How to Get Rid of Laundry Detergent Stains

Laundry detergent is designed to combat stains from your clothes and make them look good and smell fresh. It also helps in cleaning stains, dirt and grime on the floor and surfaces. Unfortunately, laundry detergent can also create a stain of its own. Instead of cleaning the clothes, there are instances that it may rather leave stains on your favorite shirt. Now what would you do if your detergent is the culprit that causes stains on your clothes? Don’t throw out good brands of clothing due to those pesky, blotchy laundry detergent stains. A few simple household products can help you say goodbye to those frustrating stains caused by your laundry detergent.

Getting Rid of Laundry Detergent Stains Using Vinegar

Due to its level of acidity, vinegar makes an effective household product for cleaning, deodorizing, and killing most mold, bacteria and germs. It also works well on dissolving soap residues, which explains why it can effectively remove stains caused by laundry detergent.

• Wash the affected area with water and then gently rub the spot with a bar of gentle soap.
• Work the soap into the stains with your fingers or a soft bristled brush.
• Rinse the stained article with clean water and then soak it in undiluted white vinegar for 15 minutes.
• Allow the stained garment to soak in vinegar until the stains are gone, but do not allow the article to soak longer than 30 minutes.
• Remove the article from the vinegar, and then rinse out the fabric properly.
• Wash the garment thoroughly to remove the strong scent of the vinegar and any leftover soap.   

 

Tip: Only use white vinegar to wash out stains from the garment as other types of vinegar can cause further stains on certain types of clothes.

 

Getting Rid of Laundry Detergent Stains Using Laundry Dish Detergent

Laundry dish detergent doesn’t just work wonders on your dishes, but it is also a great remedy in removing stains from clothing. It has a different formulation which is particularly helpful in removing stains from clothes. Treat the stain with a laundry dish detergent, preferably one that is formulated to remove grease.

• Wet the stained area and apply a small drop of liquid dish detergent.
• Rub the area using small but vigorous strokes.
• Repeat the procedure if necessary or until you see the stains slowly fading out. Add more detergent.
• Wash the article under cold water.

Tip:  If you see evidence of the stain, make sure you wash it again before drying otherwise the stains will permanently set in. Also, read and follow manufacturer’s directions to avoid causing further damage onto the garment. Always test the dish detergent treatment on a small hidden area of the garment before applying it to a large and exposed area of the article.

Avoid Using the Detergent-Softener Combo!!!

For as much as we try to get rid of stains caused by laundry detergent, we often resort to experimenting different products to remedy the problem. Alas, most people mix laundry detergent and fabric softener in one load. What they don’t know is that the combination of both products can actually cause those frustrating white streaks on clothes. Fabric softener is positively charged while detergent is negatively charged, hence when combined these two products can react with each other. To keep your garment from wearing out, use laundry detergent and softener separately. Doing so will allow the detergent to work on the clothes, while you still get the soft, comfy fabric that you desire for the finishing touch.

 

Tip: When you use softener, make sure to dilute it first with water before applying it onto the clothes to avoid making the splotches a lot worse. You can even completely wash the clothes without using softener when working on cotton or chiffon, for instance.

 

Agitate Water and Detergent Before Adding the Clothes

 

Before adding the clothes in the washer, make sure that the detergent is fully dissolved into the water to prevent damage to your clothes. To do this, close the lid of the washer and let the machine agitate the water for a minute. You may also use your hand to help stir up the water and your detergent. After agitating add the clothes and then leave them to spin. If you missed out doing this crucial step, you will notice white stains caused by white detergent clumps all over your clothes after allowing them to spin in a cycle.

 

Tip: Adding sufficient volume of water helps dissolve the detergent better. Otherwise, the chances of white detergent clumps to build up become higher after a wash cycle.

 

Switch to Liquid Detergent

 

Powdered detergents can usually cause those pesky looking white streaks on your clothes no matter how you agitate it. To attack this dilemma, you can use liquid detergent instead. Liquid detergents are pre-dissolved solutions hence you don’t need to agitate them thoroughly as you would when using powdered detergents. Do not overload the washer with excessive amount of detergent to prevent the formation of excessive foam or froth that causes detergent stains with poor rinsing.

 

Tip: When using detergent, always follow the manufacturer’s directions to avoid inflicting further damage or stains on the items. If it is your detergent (powder or liquid) that causes the stains, rewashing the clothes without any detergent should solve the problem.

 

Getting Rid of Laundry Detergent Stains from Carpet

 

Upholstery and carpets are also prone to laundry detergent stains. To prevent white stains on your carpet, make sure to rinse it out thoroughly with clean water after washing. You will need an old rug, a dish cloth and a clean cloth to remove those unpleasant looking white streaks from your carpet. Sprinkle water all over the stained area. Rub the spot vigorously using the old rug until all the soapy substance froths out. Blot any excess staining agent using a dish cloth by pressing hard on the affected area. Finally, wipe the area with a clean cloth but make sure not to froth the site again. Repeat the process if necessary.

Generally, laundry detergents are designed to help remove dirt and stains from clothing. To its irony, there are instances that these cleansing products can rather cause stains on your items. By following the above mentioned tips you will definitely enjoy stain-free items when doing the laundry.