How To Get Tough Stains Out

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Unfortunately, stains can make jeans look shoddy and used, no matter how new or expensive they were. But getting rid of stains can be easier than you think. Got some sweat or blood on your jeans? Well, wipe your tears - help is ahead! Read on to find out helpful tips and tricks on how to remove the most common and toughest kinds of stains from your jeans.

1

Resist the instinct to immediately rub the stain with water. This is particularly important if you think the stain might be oil-based or grease. Oil repels water, which means that pouring H20 on an oil stain could permanently set the stain making it almost impossible to remove it later^[1].
2

Do not launder your jeans before treating the stain. This is a common mistake that should be avoided. Once the stain on your jeans comes in contact with water, it might actually become more difficult to remove it if the laundering doesn't get rid of it, that is.
3

Lay out your jeans on an area that you don't mind staining. It's important to find a surface on which to place your stained garment. Make sure that it's okay if that surface gets dirty or otherwise compromised. Sometimes, while removing stains, the garment's color can fade through, and get onto whatever is beneath. The bathtub might be a place to consider.
4

Get an old, but clean, rag or cloth. Depending on the stain, you'll be doing a fair amount of blotting. Old socks, T-shirts, and/or kitchen rags will do just fine as long as they're clean and preferably of light color. There's always a chance that the rag's color could seep onto your stained jeans, which would defy our present objective.
5

Get a medium-sized plastic tub. You'll likely have to soak your garment before laundering it, and a medium sized, plastic tub (or bowl) will work great for that purpose.
6

Treat the stain on your jeans sooner rather than later. The longer a stain is left untreated, the tougher it'll be to get rid of it. While you might not be able to take your jeans off in the middle of dinner, treating it as soon as you get home is a good way to go^[2].

1

Combine a teaspoon of salt with a cup of cold water. If the stain is very fresh, get a hold of some club soda instead of plain, cold water. Stir the mixture until the salt has somewhat dissolved in the water.
2

Dip your rag/cloth into the saltwater mixture. Make sure a good part of the rag/cloth is saturated with the saltwater.
3
Gently blot and wipe the stain until it has vanished. Try blotting alone first. If you see no results just from that action, try wiping the stain. Alternate between blotting and wiping until the stain disappears.
- You can also turn your garment inside out and flush the stain from the back with cold club soda and salt.
- If this didn't work for your blood stain, go ahead an try the next steps below.
4
Fill a bowl or cup with a quart of cold water. Add two tablespoons of table salt or the same quantity of ammonia. Mix the ingredients. If the blood stain is dry and no longer fresh, pour the water and salt/ammonia mixture into a plastic tub, and soak the stained part of your jeans in it anywhere from thirty minutes to overnight. You can occasionally check on the stain to observe its progress^[3].
- Do not use warm water as that'll actually set the stain instead of removing it.
- If these steps didn't get rid of your stain, try any of the ones below.
5
Soak the stained part of your jeans in cold water for a minute or so. This method should work quite well on old and set-in stains. After you've soaked your jeans in cold water, wring them out and place them in a plastic bag with two cups of lemon juice and half a cup of table salt. Let your garment soak for about ten minutes, then hang your jeans outside to dry. Once they're dry, put them in your regular laundry cycle^[4].
- Note that lemon juice can lighten your garments color. It's best to use this method on light or white jeans.
6
Make a paste out of meat tenderizer. Due to its ability to break down proteins, meat tenderizer can be an effective blood stain remover. Use a quarter teaspoon of the meat tenderizer, add a little cold water, and mix it into a paste. Work the paste into the blood stain. Let it set in for about fifteen minutes, then rinse out your jeans^[5].
- You can get meat tenderizer in any convenience store.
- If none of the above steps worked on your blood stain, give the last one below a chance.
7

Get some hairspray. Hairspray can be another effective product to get rid of blood stains. Saturate the stained part with the hair product, and let it sit for about five minutes. Then, get a damp rag and gently wipe the stain clean^[6].

1
Blot the stain gently with a dry paper towel. Especially if the stain is fresh, your first instinct might be to wipe the stain with water. But as mentioned, H20 will only set the stain as oil repels water. A dry paper towel will instead soak up excess oil^[7].
- This method might not be enough for big or deep-set stains.
- Try the steps below if the paper towel didn't fully absorb your stain.
2

Cover the stain with baby powder or talc. This method is good for fresh and old stains. Powders efficiently absorb oil and can get rid of most oil-based stains. Particularly if your stain is just oil. Simply saturate the stain with baby powder or talc, and let the powder do its magic for as long as possible - up to an entire day. Then, lightly brush the powder off (with a dry paper towel, or toothbrush), and launder your jeans in the hottest temperature the garment care instructions allow^[8].
3
Use dish detergent. Due to its high level of surfactants, dish detergent is particularly successful at getting rid of grease and oil stains. Dab a drop or two onto your stain, and add a little water. With a rag/cloth, gently wipe the stain with the detergent and water until the stain is gone. Then, throw your jeans in the wash and launder them as usual^[9].
- If you're on the go, the next step might be easier to implement.
4
Use artificial sweeteners. They'll do a good job at removing oil and grease stains. Simply dab the stain with a little bit of the powder and a dry paper towel.
- Artificial sweeteners are particularly good when you're out and about.
- If none of the above steps worked for you, go ahead and try this last option below.
5

Get a hold of white vinegar. Pour a small amount of undiluted white vinegar on a paper towel. Blot the stain right before washing your jeans.This method works best on old stains^[10].

1

Stay away from water. Most makeup, like lip-stick or mascara, is oil-based which means that water will help the stain set, and make it harder to remove it.
2
Brush the stain off gently. Some makeup isn't liquid, which means that it's sometimes possible to lightly brush a lip-stick or mascara stain off before it seeps into the fabric. But be very careful, as you don't want to grind the stain deeper into your jeans^[11].
- If this wasn't enough, go ahead and try the next steps below.
3
Use shaving cream. Shaving cream is especially useful for foundation spills. Just cover the stain with some shaving cream, and toss your garment into the wash.
- As an alternative to this step, you might consider the next one.
4
Get some hair spray. If you're dealing with lipstick stains, hairspray can be quite effective at removing spills and smudges. Saturate the stained part of your jeans with the hair product for about fifteen minutes. Then blot it with a damp rag or cloth until the stain is gone^[12].
- If hairspray makes you cringe, or you don't tolerate the smell, skip to the method below.
5

Use dish detergent. If you're dealing with spray tan or tinted moisturizer spots, make a mixture of warm water and a little dish detergent in a cup. Dip in a sponge and then gently blot your jeans' stain with it until your garment is clean.

1
Use vinegar. Concoct a mixture of two parts white vinegar, and one part water (cold or warm). Pour the mixture onto the stain, and let it soak overnight. Then, wash your garment as you normally would^[13].
- Some people can't stand the smell of vinegar. If that's the case for you, skip ahead to one of the following options below.
2

Get some baking soda. Create a paste out of baking soda and warm water. Use just enough baking soda and water to make a paste-like texture. Then, get an clean toothbrush and firmly apply the paste to the area. Gently scrub back and forth, then let the stain sit for a few hours. Finally, rinse the stain.
3

Crush three Aspirin pills. Put them in a cup. Then, add about two tablespoons of water until the mixture becomes paste-like. Apply it onto the stain, and let it sit for an hour. Rinse the stained part of the garment^[14].
4
Get some lemon juice. Lightly sprinkle salt onto the stain. Then squeeze some lemon juice onto the stain until it's saturated. Rub the stain until it's gone, and then launder your jeans.
- This is a great preventative measure as well. You could use the mixture on shirts you know you'll sweat in (like gym shirts).
- Keep in mind that lemon juice might lighten your jeans' color.

1
Get a hold of white wine. It might seem counter intuitive, but white wine actually works great on red wine spots (they neutralize one another). Simply pour white wine over the red wine spot right before doing laundry. Then, toss your jeans in and wash normally.
- If this didn't work for you, try one of the steps below.
2

Use table salt. Pour a little bit of salt onto the stain and let it sit for about five minutes. Rub the stain with a rag/cloth while rinsing it out with cold water, or club soda. Repeat this action until the stain vanishes. Then, wash your jeans^[15].
3

Get some eggs out. Egg yolks work particularly well on coffee stains. Mix one egg yolk with a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol and warm water. Take a sponge and apply the mixture to the coffee spot. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse. Wash your jeans as usual^[16].
4
Use club soda. Mix club soda and a teaspoon of salt in a cup, then apply it directly to the stain. Let it soak in overnight for best results.
- As previously mentioned, avoid all types of water on greasy stains.
- Club soda and salt work especially well on coffee stains.

1
Keep it very simple for plain dirt stains. Turn your jeans inside out, and just flush out the spot from behind. Simply apply tepid water to the stain with a clean rag/cloth until the stain disappears^[17].
- If this step wasn't enough to make your stain disappear, try one or more of the following steps below.
2

Use shampoo. For old and deep-set stains, put your jeans in a plastic tub filled with warm water. Put some shampoo on a sponge, and scrub the stain vigorously while it's soaking in water. Repeat until the spot is gone.
3
Add vinegar to your regular laundry cycle. Pour a cup of white vinegar to your laundry cycle, and run your wash. Adding white vinegar to your laundry acts similarly to bleach, but it's less aggressive.
- Note: this trick is only meant for white jeans.
4

Brush the dirt stain lightly with a toothbrush. If the stain is fresh, and most importantly, not from completely liquid dirt you might be able to lightly brush the dirt of your jeans fabric. But be careful as rough brushing might help the dirt penetrate into the jeans.

Add New Question

Question

How do I remove dye marker from jeans?

Try De-Solv-it. It's citrus based and is safe for both you and your clothes. Nail polish remover may work, but it also may remove the color of the jeans (much like bleach would).
Question

How do I get bleach stain from jeans?

A little lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide should do it. Try vinegar if that doesn't work.
Question

How do I remove grass stains from white denim?

Use a solution made of one part white vinegar to two parts water. Use a toothbrush (or a rag or nailbrush) to work liquid into the area.
Question

How do I remove black spots on jeans?

Use Vanish Gold to scrub, then put in the washing machine with more Vanish Gold.
Question

How do I remove a stain from jeans?

Put laundry detergent directly on the jeans, gently rub the fabric together, then wash as usual.
Question

How can I remove shoe polish from jeans?

Try soaking them in OxiClean. It's great for removing stains.
Question

Other clothes' colors bled onto my yellow jeans. How can I remove the staining?

Use baking soda and water or rubbing alcohol(for more effective results.) Then rub it together on the stain until the stain is less visible or less bold. Then throw it in the wash with the other clothes.
Question

What if I washed my jeans, and the stain is still there?

There are stain remover sprays you can buy from the store that should get the stain out even if the jeans have already been washed. You could also soak them in some Oxy for a day or two and try washing them again.
Question

How can I get egg whites and yolk off a denim jacket?

Just put toothpaste where the stain is, then let is sit for a day, then wash with water.
Question

I have a pair of jeans with factory black build up on them. They have been washed and dried by someone else, so how can I get that out now? It's all the way down both front legs and on the back pocket.

You can the method below, it really works! Mix baking soda, lemon, sugar and laundry detergent onto the stain and rub it in. Leave it for 1-2 hours, then wash your jeans.

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Stay away from bleach whenever possible.
Always treat the stain before laundering the garment.
To get toothpaste stains out of jeans, dampen the stain and rub a little laundry detergent into the stain with a toothbrush.

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Things You'll Need

Washing machine
Sponge
Disposable toothbrush
Medium-sized plastic tub or bowl
Old, clean rags or cloths
White vinegar
Club Soda
Salt
Ammonia
Dish detergent
Lemon Juice
Eggs

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Article SummaryX

To remove a stain from your jeans, lay them on a surface you don't mind getting dirty, like a bath tub. If you're trying to get rid of a blood stain, combine a teaspoon of salt with cold water, dip a rag in the mixture, and gently blot the stain until it vanishes. To get rid of grease, dab the area with a dry paper towel, then cover it with baby powder or talc. After you've left the powder on for up to a day, wipe it off with a dry paper towel before putting your jeans in the laundry on the highest setting they can cope with. For tips on how to remove food or dirt stains from your jeans, keep reading!

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