Essential Stain Removal Cheat Sheet – Free Printable Guide

Kids, pets, clumsy spouses…life throws a lot our way, and the full package includes a fair share of stains. But let’s not cry over spilled milk (or ketchup)! My free printable stain removal cheat sheet includes easy methods for all common stains so you can tackle all those spills and splatters like a pro.

I think we can all agree that stains are the worst. And sometimes, they literally seem to appear out of nowhere. This is true for adults and kids! One thing is for certain, though. Stains can totally make or break an outfit, shirts, or pants in a split-second flat.

If you’re used to just “tossing” out the old clothes because you feel like there’s no way that the stain is ever going to come out, you’re in luck. This free printable stain removal guide proves that, with a little bit of work, your favorite piece of clothing will live to see another day!

📝 What’s Included

Let’s keep our clothes looking their best without spending hours on laundry duty. Here’s the lowdown on this free printable guide:

✔️3 jam-packed pages with all the stain-fighting formulas you’ll ever need. We’re talking coffee, wine, chocolate, ketchup, grass, ink, and so much more!

✔️One simple solution per stain. No more guessing games or complicated concoctions. Just quick and easy fixes for those everyday messes.

✔️All the common stains covered. From baby food to chewing gum, we’ve got you covered with effective solutions for tackling those “oops” moments.

✨ Essential Stain Removal Cheat Sheet

This free printable stain removal cheat sheet is my laundry room sidekick. Here are a few ways to put it to good use:

👉Laminate it! Give those pages a good laminating to protect them from wear and tear.

👉Binder it! Keep those three handy sheets organized in a cute little binder. You can even add other laundry-related printables or notes to create your own laundry command center.

👉Hang it! Why not frame these sheets and hang them in your laundry room? It’ll be functional wall art!

👉Save it! Download the cheat sheet to your phone or tablet so you’ll always have it handy, even if you’re on the go.

🧼 Easy Stain Removal Methods

Now let’s talk about the stain removal solutions I included in my cheat sheet. There’s a method for each type of stain and I have the most common ones covered.

🍷 Alcoholic Drink Stains

Uh oh, someone had a little too much fun at the party? No worries!

🧽Mix up a concoction of one tablespoon of white vinegar and 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol. Grab a clean white cloth and sponge that stain with your magic potion. Blot until the liquid is absorbed, and repeat until the stain disappears.

👶 Baby Food Stains

The joys of parenthood! Those adorable little ones sure know how to make a mess. However, those baby food stains don’t stand a chance against this simple solution:

🧽Soak the stained garment for 15 minutes in a mixture of 1 quart of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of ammonia. Rub gently, then soak it again. Finally, soak it in an enzyme-based detergent for at least a few hours before washing as usual.

🩸 Blood, Vomit, Urine, Poop, Egg & Glue Stains

Oh boy, these stains are definitely not for the faint of heart! But don’t worry, I’ve got a solution that will tackle even the messiest mishaps.

🧽Soak the stained item in cold water immediately, then toss it in the washing machine with a mixture of 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup baking soda. If the stain is particularly stubborn, you might need to repeat the process a few times. But trust me, this method works wonders!

🍫 Chocolate Stains

Ah, chocolate. The world-famous sweet treat can also be a laundry nightmare.

🧽If you’ve had a close encounter with your favorite chocolate bar, just rub some liquid dish soap into the stain and rinse with cold water. Repeat as necessary, and that chocolate stain will be a distant memory.

☕ Coffee & Tea Stains

I stopped counting how many times those caffeine jitters made me stain the shirts I love most. So I got really good at removing coffee stains. And they work for tea as well.

🧽Remove any excess coffee or tea, then rinse the stain with cold water. Rub in some liquid detergent and let it sit for 5 minutes, then soak the garment for 15 minutes. Next, spritz the stain with a 50/50 vinegar water mix and rinse again with cold water.

🍭 Food Coloring Stains

You might think kids are the only ones staining their clothes with food coloring. It’s not just for the store-bought treats, you know. Quite a few of my sweatpants became tie-dye masterpieces, if only for a little while.

🧽Just squirt some dish soap on that colorful creation and let it soak in a sink full of vinegar and cold water. Rinse it out and toss it in the wash like usual.

🍊 Fruit Juice Stains

Ugh, fruit juice stains can be a real pain, especially on a white shirt! Here’s how I’m saving mine:

🧽Soak that stained garment for 15 minutes in a mix of 1 quart of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Rinse it out, then grab some rubbing alcohol and give it a good sponge down.

🧽Next, soak it again for 30 minutes in 1 quart of warm water with 1 tablespoon of enzyme-based detergent (you can usually find this at the grocery store).

🧽If that stubborn stain is still hanging on for dear life, you might need to bring in the big guns – chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach, depending on what’s safe for the fabric. Good luck!

🌿 Grass Stains

Grass stains are a classic sign of a summer well spent, right? It’s pretty easy to end up with grass stains on your clothes from mundane activities like enjoying a picnic in the park or a game of frisbee.

🧽Scrub those stains with some good ol’ dish soap or mix up a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Wash the clothes in warm or hot water, and repeat if needed.

⛽ Grease/Oil Stains

Whether it’s pizza grease or salad dressing, those oily stains can really put a damper on your dinner plans.

🧽Start by scrubbing the stain with some dish soap and rinsing with cold water. Then, grab your trusty stain remover and give it a good dose. Finally, toss it in the wash with warm or hot water.

🧽If the stain is extra stubborn, you might need to repeat the process. But hey, at least you’ll have a clean shirt to wear when you go out for pizza again! 😉

✒️ Ink Stains

Did your pen explode in your pocket? Or maybe you accidentally sat on a marker? Don’t fret!

🧽Grab your hairspray (yes, you read that right!) and give that stain a good spray, rubbing it in. Let it dry completely, then treat it with your regular stain remover.

🧽Wash it in cold water and repeat if necessary. Hopefully, this will save you from having to say goodbye to your favorite shirt!

💄 Make-up Stains

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. Whether it’s a lipstick smudge or a smear of foundation, make-up stains can be annoying. Just not that much, because we can remove them.

🧽Pre-treat the stain with your go-to stain remover and wash it as usual in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric.

🧴 Mayonnaise Stains

The oily mayo clings well to fabrics. Yet, it’s totally possible to remove mayo stains.

🧽Use your trusty laundry stain removed to pre-treat the stain, then rub in some heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder as usual.

🧽Repeat the process if the stain doesn’t completely disappear after the first try. Older stains will likely be more difficult to remove.

🟫 Mud Stains

I have no idea how it would be possible to go through life without having to face mud. Well, luckily there’s a way to deal with those pesky mud stains.

🧽The first step is to let the mud dry completely. Then, scrape off as much excess mud as you can. Rub some liquid laundry detergent into the stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

🧽Next, grab a wet toothbrush and a few drops of water, and scrub that detergent into the stain. Launder as usual, but keep that muddy item separate from your other clothes.

🧽To be extra safe, air dry it to ensure the stain is completely gone. You’ve got this!

🧸 Play-Doh Stains

Play-Doh is a childhood staple, but those colorful stains can be a real headache. Trust me, having a little one getting a bit too creative with their Play-Doh happens more often than you think.

🧽Remove any excess Play-Doh, then soak the stained area for 30 minutes in a bowl of cool water with a bit of dish soap.

🧽After that, apply some dish soap directly to the stain and launder as usual. Hopefully, this will save your favorite shirt from becoming a permanent art project!

💦 Sweat Stains

Sweat might be natural, but it doesn’t make yellow sweat stains any less embarrassing. Battling sweat stains was a tough battle for me too. Try this:

🧽Create a paste with baking soda and water, and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for an hour, then wash the garment in warm water if the fabric allows.

🧽Another option is to try a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide solution and let it sit for 30 minutes. Hopefully, one of these methods will banish those sweat stains for good!

🥤 Soft Drinks/Cola Stains

Spilled soda can be a sticky situation, but it’s not the end of the world either.

🧽You can try using plain water to blot the stain or mix up a solution of one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water.

🧽Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with either plain water or the detergent/vinegar solution.

🍅 Tomato Sauce Stains

Spaghetti night is a classic, and so are tomato sauce stains. If you’ve got a tomato sauce or ketchup spillage, act fast!

🧽Treat the stain with white vinegar directly, then wash the garment immediately in cold water. Repeat if necessary. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to enjoy your spaghetti without worrying about those pesky stains!

📌Tip: If you’re in a public/office bathroom with no access to cleaning supplies, just use plain soap and water. Tomato sauce stains don’t come out easily once they sit for too long.

🕯️ Wax & Gum Stains

Wax and gum stains look really gross and that’s their worst annoyance. With this method, you can get rid of them pretty easily.

🧽Grab an ice cube and rub it over that sticky mess. This is when the magic happens: the wax or gum will freeze solid and they can be easily cracked or scraped off.

🖨️ Grab It Now

To download the PDF for this free printable stain removal cheat sheet, enter your name and email in the form below and hit the ‘Grab It Now‘ button. An email message with the download link should reach your inbox in a few moments.

• Save the file to your device and open it with the free Adobe Reader, or another PDF reader app you prefer.
• These printables were designed to print on regular U.S. Letter paper (8.5×11 inches). If you’re using this type of paper leave the Scale option set to “100%” or “Actual Size”.
• For other types of paper like A4 or A5, feel free to resize the printables and visualize the changes in the Preview area before printing.

📌 Stain Removal Tips & Tricks

Now that you know a bit about the importance of acting quickly with stains, let’s dive into some simple stain removal tips and tricks that give you the confidence in how to react when that glass of wine spills or your child uses their shirt to clean the melted chocolate off their fingers. Like that’s ever happened, right?

✅Avoid the dryer until you are 100% sure that the stain is gone. The dryer has a way to really “seal” in that stain with the high heat.

✅Remember that the quicker you act in treating a stain, the better chance you have of actually getting rid of it. Older stains will always be more stubborn.

✅If your first attempt doesn’t completely remove the stain, try again and repeat as necessary.

✅Explore other stain removal methods. Yes, each type of stain has at least one enemy, but usually more than one. This laundry stain removal cheat sheet is a more comprehensive 7-page printable guide you might find useful when battling stubborn stains.

Happy cleaning! ✨