8 surprisingly easy hacks for removing stains on the go

I am the clumsiest person in the world. I’ve never met a coffee I haven’t spilt and every piece of white clothing is living on borrowed time in my presence. So, it’s safe to say I’ve learned a thing or two about stain removers.

In fact, on my first day here at Good Housekeeping, I spilt a coffee down my brand-new white linen skirt. The next week, I followed this up with an enormous Diet Coke spill down a white summer dress. The irony of also being the household advice writer is not lost on me. But it does mean I've become very skilled at getting stains out on the go, using a mix of urgency, frustration and improvisation.

So, to save my fellow stain machines (and their clothes), I’ve compiled a list of stain-removing hacks for when you’re out and about, avoiding potential disaster.

How to approach a stain

Acting fast is the key to almost all common stains. The faster you act, the more time you have to dislodge stains before they fully take hold. But different stains require different treatments; what will work on an ink spill may not have the same effect on an olive oil splash. So, it makes a big difference if you know what you’re dealing with before you get to cleaning.

Always approach your stain with care and be gentle – at least at first. Try dabbing initially, as rubbing can just spread the mess and cause far bigger problems. Working from the outside in when applying the chosen treatment or when blotting will also minimise the risk of spreading.

Also, ensure that you keep the affected material in mind. More delicate fabrics, such as silk and satin, will need extra care, so try to test the stain solution on an inconspicuous area to make sure you don’t make the problem any worse.

Stain saviours

Sparkling water

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Yes, fizzy water can lift stains from fabrics and other surfaces, thanks to the bubbles and the slight acidity, which is great for breaking down the components of a stain.

The faster you can get the sparkling water on the stain the better, so as soon as the spill occurs, pour or spray sparkling water on the affected area. Depending on how hefty the stain is, you can either let this sit for a bit or start blotting with a clean cloth straightaway. Repeat the process until you’re happy with how the stain has reduced and launder as usual. This hack is particularly good for the dreaded, and all-too-frequent, coffee or red wine stains.

Chalk

Powdery substances such as chalk (make sure it’s the white kind), cornstarch or even baby powder are great for tackling oil or grease stains. And they’re actually much easier to get your hands on when you’re out and about than you think – all those trendy pub chalkboards were written with something, after all.

If the stain is fresh, make sure to blot away the excess with a paper towel or napkin. Rub the chalk directly into the stain, making sure it’s entirely covered. Let it sit for a minimum of 10 minutes but the longer the better. When satisfied, use a brush or clean cloth to wipe away the chalky excess and wash as normal when you can. The natural absorbent properties will hopefully suck up all the grease or oil, making it easier to remove when washed. For particularly tricky stains, you may need to repeat the process.

Stain removers

If you know yourself and yourself happens to be incredibly unlucky, then I’d always recommend stocking your bag with a couple of tried-and-tested life-savers.

My favourite on-the-go stain remover is the Tide To-Go pen for instant stain removal. It has saved me on too many occasions to count – case in point, the morning of writing this article and the coffee on the white dress. I really must stop wearing white, honestly!

But, thanks to my pen, nobody would know about my dribble of shame. Simply press the pen down to release some of the solution and rub it into the stain to remove it. It feels as though you’re colouring away the mark – so easy, I did it at my desk. And once the solution dries, the stain disappears. Note, however, that it does require some slightly furious rubbing, so just make sure you’re not spreading the stain.

Katie Mortram, our household advice editor, recommends Shout Wipe & Go Wipes. A slightly gentler approach that requires less scrubbing, you can use each individual wipe to blot away at stains as they appear. Their slim packet makes them a great one for slotting into bags or pockets of any size, too.

Tide Stain Remover for Clothes

£13 at Amazon

SHOUT Stain Remover Wipes

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£8 at Amazon

WD40

The secret uses of WD40 never fail to amaze me. Not only is it a great way to silence a door jam or remove chewing gum from the bottom of your shoe (yes, really) it also has great stain-busting skills.

Its water-displacing and solvent properties help to break down and lift stains from surfaces, including clothing, carpets and even some hard surfaces. It works well on oily, greasy or particularly sticky stains.

Place the stained area on an old, clean towel or a wad of paper towels, then spray with WD-40. Wait a few minutes then gently dab it away. The stain will start to transfer from the clothing or fabric to the dabbing cloth – like magic.

Hairspray

The alcohol in hairspray works to dissolve the stain, in turn, making it easier to lift from the fabric. It’s a hack most effective for stains such as make-up and ink, so probably won’t be the most impactful on oily or food-based stains. Spray a generous amount directly on to the stain and wait for it to dry completely. Blot with a clean cloth or paper towel and wash when you can as per the care label.

GH TIP: To avoid spreading the stain, make sure to blot or dab from the outside in.

Baking soda

Baking soda is the not-so-secret hero of the cleaning world thanks to its wide variety of uses, and it's a highly effective stain buster. With its mild alkalinity and absorbent properties, it neutralises acidic stains such as wine, coffee or grease, lifting them from fabrics. As an extra bonus, its absorbency also helps to soak up odours.

I tried some baking soda on an olive oil stained tea towel

I can’t make any promises but if you ask very nicely, your waiter might be able to find you a bit of the good stuff from the kitchen when accidents occur in restaurants.

Create a paste of baking soda and water (approx. 4tbsp baking soda to 60ml water, or as long as it resembles a thick paste). For really tough stains, you can also use white vinegar, but this is smelly, so proceed with caution.

Apply the paste to the stain and leave for as long as you can before laundering. Overnight is great but it should get to work pretty quickly.

Hand soap

This is probably the most accessible solution. Though very dark or pronounced stains will probably need further intervention and while it may feel frantic, oftentimes a panicked scrubbing in a public bathroom can do the trick for many stains. The key once again is to act fast. Remember that aforementioned Diet Coke incident? It was hand soap that saved the day. Granted a heck of a lot of it – but still.

Apply a small amount of handwash directly to the stain. Gently rub the fabric against itself to work it into the material, using the fabric friction to gently exfoliate the stain out. Rinse with lukewarm water and repeat until satisfied, or at least slightly less embarrassed.

Lemon juice

Another one that’s easy to get your hands on, whether pulled from your G&T at the bar or off a plate of seafood in a restaurant.

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Squirt the juice directly on to the stain until fully saturated. Allow it to sit for 15-30 minutes (or longer for stubborn stains), then rinse thoroughly with cold water and launder as normal when you get home. For an extra helping hand, after applying the lemon juice, expose the stain to sunlight. The UV rays can enhance the bleaching action of the citric acid in the lemon juice. This works particularly well on white clothes, but always do a test swatch on your clothes in a discreet area to avoid any risk of damage.

If you have a real mission on your hands, try that baking soda trick again but add lemon juice for a truly dynamic duo. Alternatively, salt can work as a decent dupe if you can’t get your hands on any baking soda.