Cleaning
How to Get Detergent Stains Out of Clothes
Nothing is more annoying than washing a load of laundry only to find that they are covered in white stains. This post discusses how to get detergent stains out of clothes using household items you already have in your home.
What do detergent stains look like?
Detergent stains may look like blue or white patches, waxy or rough in texture. Different detergents sometimes leave different types of stains, and the process of removing the stains will depend on the type of detergent you use. These stains are more than likely detergent from your powder pod or liquid that hasn’t dissolved properly during the washing cycle.
What causes detergent stains in clothes?
- Using too much detergent. will cause the water in the washing machine to become a saturated solution and is difficult to rinse away. This then stays on your garment, making those annoying stains. Read this post to find out how much detergent you should use in each load.
- Too many clothes in the machine. Overstuffing clothes in the washing machine means the detergent or powder gets stuck between the clothes. If the detergent doesn’t dissolve properly and the water cannot get to the powder to rinse it, the detergent dries and stains the clothes. Read this post to see if you are overloading your machine. You should be able to fit a full hand above your clothes in a front-loading washing machine.
This post contains affiliate links, and The Organizer UK may earn commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. For more details, see here. Thank you so much for your support!
How to prevent laundry detergent stains
Prevention is always better than cure. It is easy to take a few steps to prevent rather than remove stains.
Prevention is always better than cure. It is easy to take a few steps to prevent rather than remove stains.
- Use the correct washing temperature.
Most detergents tell you on the packaging what temperature to use to help the detergent dissolve properly.
- Don’t overload the washing machine.
Make sure your clothes have space to tumble and rinse properly.
- Opt for liquid detergent instead of powder
Liquid detergents tend not to leave as much residue as powder as they do not need to dissolve.
- Store your powdered detergent in an airtight box
Keep moisture out of your laundry powder as lumpy detergent is difficult to dissolve in the detergent drawer. This airtight detergent box has an easy-to-pour spout and measuring cup.
- Use the correct cycle.
Try to avoid quick washes if you have a larger load. Your clothes need time to tumble, agitate and rinse.
- Do not use more detergent than suggested.
Using too much detergent is the most common reason for detergent residue and stains for your load or the clothes will not rinse properly. Read this post to find out how much detergent should be used for each wash.
- Check the hardness of the water.
If you are using hard water with powdered detergent, you will most likely have noticed stains on your clothes. This is because the powder doesn’t dissolve well in hard water and is more difficult to rinse. It may be time to switch to a non-toxic detergent or a liquid detergent. This post tells you how much detergent to use in hard water areas, you can also check here to see if you live in a hard or soft water area.
- Make sure you are using the correct detergent for your machine.
Some detergents are high-efficiency, and some are non-high-efficiency. Your washing machine manual will advise you which is best for you to use.
- Wash your clothes inside out
If you struggle to prevent detergent stains on your clothes, it may help if you wash your clothes inside out to reduce the appearance of stains.
- Airdry your clothes
It is often better to air dry your clothes, as heat from the drier sets most stains and makes it more difficult to remove them. Find out how to save money by drying your clothes indoors in this post.
- Dissolve the detergent before washing.
If you use powdered laundry detergent, you could always try dissolving it in a small amount of water before adding it to the detergent drawer. This is a good idea if your powder is particularly lumpy.
- Use eco-friendly laundry detergents.
Eco-friendly laundry detergents use less toxic chemicals and are kinder to the environment. Check out why you need to change to a non-toxic laundry detergent here.
Please note: Spot check in a discrete area of the clothing first to ensure any method you use doesn’t cause issues with dye.
How to remove different detergent stains from your laundry
Powder detergent stains
Sometimes powder detergent residue may be left on white clothes such as shirts and sheets. While you may not be able to see the residue, you will be able to feel it as your clothes will feel stiff and almost waxy.
To prevent powder stains, you could :
- Alternate between powdered and liquid laundry detergent, which will help stop the build-up of detergent.
- Add an extra rinse to your laundry load if you prefer not to swap to a liquid detergent. An extra rinse will help to get rid of any excess powder.
- Use the correct amount of detergent in each wash.
- Do not overload the machine to allow your clothes to agitate and get clean properly. Add the right amount of clothes to your washing machine.
- Wash your clothes at the correct temperature for the detergent.
- Add a cup of vinegar instead of softener to the detergent drawer to help to prevent any build of detergent.
Liquid laundry detergent stains
- Soak the stained garment in warm or hot water, depending on the care label instructions. To read what those little symbols on your laundry mean check out this post.
- Use an oxygen-based pre-treatment. Such as Vanish Oxyaction or Astonish Oxyaction
- Wash as usual. This method may also be used to remove detergent stains from white garments.
How to get blue detergent stains out of clothes
Some detergents may leave a blue-colored stain behind. Luckily these blue stains are not permanent and are easily removed by following these steps:
- Dampen the stain with warm water
- Apply a pre-treatment directly to the stain.
- Allow the pre-treatment work for at least 10-15 minutes
- Rinse with warm water.
- Repeat the steps above if the stain is still there.
- Do not dry your garment until removing all the detergent stains, as a tumble dryer can set the stain.
5 other ways to get detergent stains out of clothes
To remove laundry detergent stains from clothes, you can also use items you already have in the house:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baking soda
- Washing soda crystals
- Vinegar
- Bar soap
- Castille soap
- Dish soap
- Laundry bleach
- Soft small brush
Bar soap or Castille Soap
If you prefer using something gentler to remove detergent stains from clothes, you can use a bar of odorless soap. I like castile soap as I find it a very effective stain removal.
- Dampen the stained area of clothing.
- Gently rub the bar soap or Castille soap on the stained area.
- Gently agitate the stain with a soft brush or by rubbing the cloth together, ensuring you do not spread the stain onto other areas of the garment.
- Rinse the area and wash with cold water to remove the soap residue.
Rubbing alcohol
- Dampen the stain with warm water
- Gently rub the stain with a small soft brush to agitate the stain and open the fibers of the garment.
- Apply rubbing alcohol to the stain.
- Allow the rubbing alcohol to sit for about approximately 15 minutes.
- Rinse the garment to check for laundry detergent residue removal and launder without detergent.
- Check before drying to ensure the detergent residue is gone. If it persists, repeat the procedure.
Vinegar
- Fill a bowl with warm water.
- Add half a cup of white vinegar and stir well.
- Soak the garment in the solution for at least 15 minutes, preferably longer if you can
- Put the garment in the washing machine.
- Add baking soda or soda crystals to the drum instead of your usual detergent.
- Wash the clothing in a normal setting
- Check the stain, and if it has not gone, repeat the above.
Dish soap
- Always choose a good quality dish soap, like Fairy Platinum or Dawn. (Or Castille soap if you prefer)
- Dampen the stain with warm water
- Pour a few drops of dish soap over the stain.
- Work the dish soap into the stain using a soft bristle brush to agitate the stain and allow the garment’s fibers to open.
- Fill a bowl with warm water and add a couple more drops of dish soap to create a lather.
- Soak the garment for about 20 minutes or longer if you can.
- If the stain is still noticeable, repeat the process
- Then wash as normal to finish.
Baking soda
Baking soda absorbs and removes stains, deodorizes, and helps eliminate the buildup of powdered laundry detergent. Baking soda also helps remove any detergent buildup in your washing machine.
- Put the stained clothing back in the machine.
- Do not add laundry detergent to the cycle.
- Add a cup of baking soda directly into the drum with the garment
- Add 1 cup of vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for an extra boost to the rinse.
- Wash as normal
- Repeat the process if necessary.
- You can replace the baking soda with washing soda crystals if you prefer
How to remove fabric softener stains from clothes.
We’ve covered detergent stains but what about fabric softener stains? Fabric softener makes clothing soft, but because it may contain sheep, pig, or cow fat, it can leave greasy stains behind. Fortunately, in most cases, you can remove the stains with soap and water, so they’re seldom permanent.
FAQ
Sometimes the dryer may set the stain and may make it more difficult for the stain to come out. Laundry stains will come out using many of the methods listed above, but you may need to repeat the process if you find they don’t come out the first time.
Dry cleaners can remove most stains from clothing. To read all their secrets, read this post!
-
Calling all dog owners: How to clean fake grass
If you own a beautiful artificial grass lawn, then cleaning it is as essential as keeping real grass well-maintained. Controlling pets is part of this process and can be one of the most challenging tasks, given that dog pee or poop on fake turf causes unpleasant odors and messes. We’re here to help with our…
-
How to clean artificial flowers the easy way
Do you love adding flowers to your household decorations but want a way to save time and money? Artificial flowers are an excellent alternative, as they offer the chance to spruce up any room without needing daily care. But it’s important that if you use faux blooms, then you keep them in good condition. To…
-
How to clean mold out of a fridge
Mold is a common problem in refrigerators and can be a major headache if not dealt with properly. Mold must be dealt with promptly and efficiently to avoid health problems. If you notice a musty smell, visible growth, or fungus spots in your refrigerator, it may indicate the presence of mold. So what do you…
-
How to get crayon off wood: Easy ways!
Are you looking for the best way to remove crayon marks from your wood furniture? Don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect solution, today, we will show you exactly how easy it is to keep your wooden surfaces spotless with simple tips anyone can do! Keep reading for more information about supplies and easy step-by-step guidance…
-
How To Remove Mildew Smell From Clothes
There’s nothing worse than when your clothes smell musty, especially if you don’t realize it until you are out of the house. It can be tough to get the mildew smell out of clothes once they have been dried. This post gives you some easy-to-follow tips to remove mildew smells from clothes and keep your…
-
How to get rid of carpet moths for good
If you’ve noticed some carpet moth damage to your carpets and rugs or have seen signs of actual carpet moths, then it’s time to learn how to identify them and know the best way to get rid of them. In this blog post, we will look at the facts you need, including what a carpet…