Tips for stain removal from your needlework

The golden rule is to act quickly. You may want to print this page and keep it handy, just in case!

General tips for stain removal

Types of stain

Useful store cupboard essentials for removing stains

Vinegar

If your fabric has yellowed with age you can soak it in a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 12 parts warm water overnight. Then wash as normal the next day.

If you have fabric or clothing with dried in stains try making up a solution of 3tbsp white distilled vinegar and 2 tbs liquid detergent in 1 litre warm water and rubbing it into the stain. Blot it dry before washing as normal.

Bicarbonate of soda

We all perspire, especially if we are stitching in hot, sticky weather. Perspiration, if allowed to remain in fabrics, can eventually stain. It can also damage and weaken the fabric fibres. One way to deal with this problem is to mix bicarbonate of soda into a paste with cold water, then use it to cover the area. Leave it on the fabric for around 30 minutes, then if necessary, soak in detergent before washing as normal.

This method is also useful for removing grease stains, such as butter, margarine, cooking oil or mayonnaise.

Lemon juice

Try cutting your lemon into slices and rubbing with it to remove ink from fabric. (Believe it or not you can also try rubbing an ink stain with half a ripe tomato before washing as normal.) Or you can go back to our trusty white vinegar (2 parts), mixed with cornflour (3 parts) to make a paste which you apply to the ink and allow to dry thoroughly before washing.

Have you ever put a piece of needlework away with the needle still in the fabric? When you come back to the project, maybe many months (or years?) later, you may find that the needle has rusted causing a nasty stain. Although it is difficult to remove rust from fabric this is one method that you can try.

Salt

Have you ever pricked your finger on your needle and before you knew it dripped blood onto your work? I know I have. Blood stains can be difficult to remove if left, so quickly dissolve lots of salt in cold water and soak the affected area. It sounds horrid, but you can also remove a tiny spot of blood by using your own saliva! (It has to be the saliva of the person who bled.)

Again dabbing the area with white vinegar can remove blood spots from your fabric. Remember to dab again afterwards with a damp cloth to remove the smell. Then wash as usual.

Soda water

Methylated spirit

Soak a cloth in methylated spirit and dab onto stains like ballpoint pen, crayon or lipstick to remove them.

Stain Removal Surgery

Make use of this page help each other. Let's build it into a fantastic resource of stain removal knowledge, share our successes and commiserate when we can't find a solution.

Stains a problem?

Or perhaps you found a great way to deal with a stain problem? Why not share and maybe help others.

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