How to remove tough stains from clothes

Whether this is your first time buying a washer dryer set or this is the replacement after a decades-long love affair, there are a lot of laundry innovations to help make stain removal as simple as 1, 2, 3.

 From tough grass stains to the red wine on the tablecloth from the weekend dinner party, there are laundry solutions to help you keep your clothes, housewares, and more looking their best. Keep reading for your easy guide to getting laundry done, and getting it done right.

 Pro Tip: if something ‘dry clean only’ or ‘hand wash only’ is a deal-breaker for you, be sure to consult labels BEFORE you buy.

1. Know your symbols

There are some key graphics to help guide your laundry journey. Found in, or on almost every piece of clothing (and even some home décor items) there will be a handy-dandy label with a series of little laundry care icons. These icons or laundry symbols are your key, quite literally, to getting the cleaning job done right.

Some of the helpful information these symbols help communicate is ideal water temperature, whether an item is dry clean only or not, whether it can go into the dryer, and if so, what heat temperature, and things like hand-wash.

Getting to know these symbols will make it very easy to care for your items properly.

2. Know your stains

Stains come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their remedies. Some stains need hot water, some need cold. The best way to treat stains is to tackle them when they happen, rather than letting things sit. But since we know life is messy and doesn’t operate on ideal timelines, we’ve rounded up the best solutions for the most common stains below.

Wine: Red wine stains are tricky, but not impossible to remove. Here’s how to treat and remove red wine from clothes and tablecloths:

1. Rinse in cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible.
2. Apply an enzyme detergent to the stain and allow to set a few minutes. 
3. Wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. Add some oxygen bleach or chlorine bleach for white cottons to help with dark stains.

Blood: Here’s how to remove blood stains:

1. Flush fresh blood in cold water as soon as possible.
2. Soak in cold water with an enzyme detergent for 30 minutes or longer.
3. If any stain remains, apply some detergent directly on the stain and wash in cool or cold water with an oxygen bleach.

Grass and dirt: Grass and dirt are part of life, especially with young kids. To remove grass and dirt stains follow these two simple steps:

1. Rub an enzyme detergent directly on the stain. Gently, work into fibers. 
2. Wash in the hottest water safe for garment with an enzyme detergent. Use an oxygen bleach or chlorine bleach for white cottons.

Coffee: Definitely a common spill when you’re a coffee lover. Removing coffee stains is easy, and doesn’t even require a fresh pot.

1.  Rinse in cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible.
2. Apply an enzyme detergent to the stain and allow to set a few minutes.
3. Wash in the warmest water safe for the garment.  Add some oxygen bleach or chlorine bleach for white cottons to help with dark stains.

Oil: The key with oil stains is to act quickly. Removing oil stains is not easy, but can be done.

1. Blot gently with a paper towel to remove as much as possible. Scrape off excess oil with a butter knife if necessary. 
2. Gently rub liquid dish soap (for handwashing), stain pre-treatment or liquid enzyme detergent into the stain and let sit for 10 minutes. If using liquid dish soap, be sure to fully remove the soap by rinsing thoroughly before placing the item in the washer. 
3. Rinse or machine wash in the warmest water recommended on the care tag. 
4. Line dry. Never machine dry anything that has ever had any type of oil on it, as no washer can completely remove oil and could result in fire. Heat can set stains that aren’t completely removed.

Chocolate: Here’s how to quickly and easily remove chocolate stains:

1. Use a dull knife or spoon to lift off any excess.
2. Flush stain in cool water from the backside of the garment.
3. Soak in cool water with an enzyme detergent for 10–20 minutes.
4. Apply an enzyme detergent to any remaining stain and wash in the hottest water safe for the garment with an oxygen bleach or chlorine beach for white cottons.

Grease: Just like oil, grease stains need to be tackled immediately for best results, here’s how:

1. Scrape off excess grease with a butter knife, then blot gently with a clean, white paper towel or cloth to remove as much grease as possible. Using paper towels with printed patterns can cause a transfer of color onto your clothing.
2. Gently rub liquid dish soap (for handwashing), stain pre-treatment or liquid enzyme detergent into the stain and let sit for 10 minutes. If using liquid dish soap for handwashing, be sure to fully remove the soap by rinsing thoroughly before placing the item in the washer. 
3. Rinse or machine wash in the warmest water recommended on the care tag. 
4. Line dry. Never machine dry anything that has ever had any type of grease on it, as no washer can completely remove grease and could result in fire. Heat can set stains that aren’t completely removed. If the stain remains, repeat the steps above if necessary.

Ink:

1. Test stain removal process on a hidden place on the garment before continuing.
2. Place a paper towel on the stain. From the back side of the fabric, drip isopropyl alcohol or spray hair spray onto the stain. Remove paper towel and repeat with a new one until stain is removed.
3. Apply detergent or stain treatment to the stain and wash in the warmest water safe for the garment.

3. Know your machine

By knowing your stains and your laundry care labels, you can now use your machine fully. All those buttons, settings, and features are there for a reason and are there to be used. You can turn water from HOT–HOT to COLD–COLD. You can wash delicates or hand wash only items using the right setting, you can soak, you can sanitize your bedding, and so much more.

There’s even a feature on newer Maytag machines called the Extra Power button, giving you both hot and cold water in one laundry cycle.

 No matter how new the machine, some tried and true washing techniques stand, like:

• Always separate your whites and darks
• Stain treat as soon as possible
• Wash bedding and towels separately from clothing
• Wash kids toys/stuffies, or dog stuffies separately from other items
• Read the entire user manual or have your salesperson take you through all the features your new washer and dryer come with

See? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Know your symbols, know your stains, know your machine, and laundry stains will be a thing of the past.

Visit us in store to see a full selection of what’s available in washers and dryers.