How to Remove Stains From Clothing: Blood, Grease, Grass, Oil and More - CNET

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Stubborn stains can ruin any garment or fabric, but a few common household items can fight them off.

A few common household items will be able to take on any stain you may have.

Is there anything more frustrating than getting bacon grease on your favorite shirt? Or red wine on your favorite date-night pants? When this inevitably happens, you could give up and give in to the stain, crowning a new, ultimately lesser, favorite shit -- or you could go down fighting. We encourage the latter and have some high-success cleaning tips for getting rid of any type of annoying, stubborn stain from blood and grass to wine, oil and more.

No matter the substance, here are steps to remove just about any stain with a few household items you probably already have at home. For more cleaning tips, explore how to clean workout clothes and how to clean your running shoes.

A splatter of cooking oil on your favorite outfit is no problem. Grab some corn starch. The powder will absorb the grease.

Oil and grease stains are tricky to remove, but not impossible. Dab some laundry detergent on the stain and wash the garment according to the tag instructions, or try a dish soap and white vinegar combo for stubborn stains.

The method outlined below is one that cohorts of online advice givers swear by, and only requires dish soap and baking soda. And remember, time is of the essence when it comes to oil and grease, so tackle the stains as soon as you notice them.

Soccer parents are all too familiar with the toughness of grass stains.

Grass stains are almost inevitable on kids' clothing, and can be stubborn to remove. You may be able to machine wash them out or use a stain remover, but if that doesn't do the trick, you can find a go-to solution here:

When it comes to blood stains, it's best to act fast.

Blood is notoriously tough to get out of clothes, and may require several treatments. But it's easiest to remove when it's fresh, so act as fast as you can. Here's one method:

Sweat stains can be tackled with a quarter-cup of white vinegar with one cup of water.

It's unfortunate, but it happens. Even in the hottest climates, though, you don't have to let sweat ruin your clothes with this method:

Every coffee drinker will need these tips at some point.

I drink coffee like it's my job. I love it. But I really don't love the coffee stains that inevitably get on my work blazer or favorite pair of business pants when I'm rushing in the mornings. Here's how to get those coffee stains out:

A glass of cabernet sauvignon is a great pleasure in life... until it ends up on your favorite dress shirt.

After a night out, you might be shocked by the sight of red wine on your favorite blouse or collared shirt. While it may look dramatic, you can easily and effectively remove red wine stains:

If you prefer not to use hydrogen peroxide, you can instead apply white vinegar and dish detergent, and follow the above steps as listed.

With any case, a little effort and some time will go a long way to making your clothes look brand new. Just remember to refrain from putting the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely gone (so the stain doesn't set) and feel free to repeat any of the above processes as needed to get the stains out.

For more laundry tips, explore why it may be time to ditch your favorite laundry project and the most energy-efficient way to do your laundry.