How do you get permanent stains out of white clothes?

Use a solution made from equal parts water and bleach, soaking the garment in the solution for 15 minutes before washing it. However, it's important to check the care label on the garment first to make sure that it can safely be bleached.

How to remove old yellow stains from white clothes?

Soak the garment in a mixture of warm water and laundry detergent for at least an hour before washing it as usual

How to get stains out of white clothes without bleach?

One approach to removing permanent stains from white clothes is to make a paste by mixing baking soda and water, and applying it to the stained area. Then, you should leave the paste on the stain for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off and laundering the garment as usual

What's the best way to remove an old coffee stain from a white shirt?

Make a paste using baking soda and water, apply it to the stained area, and let it sit for a few hours before rinsing and washing the garment. It's important to avoid using hot water or drying the garment in the dryer until the stain is fully removed. Heat can set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

Can I mix baking soda and vinegar to whiten clothes?

Yes, you can use baking soda and vinegar simultaneously to whiten clothes. Moreover, you can create a soaking solution by adding equal parts vinegar and baking soda to two litres of hot water. Let the white clothes soak in the solution for an hour before rinsing and during them.

How long does it take for vinegar to whiten clothes?

An hour of soaking is enough to see results on white clothes. However, if you want better outcome, you should let the garment soak in vinegar for several hours.

How to Remove Stains from White Clothes

Key steps to washing whites:

Wondering how to remove stains from white clothes? Remember these steps:

1
Wash your whites with a quality detergent, on as hot a wash as safe for the fabric.
2
If marks remain, try a natural stain remover like baking soda or white vinegar.
3
For plain fabrics, try bleaching the marks with a diluted solution. Do not try this for delicate fabrics.
4
To remove yellow sweat stains from white clothes, try soaking them in diluted bleach, lemon juice, or white vinegar.

White clothes look stylish on anyone - until they're no longer white, that is! Stains not only look more obvious on whites than dark clothes but they can be a lot harder to remove too. Luckily, a splash of tomato sauce or a yellow sweat mark doesn’t always mean the end for your favourite white clothes. Try our tips and learn how to remove colour stains from white clothes to keep your wardrobe looking fresh.

Once you’ve learnt how to remove stains from white clothes, keep them bright by adding ½ cup of lemon juice to your normal wash. Read our article about the benefits of cleaning with lemon to get more tips on using natural solutions.

How to remove stains from white clothes when washing them

Spilt food down a white dress? Did you get all sweaty from your exercise and you need to know how to remove yellow stains from a white shirt? Start by learning how to wash whites correctly:

1
Separate your whites from all other clothes to prevent common laundry problems like colours running in the wash.
2
Avoid overloading your washing machine for better wash results. Read our article on how to use a washing machine to learn more tips on using the appliance.
3
Use a strong, quality detergent like Omo.
4
Check the clothes label for the optimum wash temperature. A hot wash may help remove stubborn stains but could damage delicate fibres.
5
Make sure stains have been fully removed before drying your clothes otherwise you'll make any residual marks harder to remove.
6
Repeat the above steps or try one of our natural methods if stains remain.

An infographic with steps on how to remove stains from white clothes when washing them, featuring images and instructions for each step.

How to get rid of stains on white clothes naturally

Studies have shown that baking soda and vinegar are effective whiteners.[1]. Try one of our alternative stain removers for dried-on, tricky marks that don't come out in a regular wash:

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Baking soda: make into a paste with water and scrub into stains. Leave for a few minutes then rinse.
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White vinegar: soak clothes in water then scrub with a solution of a equal parts baking soda and white vinegar. Rinse and dry.

Try our other tips on how to keep whites clean and bright to help avoid dried-on stains, fading, and dullness.

How to get rid of yellow stains on white clothes

If it's general discolouration and yellow sweat stains you need help getting rid of, then try one of these fabric lightening methods:

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Lemon juice: apply to stained areas or add to your regular wash to tackle sweat stains and smells.
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White vinegar: use a paste of white vinegar and baking soda for troublesome patches or soak clothes in a white vinegar solution for general discolouration.
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Bleach: add a small dose to your wash cycle or dilute with water and soak your clothes in the solutions. This is only suitable for plain white clothes - not patterned items.

When soaking clothes in the above solutions, leave for around 1 hour before rinsing them and checking if stains remain. Repeat as necessary. Follow our tips on how to take care of your white clothing to prevent stains and discolouration in the first place.

Always do a patch test of any stain removal method first to prevent damage and check the your clothing labels for the maximum wash temperature. Do you need to know how to remove sweat stains from white shirts made of sturdy cotton or how to remove old stains from white clothes made of delicate silk? In any case, it's important that you wash your clothes according to their instructions.

How to remove stains from white clothes with hydrogen peroxide

Studies have shown that hydrogen peroxide can be an effective whitener.[2] Moreover, it can break down the stain on your white clothes, making it easier to remove. So, to use hydrogen peroxide get rid of clothing stains, follow these steps:

1
Pour a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on an inconspicuous area of the garment. Remember that this compound has bleaching properties. So, avoid using it on coloured fabrics.
2
If the patch test doesn’t cause damage, you can treat the stain with it. Pour a reasonable amount of the hydrogen peroxide on the stained spot.
3
Let the hydrogen peroxide sit on the stain for around ten minutes.
4
Wash the garment as you normally would.

References:

1. Li, Y. (2017). Stain removal and whitening by baking soda dentifrice. Journal of the American Dental Association, 148(11), S20–S26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.006

2. Carey C. M. (2014). Tooth whitening: what we now know. The journal of evidence-based dental practice, 14 Suppl, 70–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebdp.2014.02.006

How to remove old stains from white clothes