How to Remove a Stubborn Stain from Colored Clothing?

Have you stained a piece of clothing you care about? Or did it bleed colors in the wash? Are you wondering how to take care of your bohemian clothes?

I will help you.

As a fan of boho fashion, I believe that the clothes I buy are meant to be worn every day, no matter what I’m doing. However, since bohemian outfits are often light and colorful, they can sometimes get stained.

Today, I’m bringing you a guide on how to care for your clothes and how to clean them when faced with a stubborn stain.

If you’ve just stained a piece of clothing, it’s crucial to clean it as soon as possible: first, remove the garment, dampen the stained area, and apply Marseille soap to it. If your clothing is colored, you can wet the fabric with white vinegar, which will help set the colors and prevent any fading. Also, take care of your clothes by using cleaning products designed for delicate fabrics, and avoid harsh spinning cycles, as well as high washing and drying temperatures.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

  • How to remove a stain from a garment without fading its colors,
  • How to clean delicate fabrics,
  • What are the products to avoid, and which ones to prefer,
  • How to care for your bohemian clothing and others to enjoy them for as long as possible!

Did you stain your clothing? Act quickly!

When you realize that you’ve made a stain on a fabric, it’s crucial to try to clean it as quickly as possible. This is indeed what will give you the best chance of removing it.

Some stains, like blood or water-based paint, are actually quite easy to remove when they are fresh.

clothes laundry stain

Additionally, there are tasks that should be avoided to prevent them from penetrating deeply into the fabric, as this could cause irreversible damage. This is particularly true for the stamens of the lily, which leave a powder that should not be rubbed or dampened. Using a piece of tape applied to the lily stain and then pulled off repeatedly will be your best tool for removing the stamen powder.

How to Remove a Stubborn Stain from Clothing While Preserving Its Colors?

You’ve stained a colorful piece of clothing and you’re worried that scrubbing the dirt will cause the fabric to fade? That’s a valid concern! To help you avoid this, I’ve put together a selection of tips for cleaning a garment without damaging its colors or patterns.

Why You Should Be Careful When Detaching a Colored Garment

When you try to clean a garment, there’s a chance you could damage it, especially if you use abrasive products, a hard brush, or if the fabric is delicate. The materials used to make lightweight clothing, such as bohemian styles, can be quite fragile.

cleaning colored clothes

Some Tips for Cleaning a Stain Without Damaging Your Clothing

In the following lines, you’ll find techniques and tips that I apply daily to take care of my delicate clothing, and I even use them for my everyday garments because they’re so easy to implement! 😉

Marseille Soap and White Vinegar: Products That Are Gentle on Your Fabrics

Marseille soap is a highly effective multi-purpose soap that is inexpensive and has stain-removing properties. It is gentle on the skin, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin.

To remove a stain from clothing using Marseille soap, lightly dampen the area around the stain. Then, apply the soap generously. Next, gently rub the fabric against itself, or use a very soft brush. I personally use a soft-bristled toothbrush, which works great. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then place it directly in the washing machine with a detergent for delicate fabrics, without rinsing off the soap.

Marseille soap and white vinegar

If you’re worried about colors bleeding, you can also apply white vinegar:

🔸 Directly on the task, before using Marseille soap, instead of water,

🔸 Then, pour half a cup of pure white vinegar along with the detergent into the designated compartment of your washing machine.

This vinegar, made from water and acetic acid derived from sugar beets, helps set colors. You can also use it in the same amounts mentioned above, when washing black clothes in the washing machine. This will help preserve the intensity of the black color and prevent your clothes from fading to gray over time.

Products to Avoid

When researching different stain removal methods, it’s common to be advised to use a product you already have in your kitchen. However, not all products are suitable for clothing fabrics. In fact, most are effective on thick materials, like upholstery fabrics, and can damage your clothes.

Here’s a short list of products you should avoid if you have any doubts:

  • Baking soda, especially when scrubbed vigorously,
  • Soda crystals, used in the same way,
  • Bleach, which whitens and stains colored fabrics,
  • Coarse salt, which dissolves cotton when left to sit.

laundry cleaning products

I also advise against using too-stiff brushes, as they can damage the fibers of the fabric deeply. This makes them more fragile in the areas that were scrubbed, making them more likely to tear later on.

What to Do for a Specific Stubborn Stain?

No matter what type of stain you’ve encountered on your clothing, if it’s stubborn and refuses to budge, there’s definitely a solution that will work for it. In the following lines, I will share all my tips for removing ingrained stains from your clothes!

Before we get started, here’s a short video that offers a variety of solutions tailored to different types of tasks:

How to Remove a Blood Stain

Blood stains are among the most difficult to clean: however, if you act quickly, it’s possible! As soon as you notice the stain, thoroughly wet the stained garment with cold water. Use Marseille soap and a soft brush to scrub the area. Rinse the garment with cold water several times and keep scrubbing until the stain disappears; this may take several minutes.

👉 If your stained clothing or fabric isn’t delicate, you can try adding some baking soda with the soap if you’re having trouble getting the stain out.

How to Clean Grease and Oil Stains

These stains are among the most common: who hasn’t accidentally stained their shirt while cooking or eating? To get rid of them, use a clear degreasing dish soap (transparent), which you will apply directly to the stain after lightly dampening it. Gently rub it with your fingers in small circular motions.

soiled laundry washing machine cleaning a grease stain

Next, place your garment directly into the washing machine for a regular wash cycle. This method can also work for a garment that has already been washed and where a simple machine cleaning hasn’t successfully removed the stain.

Saving Your Color-Faded Clothes

Have your clothes lost their color, and do you want to try to restore them to their original hues? This can sometimes be an irreversible situation, especially if the fading is severe. However, before you give up, I recommend trying a product found in every grocery store that can work wonders: Scarlet Water.

Put the faded clothes in your washing machine (at 30°C) to help restore their colors. You can also soak them beforehand in this solution. This works especially well for light and white clothing!

removing stains from discolored clothes

3 Tips for Taking Care of Your Bohemian Clothing Every Day

Do you want to enjoy your favorite clothes for a long time and be able to wear them for years to come? I’ve put together a list of tips that apply especially to the clothing we sell at the Boho Via store.

Use the Right Cleaning Products

Just like your skin and hair, your laundry needs to be taken care of with the right products that won’t damage it. There are specially formulated detergents for delicate fabrics available in stores, which work effectively even at 30°C along with special detergents that help preserve colors.

woman doing laundry with delicate fabric

Additionally, if you stain your clothes, you can also invest in a stain remover specifically designed for the type of stain you’re dealing with. These products are gentle on the fabric and won’t damage the colors. You can find them at home improvement stores or in many large retail chains.

Choose a Suitable Washing Program

To wash delicate fabrics, I recommend using a special delicate wash cycle. This setting typically includes:

  • water that is not too hot, at 30°,
  • a cycle that is not too short, so it doesn’t agitate the laundry,
  • a spin speed of less than 600 RPM for knitwear and wool garments.

Opt for Gentle Drying and Iron Only When Necessary

Air drying your clothes on a hanger is a great way to preserve them. If your clothes are dark or colorful, I recommend avoiding direct sunlight while drying, as it may fade their colors. If you have a dryer, opt for short cycles with a small load and moderate heat.

clothes drying laundry care

When it comes to ironing, certain fabrics like polyester, acrylic, and polyamide should not be ironed. For other fabrics, I recommend only ironing when necessary, and avoid applying too much heat to your clothing, as excessive heat can damage its quality over time.

Buy a New Jacket if the Stains Are Stubborn!

We shared some techniques to help you remove certain stains. However, if your work clothing cannot be cleaned, it might be wise to replace it. After all, your image and your position within the company can be affected. For example, you can purchase a modern chef’s jacket from a specialized online store.

Several factors need to be considered, such as the shape, color, and other characteristics, as well as the style and maintenance requirements. Maintenance should be simple, as this allows you to easily eliminate any stains that occur in the kitchen. Otherwise, you will need to buy a new model quite frequently, and the cost will add up. This will also be the case if the company is responsible for providing the uniforms.

In terms of price, a quality chef’s jacket can cost less than $40. Consider the brand, style, and all the factors mentioned in this article to make your purchase easier. Take your time; this helps avoid mistakes that could end up costing you money in the long run.

You now know everything you need to take care of your clothes and remove stubborn stains from your colored garments.

If you love fashion, I invite you to check out our online store dedicated to the Bohemian chic style, where you’ll find dresses, skirts, tunics, and jackets, all delivered right to your doorstep!