How to remove stains

How to remove stains from clothes

Life is generally messy - but with our stain removal tips, you can make it brilliantly clean! Learn all the most important stain removal techniques and methods for spotless results on your clothes with the help of Ariel's step-by-step stain removal guide.

Stain removal guide

Stain removal guide

I have a

Bleach
Blood
Butter
Chewing gum
Chocolate
Coffee and tea
Curry
Dye transfer
Food
Gravy
Hair dye
Ink
Lipstick
Make-up
Mango
Mould
Nail polish
Oil and grease
Paint
Pomegranate
Red wine
Rust
Shaving foam
Super glue
Sweat
Tough

Stain removal guide

Bleach
Blood
Butter
Chewing gum
Chocolate
Coffee and tea
Curry
Dye transfer
Food
Gravy
Hair dye
Ink
Lipstick
Make-up
Mango
Mould
Nail polish
Oil and grease
Paint
Pomegranate
Red wine
Rust
Shaving foam
Super glue
Sweat
Tough

stain

Comprehensive stain removal guide

What are the different stain types?

Based on their texture, chemical makeup and origins, we can distinguish between five different types of stains:

  • Enzymatic - Grass and blood stains, for example

  • Grease - Butter or other oily stains

  • Body soils - Collar and sweat stains

  • Bleachable - Stains from coffee and tea

  • Outdoor - Clay, soil, or dirt stains

How to remove stains from clothes

From underarm sudor to spicy curry, you can remove almost any kind of stain with some help from Ariel.

Ariel’s 7-step stain removal guide

Although no two stains are created equal, you can still get rid of them rather easily if you just follow these 7 simple steps. Follow Ariel’s foolproof stain removal guide and learn how to get any stain out of your garments!

  • 1

    Remove excess.

    Grab a paper towel and a spoon and try to get rid of as much of the stain as you possibly can without spreading the stain further.

  • 2

    Check care labels.

    Before moving on, check your garment’s fabric care label to find out if it’s safe to wash in a washing machine and under what conditions. Do you want to know what each symbol represents? Then check out our handy guide on fabric care labels.

  • 3

    Dose detergent.

    Use Ariel Matic Powder, and always make sure to check dosage instructions on your pack to learn more about how to use and dose Ariel Matic Powder. Of course, if you’d rather wash your clothes with liquid detergent or PODS, you can do that as well, thanks to Ariel’s wide range of laundry products.

  • 4

    Load.

    Place the soiled garment directly into the drum of your washing machine and fill it with similar clothes in terms of colour and fabric type. To make sure you don’t over- or underload your washer, apply the palm trick: simply place the palm of your hand between your clothes and the wall of the drum – if it fits, you have the perfect load. If it doesn’t, take a few items out. And if you feel there’s still some space left in there, put more garments in.

  • 5

    Wash your garments.

    Choose the most appropriate wash cycle and water temperature based on the recommendations given by your garment’s fabric care label.

  • 6

    Unload immediately.

    Once the wash has run its course, make sure you remove your clothes immediately, or within 2 hours for optimal freshness. Leave them inside the damp and dark environment of your washer for too long and you risk your clothes to grow an unpleasant mildew smell.

  • 7

    Check garments before drying.

    Before putting your clothes into the drier or hanging them out to dry on a line outside, check if those unsightly stains are completely gone, as drying will just set them further in.

    To prevent stains from setting into your fabrics, make sure to soak your clothing item in cold water as soon as possible, even if you’re not sure where the stain has come from. However, for harder-to-remove greasy stains, you'll want to use warm or hot water. Hungry for more? Read Ariel’s advice on how to remove stains from coloured clothes, or learn how to remove stains from white a white shirt and other white clothes.