This blog post is sponsored by Maytag®, but all stain tips, opinions and thoughts are my own.
Learn how to tackle tough family stains with our laundry tips and stain removal tips that have been tried and tested in our own home!
STAIN REMOVAL TIPS
Raising a family is a lot of fun but can get a little messy! If you have kids, you know just how messy it can get! Today I’m sharing some stain removal tips to help you tackle the most common family-prone stains.
COMMON HOUSEHOLD STAINS
Some of the most common household stains we find in our home are the following:
- Food Stains
- Pen/Marker
- Blood (eek!)
- Mud
- Grass Stains
HOW TO REMOVE TOUGH STAINS
I’ve learned quite a few tricks from over two decades of doing laundry! I’ve pulled together a few tips on how I’ve had success in treating stains. However, make sure to always check your appliance and product use and care instructions before treating your stain, as every situation is different!
- FOOD STAINS. Pre-treat the stain with your favorite stain remover (or 1/2 tsp dish soap and 1 tsp white vinegar) and let sit for 30 minutes. Brush material fibers gently with a small brush or toothbrush as needed and then wash normally. If the stain is stubborn, you may need to soak the item in cool water overnight with some stain remover added to the water.
- PEN/MARKER. If the marker is on your clothing, simply get the mark wet and then spray some hairspray on the stain. Use a paper towel to blot up the stain. If the marker is on the wall or on a wood surface, simply rub some toothpaste (not the gel kind) onto the mark. Gently rub the toothpaste off on the wood surface. On the wall you might need to use a soft toothbrush to remove it.
- BLOOD. If the blood is fresh, soak in cold water immediately and rinse to remove as much blood as possible. Blot some hydrogen peroxide on any remaining stain with a cloth until it is gone. For old stains, soak them in hydrogen peroxide and rinse. Repeat as needed. Wash clothing to remove any excess hydrogen peroxide.
- MUD. Let the mud dry fully and then remove any excess mud from the clothing with a dry brush. Soak the mud stain with your favorite laundry stain remover and let sit for 30 minutes. After the garment has soaked for at least 30 minutes take a brush and gently work to get the stain out. If the stain is stubborn, try soaking it in some more stain remover in a bucket of hot water overnight. Then rinse and wash as normal.
- GRASS STAINS. Pre-treat the stain with your favorite stain remover and let sit for 30 minutes. Gently rub with a small brush to remove tougher grass stains. If the stain persists, soak it in a bucket of hot water and then wash as normal.
GENERAL STAIN REMOVAL TIPS
Every family likely has a different way of tackling tough stains, but I’ve included some general guidelines I’ve found that are essential based on my experience.
- Before you throw the item with a stain into the dryer, make sure the stain is completely gone or the heat may set in the stain.
- A wet/dry vacuum can really come in handy for those tough family stains that may not come out in your washing machine or sink. Add some water and stain remover or detergent if needed and then let the suction of the vacuum remove any excess water, laundry soap and the stain!
- If possible, treat stains as soon as they happen. The sooner the better. If stains can’t be tackled right away, at least try to get some pre-treated stain remover on the stain until you have time to remove it.
- Be sure to try a test spot on an area of clothing, carpet or piece of furniture before tackling a stain.
- If the stain persists, repeat steps as necessary.
WASHING MACHINE CYCLES GUIDE
Now that I’ve shared my personal laundry tips, I want to tell you how our Maytag front load washer helps me tackle my family’s tough stains. One of our favorite features on the washer is the Optimal Dose Dispenser. It can hold up to 12 loads of detergent and will release the optimal amount of detergent into your washing machine for powerful cleaning – no more guessing how much detergent is needed!
We are also enjoying testing out the many different washing cycles. With all the different cycles available, you may be wondering what the most effective cycle is for the job at hand. So, we broke down our favorite washing machine cycles to make it easier for you.
- PowerWash® Cycle:Trying to fight stains? The PowerWash® cycle combines extra cleaning action with heated water to power out tough, everyday stains in a single wash.
- Sanitize Cycle: Need to wash linens after the flu goes around? The Sanitize Cycle removes 99.9% of household bacteria with extra hot water temperature, delivering thorough cleaning and peace of mind.*
- Allergen Cycle: Help fight constant sneezing and sniffling with the Allergen Cycle. It cleans fabrics with extra water to flush out 95% of common household allergens like dust mites and pet dander.**
- Cold Wash Cycle: Washing delicates? When you want to clean clothes properly but gently, this cycle has extra cleaning action and an active soak to help wash away stains.
Another tip for choosing the right washing machine cycle is ensuring that you follow the clothing care symbols. You know, the little symbols on a garment tag! Though confusing at times, you can’t ignore these symbols as they’re crucial to keeping your clothes looking their best. You can check out this helpful guide to decode clothing care symbols, and make sure you pick the right cycle and temperature for all your laundry items.
So, don’t be afraid to get out there and create some more messes! Hope you found my stain removal tips helpful for your next stain-related laundry challenge! Also, if you’re in the market for appliances, visit www.Maytag.com/November to get deals before they’re gone!
*3 Bacteria tested were K. pneumonia, P. aureginosa and S. aureus.
** 4 Allergens tested were dust mites and pet dander.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Maytag. The opinions and text are all mine.
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Jo Reese says
Thanks for the ideas! I’m always looking for better ways to get stains out of my kids clothes!
The Idea Room Assistant says
Jo- Me too!
I need help with rust stains. Several of our clothing items have been ruined before we realized the cause was our clothes dryer. I have researched some ideas. Using lemon and salt followed with sunshine is one that I have not tried yet. I did try the rhubarb cooking and soaking with worse results.
If you’ve got rust on clothing it can be removed with either white vinegar or lemon juice.
Lay the clothing or fabric out on an old towel and pour a small amount of white vinegar directly on the stain – or rub a cut lemon half on the stain.
Saturate it thoroughly, then blot it with a clean white towel.
Lay outside in the sunshine until the stain starts to fade, then wash.