Stain Removal Hacks: top tips for clean laundry!
When we first opened our B&B, we had to quickly learn about laundry! Neither of us have a background in hospitality, so we (naively) hadn’t considered that an in-depth knowledge of stain removal would become a part of our job. So here, we will share with you the knowledge we have gained during the past 5 years and hopefully these tips and hacks will make doing the laundry a pleasure rather than a chore.
There are various types of stain, and each needs to be treated in a specific way. We try to avoid harsh chemicals where possible (it’s not always possible) so a lot of our tips use everyday household products. Our Bed & Breakfast is perhaps more likely to have to deal with food stains too, as we serve breakfast hamper-style to our guests’ bedroom door, so they can collect it in peace and quiet and eat in bed, in their PJs! Here’s a rundown of some different stains that we deal with on a regular basis:
Protein-based stains: (eg: blood, chocolate)
These stains come from organic sources like blood, sweat, other bodily fluids, solids or secretions (eg: semen, poo…. yes, we know, it’s a bit icky, but it’s part of our job and we all have a body so this is relevant to everyone!). Also food, especially dairy and egg products – both of which we serve in our breakfasts. They tend to set quickly if not treated promptly.
Treatment: Hydrogen Peroxide 3%. This is a laundry & food-safe bleach, so it’s mild and in laundry-terms is for stain removal rather than bleaching the colour out of fabrics. You can buy it online (we buy it in 5 litre bottles but you can buy it in smaller quantities). Try and buy the ‘stabilised’ variety as this doesn’t have to be kept in a darkened container or in the fridge. To treat protein stains, we first soak the fabric as soon as possible in COLD water. NEVER use hot water to remove protein stains as it sets and fixes the stain into the fabric. Never rub the stain. In some cases, the cold water soak may remove the stain completely. This is easier to see with blood stains.
If it doesn’t remove all of the stain, you can either spray some Hydrogen Peroxide 3% onto the stain (you will see the stain react – it will bubble and fizz as the chemical gets to work on the stain). If the stain is bad, at this point you can carefully use some tissue to blot the bubbled-up stain matter off and apply some more hydrogen peroxide. Don’t rub as this can push the stain further into the fabric making it harder to remove. You can leave the hydrogen peroxide on for up to 30 minutes. Or if it’s a small garment you can dilute hydrogen peroxide with water 1 part HP to 2 parts water and soak it in there for 30 mins. Then simply wash the item in cool water (not hot!) 30 degrees is fine and the stain should come out in the wash. Use a good quality brand Bio laundry liquid or powder.
If after running through a wash the stain is still there, IF YOU ARE USING WHITE FABRIC ONLY (eg: bedsheets, towels) the last resort is toilet bleach (eg: Domestos), although we can’t recommend this as a go-to. The reason we don’t use this unless we absolutely HAVE to is that this type of bleach is not meant to be used on fabrics as it is so strong it can damage them. We would only us it to save us from having to put the sheets in the bin, because being a B&B we can’t put sheets on the bed if there is a spec of blood still on them, even if they have been through the wash 3 times!). If you do need a last resort, dilute regular household bleach with water (50/50) and let it sit on the stain for up to 30 minutes, then wash in hot water 40 or 60 degrees, to get rid of any remaining bleach residue. Your stain should now be history! Beware that the bleach still can discolour white fabrics, so make sure you do give them a proper long wash.
Oil-based stains: (eg: make-up, sun cream)
These stains are caused by grease, oil, or oily substances like sun cream and make-up such as foundation and lipstick. After a lot of trial and error and frustration we have found that the best way to treat these is with simple washing up liquid! Yes, really! The kind you wash your dishes with (eg: Fairy). We keep a spray bottle which contains 50% fairy liquid and 50% water (we use the condensed water from our tumble drier, partly to recycle it – we also use this water in our steam iron and to make our own natural bathroom cleaner).
For small / faint makeup stains we spray the mixture on and leave it to work for 30 minutes. Then give it a rub, gently, maybe spray on some more if it has dried out. Make sure there is some lather when you rub. Then rinse under COLD water and hopefully the stain will be gone. If the stain is large / dark, we wet the fabric then use neat Fairy liquid onto the stain – rub it in and leave to soak for 30 minutes (or longer if necessary) before rinsing under COLD water. If the stain hasn’t been removed, repeat the process. If it has, pop straight in the wash as normal.
For large, yellow suncream stains we recommend first soaking in a solution of fairy liquid (or any dish soap) and COLD water for 24hrs to break down the oily layer enabling you to then remove the stain itself. Then soak in COLD water with an oxy-based stain remover (eg: Vanish Oxy Action) for 24hrs. This should then remove the stain left by the product. Wash on a cool wash.
Tannin-based stains: (eg: coffee, red wine, tomato)
These stains are from plant-based liquids like tea, coffee, and red wine. We have a lot of this kind of stain as people like to drink their cuppa in bed or relax in bed with a glass of red wine and watch TV. These stains can be removed easily with the help of our friend White Vinegar. Do not use brown or malt vinegar. White vinegar is a fantastic addition to your home toolkit. As well as using it for cleaning, we use it in place of fabric conditioner, as it is a sanitiser, and it keeps our towels lovely and fluffy. Just add 100ml in the fabric softener compartment. And the smell dissipates when the laundry dries, so you can’t smell it.
To remove tannin-based stains with vinegar, decant your vinegar into a spray bottle, for ease. Try not to breathe the spray or make sure you wear a mask as the smell can be a little irritating. First wet the stain with water (hot or cold) then spray on some vinegar. You may see the stain immediately soften. For more stubborn stains you can soak the item (or the affected part of the item, in the case of our huge bed sheets) in a bowl containing 50% hot water 50% white vinegar. Leave for 30 minutes then rub in some good quality bio laundry detergent (we use Ariel) and leave for a further 30 minutes before rinsing under hot water. If the stain is removed, wash the item as normal. If not, repeat the process.
Dye-based stains: (eg: ink, hair dye)
These stains are from ink, hair dye or food colouring. Occasionally we have a guest stay who has freshly dyed hair, or who has been using a pen in bed to do their crossword and has accidentally dropped it on to the white sheets. These stains can be removed using Rubbing Alcohol. Some chemists in the UK sell this but nowhere near us does, so we buy it online. Simply spray (or pour) on to the stain and leave for 10 minutes and you should see the stain fade. If not, spray/pour some more and wait another 10 minutes, then wash as normal.
We hope these tips have helped!
We’re No4 Cromer, Bed & Breakfast, in Norfolk, UK
Forget everything you thought you knew about B&Bs. We’re not stuffy. We’re not traditional. No doilies. No awkward silences over breakfast. What we are is relaxed, welcoming, and just a little bit different. We’ve reimagined the B&B experience for how people travel now – flexible, thoughtful, comfortable and all about YOU. There’s no daily housekeeping, so once you’re checked in, the space is truly yours. Come and go as you please. Put your feet up. Breathe out.
We’ve done our best to make things easy, so you can get on with the important stuff, like making memories. We hope you’ll love it here.
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