What you do in the first few minutes after a spill often decides whether a stain comes out. These steps are for washable cotton and blends. On silk, wool, zari or anything labelled dry clean only, stop after blotting and bring it to a professional.
The four golden rules
- Act fast. Fresh stains are far easier to lift.
- Blot, don't rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper into the fibres.
- Cold water first. Hot water sets many stains.
- No heat until it's gone. Ironing or drying a stained garment in hot sun can make the stain permanent.
Turmeric (haldi) and curry
Scrape off any paste. Rinse from the back of the fabric with cold water, then work in a little liquid detergent. On white cotton, drying in sunlight helps — turmeric fades in UV light. Don't do this on coloured or delicate fabrics.
Oil, ghee and grease
Blot the excess. Sprinkle talc or cornflour over the stain, leave it for 15–30 minutes to absorb the oil, then brush it off. On washable fabric, follow with a drop of dishwashing liquid before washing.
Tea and coffee
Rinse under cold running water straight away. Milk tea contains protein as well as tannin, so avoid hot water. Wash as normal once the stain has faded.
Ink
Dab, never rub. On washable cotton, dabbing with a little rubbing alcohol can lift ballpoint ink — test on a hidden seam first. On anything delicate, leave it to us.
Mehendi (henna)
Henna is a dye, and on fabric it is often permanent. Scrape off any paste, rinse with cold water and bring the garment in quickly. We'll tell you honestly if it's likely to come out.
Blood
Cold water only — hot water cooks the protein into the fibres. Rinse from the back, then wash in cold water.
When to hand it over
Bring it to us if the fabric is silk, wool, zari, velvet or dry-clean-only; if the stain is large or old; or if you've already tried once and it hasn't moved. Tell us what caused the stain — it decides the treatment. See our stain removal service.