through. Then simply spray on The Lab Co. spot stain remover on the remaining stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Wash with a detergent as normal.”

6. Baby poo stains

For poonamis and toddler accidents, Mumsnet users swear by one trick, and it’s absolutely free. 

“White can be hung in the sun which bleaches most baby poo stains out easily.” RhymingRabbit3

Sunlight has incredible stain-busting powers, especially on baby poo. While it may be in short supply at certain times of the year in the UK, sticking your whites on the washing line on a bright sunny day will shift tough stains your washing machine can’t. 

Thanks to its UV rays, sunlight works as a natural bleach on white clothing. From tomato sauce to baby food, sunlight is a surprisingly powerful stain remover. 

- Mumsnet user BashfulClam

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.