Now Offering: Shoe & Leather Repair and Cleaning in Kansas City

Spilled it? Sat in it? Splashed by it? Here’s how to beat the most common stains like a pro.

We’ve all been there—coffee on your favorite shirt, ketchup on your pants, grass stains on your kid’s jeans. Stains happen, but with the right tools and timing, they don’t have to ruin your clothes.

At Splash Laundry, we know stains—and we’ve seen it all. Whether you’re washing at home or using our professional wash & fold service, here’s your ultimate guide to removing the most common stains from everyday fabrics.

☕ Coffee Stains

What works best:

• Blot with cold water immediately
• Apply a mix of white vinegar and dish soap
• Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and wash in warm water
• Pro tip: Don’t let coffee set. The faster you act, the better the result.

🍷 Red Wine Stains

What works best:

• Blot, don’t rub
• Sprinkle salt on the stain to absorb liquid
• Rinse with cold water and apply a stain remover or a paste of baking soda and water
• Wash with oxygen bleach (NOT chlorine bleach)

Bonus trick: White wine can help neutralize red wine in a pinch. Really!

🍅 Tomato Sauce & Ketchup

What works best:

• Scrape off excess sauce
• Rinse with cold water from the back of the fabric
• Pre-treat with liquid laundry detergent or dish soap
• Wash with warm water
• Avoid heat drying until the stain is completely gone—heat can set it permanently.

🧼 Oil & Grease Stains

What works best:

• Blot with paper towel
• Cover with baking soda or cornstarch to absorb oil (let sit for 10–15 minutes)
• Scrub gently with dish soap
• Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric

Note: You may need to repeat this process—grease is stubborn!

🥤 Soda & Sugary Drinks

What works best:

• Rinse with cold water
• Soak in warm water with a bit of enzyme-based detergent
• Wash normally with an extra rinse cycle
• Avoid hot water—it can caramelize the sugars and set the stain.

🌿 Grass Stains

What works best:

• Pre-treat with a paste of baking soda and water or use an enzyme-based stain remover
• Scrub gently with a toothbrush
• Wash in warm water with a bit of vinegar in the rinse
• Grass is protein-based, so enzyme cleaners work best.

✏️ Ink Stains

What works best:

• Dab with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
• Blot (don’t rub) with a clean cloth
• Rinse and wash in cold water
• Avoid: Heat and bleach—both can make ink stains worse.

💄 Makeup Stains

What works best:

• Lipstick: Dab with dish soap or makeup remover before washing
• Foundation: Pre-treat with shaving cream or liquid detergent
• Mascara: Use a mix of vinegar and water, then scrub gently before washing

👶 Baby Formula & Bodily Fluids

What works best:

• Rinse immediately in cold water
• Soak in oxygen bleach solution
• Wash in hot water (if fabric allows)
• Pro tip: For cloth diapers or baby clothes, choose hypoallergenic detergent.

💥 Bonus Tips for Stain Removal Success:

1. Treat stains ASAP – Fresh stains are easier to remove
2. Blot, don’t rub – Rubbing spreads the stain and damages fibers
3. Test before treating – Especially with delicate or dyed fabrics
4. Don’t dry until you’re sure it’s gone – Heat will set most stains permanently

🧼 Want the Stain Gone—Without the Stress?

Let Splash Laundry take care of it for you. Our professional wash & fold service includes pre-treatment for common stains, and we handle your laundry with care and precision—so you don’t have to Google stain removal at 10pm.

📍 Visit our newly renovated Northland laundromat or schedule a pickup today.

‍