Community reports Anecdotal

Several commenters (2006-2013) reported that pouring boiling water through blackberry and blueberry stains removed them completely, one reported the hot-water trick failed on a hoodie but cold water followed by lemon juice worked, and another said a cold milk soak works.

“The pouring hot water trick worked like a charm.”

Removing Blackberry Stains from Clothing — ThriftyFun, 2009-06-22 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: berries-fruit

Posters reported firsthand success getting blood out with a 60C biological-powder wash, hydrogen peroxide (on a futon), OxiClean on old stains, and antiseptic mouthwash on a mattress.

“The old stains lifted like they were never there.”

how to get blood out of sheets? — Mumsnet, 2015-07-11 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: blood

One poster removed a set blood stain by soaking with Vanish in warm water for an hour then machine washing; another reported hydrogen peroxide plus baking soda cleared a different set stain in two rounds.

“good shake of vanish, warm water, left it an hour, straight in the washing machine, it's perfect”

Getting set blood stain out — Mumsnet, 2019-10-27 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: blood

Several commenters reported firsthand that hydrogen peroxide removes blood stains, keeping bottles on hand for psoriasis scratches, nosebleeds, and period stains (one dabs it on with a Q-tip); the original question post has since been deleted but the comments remain.

“It works like magic on blood stains. They disappear in front and your eyes.”

Is a properly working washing machine supposed to clean blood stains? — r/laundry (Reddit), 2024-09-18 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: blood

The original poster reported the iron-over-paper method lifted candle wax from the carpet easily, finishing with a light scrub of hot water and bio liquid, and another poster said they had used the iron method successfully many times.

“It was oddly satisfying to do and came off no bother.”

How do you get candlewax out of a carpet? — Mumsnet, 2012-09-11 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: candle-wax

The original poster reported the freezer method failed on gum stuck to a jumper and velvet trousers, and a later poster said freezing and lighter fuel both failed on a school skirt but neat Persil bio followed by a 40C wash with Vanish removed the residue.

“put Persil bio directly on to the stained areas and then washed in 40 degree wash with Vanish. Hey presto...perfect skirt again.”

Help please - how *do* you get chewing gum off clothing? — Mumsnet, 2010-04-06 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: chewing-gum

Posters reported that an Ariel spray stain remover applied and washed immediately works well on chocolate ice cream, and that hanging the damp item in sunshine to dry removes chocolate (and bolognese) stains.

“I use an Ariel spray stain remover and it works really well. Don't leave it to soak in. Wash immediately.”

how to get chocolate ice cream out of clothes? — Mumsnet, 2012-07-02 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: chocolate

Posters mainly reported failures: one tried immediate wiping, online tips, and supermarket products without removing a dried tea stain, and another said a professional carpet cleaner could not shift their long-set tea stains.

“stain is still there”

Best way to get (dried) tea out of carpet? — Mumsnet, 2022-10-08 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: coffee-tea

One poster reported Dylon colour run remover got turquoise dye out of whites, and the original poster used a borrowed colour-removal product that saved her favourite top though faint pink marks remained on a sock and boxers.

“Dylon colour run remover worked a treat for me getting turquoise dye out of whites.”

Oh my goodness!! Laundry disaster...colour run...how do I fix it?! — Mumsnet, 2013-06-21 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: dye-transfer

The poster reported a white vinegar soak did nothing for red dye transferred onto a sentimental white shirt, but an eight-hour cool-water OxiClean White Revive soak followed by a wash with a color-catcher sheet removed the pink completely without damaging the printed lettering.

“the pink looks completely gone and there was zero damage to the paint/lettering on shirt!”

Accidentally dyed white shirt pink in the laundry - will Carbona help? — r/laundry (Reddit), 2022-02-28 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: dye-transfer

The original poster reported that a cold-water rinse plus scrubbing with Fairy washing-up liquid before washing removed baby poop stains that eight months of normal washing had not, and others confirmed sunlight bleaching and detergent soaks worked for them.

“Sunlight is the trick! It naturally bleaches baby poop stains”

I finally know how to get baby poop stains out! — Mumsnet, 2023-12-22 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: feces

Several posters reported that washing with a stain remover and then drying in sunlight cleared yellow milk stains (even over a couple of grey days), and one said boiling clothes in an oxygen cleaner removed milk and banana stains but also stripped a printed design.

“Wash using a stain remover, then dry in direct sunlight.”

Getting yellow milk stains out baby clothes — Mumsnet, 2020-10-06 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: formula-milk

Posters reported firsthand success on grass-stained whites with line-drying in full sun, Napisan soaks before washing, a cup of soda crystals plus biological powder at 40C, white vinegar followed by sun, and a Vanish paste worked into the stain.

“Cup of soda crystals in the washing machine drum plus biological powder...never failed when my sons used to play”

How to get grass stains out of cricket whites — Mumsnet, 2024-06-06 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: grass

One poster reported firsthand that a Stain Devils three-pack worked on almost everything including biro; other suggestions in the thread (hairspray, rubbing alcohol) were offered without personal results.

“I had a set of three and it worked for pretty much everything”

How to get biro out of cotton? — Mumsnet, 2023-01-22 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: ink

One commenter reported firsthand that Amodex reliably removes ballpoint ink from white chef jackets and that Carbona ink remover works but takes time; another gave up on an ink-stained dress after a hairspray treatment, yet the ink eventually came out with repeated washings.

“Carbona ink remover works but takes time. My personal favorite is Amodex.”

How do you remove a permanent ballpen ink in clothes? — r/laundry (Reddit), 2025-02-28 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: ink

The poster reported a big grease stain on borrowed shorts came out completely after 10 minutes of rubbing alcohol, a cold rinse, Dawn dish soap scrubbed in, and a regular wash, and said the same routine later removed an ink stain from a pair of pants.

“I did rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes, rinsed with cold water, dawn dish soap scrubbed in, rinsed and then regular wash. Gone!”

Grease stain gone! — r/laundry (Reddit), 2021-06-11 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: oil-grease, ink

The original poster reported back that leaving Vanish spray on the lipstick mark for about two hours followed by a 60C wash removed it completely from a white duvet cover.

“Left the Vanish spray on it for about two hours... The lipstick has gone!”

Help! Lipstick on white duvet cover!!! — Mumsnet, 2004-08-26 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: lipstick

Two posters reported firsthand that micellar water on cotton wool pads removed foundation marks from coat collars, one saying nothing else had worked.

“I've removed foundation stains with cotton wool soaked in micellar water. Nothing else worked!”

Makeup on dark coat? (Image) — Mumsnet, 2024-02-16 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: makeup

One poster reported soda crystals rescued a white rugby kit completely covered in mud, while the original poster found a second machine wash only partly improved their mud-stained item.

“Old fashioned soda crystals worked when this happened to DS1s white rugby kit, which was completely covered.”

Removing mud stains from clothes — Mumsnet, 2024-02-21 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: mud-soil

Posters reported that washing-up liquid (Fairy) still removes grease stains that have been washed and dried, and one had recent success spraying Elbow Grease on the stain for five minutes before rewashing.

“I've recently had success with Elbow Grease spray, sprayed directly onto the stain and left for 5 mins”

Removing grease stains from clothes when they've already been washed and dried — Mumsnet, 2024-03-26 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: oil-grease

The poster reported a big grease stain on borrowed shorts came out completely after 10 minutes of rubbing alcohol, a cold rinse, Dawn dish soap scrubbed in, and a regular wash, and said the same routine later removed an ink stain from a pair of pants.

“I did rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes, rinsed with cold water, dawn dish soap scrubbed in, rinsed and then regular wash. Gone!”

Grease stain gone! — r/laundry (Reddit), 2021-06-11 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: oil-grease, ink

Blogger Mary Corbet documented trying to whiten an 11-year-old yellowed embroidered linen: boiling with cream of tartar lightened the stain only modestly, while a buttermilk-and-lemon-juice soak lightened the piece considerably.

“Always start with the least aggressive cleaning methods and move to the more aggressive.”

Whitening Yellowed Linens: An Adventure of Sorts — NeedlenThread (embroidery blog), 2020-10-14 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: old-yellow-stains

In the follow-up, the author judged a 36-hour buttermilk soak a failure and borax only slightly helpful, but OxiClean White Revive plus a stain remover finally returned the linen to white with only a very faint shadow of the stain remaining.

“After a 36-hour soak, I conceded that buttermilk doesn't really work.”

Yellow to White: Whitening Yellowed Linen, Part II — NeedlenThread (embroidery blog), 2020-10-28 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: old-yellow-stains

The poster reported bleach soaks and bleach washes failed on yellowed cotton shorts and a sweat/pit-stained shirt, while one commenter reported removing pit stains from a cotton shirt in about five minutes by dipping the stained area in diluted chlorine bleach, rubbing, and rinsing immediately.

“I did a cotton shirt this morning for pit stains and it took all of 5 min.”

Best way to get yellowing & pit stains out of 100% cotton whites? — r/laundry (Reddit), 2025-05-15 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: old-yellow-stains, sweat-deodorant

One poster reported hairspray removed much of a children's acrylic paint stain but the scrubbing wore a small hole in the garment, while another said a Vanish soap bar scrubbed in before machine washing works every time.

“The hairspray removed quite a lot of it but all the scrubbing caused a small hole in the top.”

Getting paint out of clothes — Mumsnet, 2015-11-03 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: paint

A poster reported that treating permanent marker with a specialist pen/felt-tip remover (Dr Beckmann or Stain Devil) before washing removes about 95% of it, while posters agreed that once the item has been washed the mark is nearly impossible to remove.

“If you treat it with specialist pen/biro/felt tip remover before you wash it then it gets 95% of it off.”

Is it possible to get permanent marker out of clothes? — Mumsnet, 2010-04-28 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: permanent-marker

The original poster reported Dr Beckmann carpet cleaner removed most of a four-day-old red wine stain, and another poster said two applications of Vanish carpet foam completely erased a full spilled glass.

“after 2 applications of this you couldn't tell where the spillage was”

Red wine removal carpet help!!! — Mumsnet, 2023-02-17 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: red-wine

The poster reported Vanish plus rubbing with a laundry soap bar removed a fresh red wine spill from new jeans but bleached the fabric color out, leaving a white patch that a vinegar rewash did not fix; a commenter noted the Vanish used must be the color-safe variant.

“The stain treatment you used bleached the color out.”

Laundry help - Have I ruined my new pants? Spilt red wine on my new pants! I quickly put some Vanish on it and rubbed it with a bar of laundry soap. After letting it sit for a while I put it through the washing machine and the stain has disappeared but has now replaced it with a white stain... — r/laundry (Reddit), 2020-05-01 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: red-wine

One poster reported firsthand that a supermarket Stain Devils product for rust removed the stain, while other remedies in the thread (lemon juice and salt, cream of tartar, rhubarb water) were quoted from a hints book without personal testing.

“Got some Stain Devils for rust (from the supermarket) and it worked 'like magic'.”

rust stains — MoneySavingExpert Forum, 2004-11-12 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: rust

The poster reported bleach, vinegar, and a strong stain remover all failed on a patchy stain on white pants; commenters identified it as likely rust, and one reported having great success with Whink rust remover, cautioning that chlorine bleach can permanently set iron stains.

“If Carbona Rust Stain Remover doesn’t work, I’d try Whink—I’ve had great success with it.”

how to get stubborn stain out of white pants — r/laundry (Reddit), 2025-03-30 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: rust

Posters reported firsthand successes on yellow suncream marks with a sticky-stuff-remover soak followed by two washes, liberal white vinegar spray before washing, Stain Devils oily-stain remover, SMOL stain remover, and an OxyWhite soak.

“I spray the yellow stains liberally, then wash and it's usually gone.”

Suncream has stained white clothes — Mumsnet, 2024-08-02 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: sunscreen

Reports were mixed: two posters said sunshine, bleach, aspirin, bicarb, lemon, Vanish, and hot washes all failed on yellow armpit stains, while one had some luck with ammonia and another said Dr Beckmann sweat stain remover works well.

“I've tried absolutely everything suggested on the Internet and have yet to find a solution.”

Yellow armpit stains — Mumsnet, 2020-09-30 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: sweat-deodorant

The poster reported bleach soaks and bleach washes failed on yellowed cotton shorts and a sweat/pit-stained shirt, while one commenter reported removing pit stains from a cotton shirt in about five minutes by dipping the stained area in diluted chlorine bleach, rubbing, and rinsing immediately.

“I did a cotton shirt this morning for pit stains and it took all of 5 min.”

Best way to get yellowing & pit stains out of 100% cotton whites? — r/laundry (Reddit), 2025-05-15 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: old-yellow-stains, sweat-deodorant

Multiple posters reported firsthand that hanging tomato-stained clothes in the sun removed the stains, with one initially skeptical poster confirming it worked and another noting it works even without bright sunshine.

“I was very dubious but found that hanging clothes in the sun really worked!”

Getting tomato sauce stains out of clothes — Mumsnet, 2012-07-31 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: tomato

One poster said an enzyme cleaner worked well on cat urine in wool carpet but the treated spot faded a year later; another reported baking soda and vinegar as the only thing that ever removed the smell from their carpet.

“It worked really well, but a year later it started fading in the spot I cleaned.”

Enzyme cleaner to take cat pee from wool rug — Mumsnet, 2023-06-19 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: urine

Caregivers reported firsthand that Lysol Laundry Sanitizer cut urine-soaked elder-care laundry from three-plus washes to one or two, one poster found color-safe bleach worked better than Nature's Miracle or vinegar for bedwetting laundry, another said vinegar worked on cat-pee laundry, and one warned the tumble dryer made the smell much worse.

“then I tried color safe bleach, and wow, it just works so much better.”

Urine smell in clothes — r/laundry (Reddit), 2025-05-10 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: urine

Posters reported firsthand results on vomit smell: Vanish carpet foam worked on car seats, a bottled carpet cleaner needed a couple of goes, biological washing powder fixed smelly sealed floorboards, and one used dish soap, pharmacy peroxide, and a spray product in sequence.

“Pink can Vanish carpet foam...Worked for me on vomit on the car seats.”

How to get rid of vomit smell on carpet?! — Mumsnet, 2024-03-04 · accessed 2026-08-18 · anecdotal · relates to: vomit