Material file · Clothes
Clothes: what it can take
Covers everyday cotton and cotton-blend clothes in colours. Soaking is allowed, which gives enzymes and oxygen bleach time to work without scrubbing.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 40 °C (104 °F)
- Rubbing
- Gently
- Stain files
- 70
01 What it is
It is machine- or hand-washable, so treatments can be rinsed out properly.
The fibre in clothes is cellulose (plant fibre such as cotton, linen or viscose), which tolerates most household cleaners, warm water and enzymes.
Its dyes are the limiting factor: anything that oxidises or strips colour must be tested first.
02 House rules
- Soaking is allowed, which gives enzymes and oxygen bleach time to work without scrubbing.
03 Field notes
- Cotton is almost pure cellulose, which tolerates enzymes, oxygen bleach and warm water: the most forgiving fabric to clean.
- Most cotton-blend shirts are part polyester, and polyester holds oily stains far more tightly than cotton does.
- Dryer heat can make some residual stains harder to remove; inspect the item after air-drying before applying heat.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Acetone | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Baking soda | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Borax | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hot water | Test first | Hot water fades dyes faster and can shrink cotton; keep to the care-label temperature. |
| Household ammonia | Test first | Alkalis can change some dyes; test a seam. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Test first | It can lighten dyes; test on an inside seam and keep contact short. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Test first | It can lighten dyes; test a seam. |
| Oxygen bleach | Test first | Colour-safe on most dyes; check a hidden seam with a dab of solution first. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Steam cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| White vinegar | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Lemon juice | Avoid | Lemon plus daylight bleaches dyed fabric unevenly. |
| WD-40 | Avoid | Not recommended as a home laundry stain treatment; use a fabric-labelled pretreatment instead. |
| Chlorine bleach | Never | It strips colour from dyed fabric. |
| Magic eraser | Never | It shreds and pills fabric fibres. |
05 Stains on clothes
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Benzoyl peroxide bleach marks | Specialist | The dryer |
| Bleach spots | Specialist | Vinegar or ammonia, Mixing bleach |
| Hair dye | Specialist | Hot water, Waiting |
| Acrylic paint | Tough | The dryer, Hot water |
| BBQ sauce | Tough | Hot water, The dryer |
| Bike chain and motor grease | Tough | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Mildew and mould spots | Tough | The dryer, Mixing bleach |
| Nail polish | Tough | Rubbing, Acetone on acetate |
| Permanent marker | Tough | Water first, Rubbing |
| Scorch marks | Tough | Rubbing |
| Self-tanner and fake tan | Tough | Hot water, Waiting |
| Super glue | Tough | Pulling, Rubbing |
| Sweat and yellow underarm stains | Tough | Chlorine bleach, Hot water |
| Turmeric and curry | Tough | Hot water, The dryer |
| Wall paint (latex/emulsion) | Tough | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Baby food purée | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Baby poop | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Ballpoint ink | Stubborn | Hairspray, Rubbing |
| Beetroot | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Berries | Stubborn | Bar soap, Hot water |
| Chocolate | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Drool and yellow pillow stains | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, The dryer |
| Grape and cranberry juice | Stubborn | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Grass | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Grease and cooking oil | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Lily pollen | Stubborn | Your bare hand, Water first |
| Lipstick | Stubborn | Rubbing, Hot water |
| Mascara and eyeliner | Stubborn | Rubbing, Hot water |
| Mustard | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Red wine | Stubborn | Hot water, Salt as a stain-removal substitute |
| Rust | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, The dryer |
| Salad dressing | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Sunscreen | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, The dryer |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Tree sap | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Urine (pets and people) | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, Ammonia |
| Vomit (pets and people) | Stubborn | Hot water, Vacuuming |
| Avocado | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Baby formula and spit-up | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Bird droppings | Manageable | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Blood | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Breast milk | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Butter | Manageable | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Candle wax | Manageable | Hot water, Rubbing |
| Chewing gum | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Coffee | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Cola and soda | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Crayon | Manageable | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Egg | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Foundation and concealer | Manageable | Rubbing, Hot water |
| Gravy | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Hair and body oil | Manageable | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Highlighter | Manageable | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Ice cream | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Matcha | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Mud and dirt | Manageable | Water first, Rubbing |
| Peanut butter | Manageable | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Perfume | Manageable | The dryer, Ironing |
| Slime | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Soy sauce | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Tea | Manageable | Hot water, Bar soap |
| Water stains and rings | Manageable | Spot-wetting |
| Beer | Easy | Hot water, The dryer |
| Bronzer, blush and eyeshadow | Easy | Water first, Rubbing |
| Deodorant marks | Easy | The dryer, Chlorine bleach |
| Orange juice | Easy | Hot water, The dryer |
| Play dough | Easy | Water first, Rubbing |
| School glue (PVA) | Easy | The dryer |
| Sticker and tape residue | Easy | Rubbing |
| Washable marker | Easy | Hot water, The dryer |
06 The most common mistakes on clothes
Counted across all 70 stain files for clothes:
- The dryer before it is gone (57 files). Dryer heat locks in whatever is left. Air-dry and check first.
- Hot water (41 files). Heat helps pigments bond to the fibres before you have lifted them.
- Rubbing or scrubbing (36 files). It spreads the stain and grinds it deeper; blot instead.
- Chlorine bleach (7 files). Do not assume chlorine bleach is suitable for this stain or material. Follow the care label and product restrictions; it can remove dyes and damage fibres.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (6 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Water first (5 files). Water spreads alcohol-based ink and does not dissolve it.
07 What the clothes files use most
These are the products the 70 stain files for clothes rely on most. Enzyme laundry detergent leads because enzymes act on particular substances: proteases on proteins, amylases on starch and lipases on fats.
08 When to call a professional
Anything labelled dry clean only, or with beading, sequins or a structured lining.
Specialist-rated stains on clothes: benzoyl peroxide bleach marks, bleach spots and hair dye.