How to Remove a Stubborn Stain from Coloured Clothing?

Have you stained a treasured piece of clothing? Or perhaps you’ve accidentally shrunk it in the wash? Are you wondering how to care for your bohemian-style outfits?

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 up to. However, because bohemian clothes are often light and vibrant, they can sometimes get stained.

Today, I'm bringing you a guide on how to care for your clothes and clean them in case of a stubborn stain.

If you've just stained a piece of clothing, it's important to clean it as soon as possible: first, remove it, dampen the stained area, and apply some Marseille soap. If your garment is coloured, you can wet it with white vinegar, which helps set the colours and prevent discolouration. Also, take care of your clothes by using cleaning products suitable for delicate fabrics, and avoid harsh spinning as well as high washing and drying temperatures.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:

• How to remove stains from clothing without affecting its colours,
• How to clean delicate fabrics,
• Which products to avoid and which ones to favour,
• How to care for your bohemian clothing and others to make the most of them for as long as possible!

Spilt something on your clothes? Act quickly!

When you notice that you've stained a piece of fabric, it's crucial to try to clean it as soon as possible. This is what will give you the best chance of removing the stain successfully.

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

Additionally, there are tasks that you should avoid allowing to penetrate deeply into the fabric, as this could cause irreversible damage. This is particularly true for lily pollen, which leaves a powder that should not be rubbed or wet. A simple piece of adhesive tape applied to the lily stain and then pulled off several times will be your best weapon to get rid of the pollen.

How to remove a stubborn stain from clothing while preserving its colours?

You’ve stained a colourful piece of clothing and you’re worried that rubbing the dirt might fade the fabric? That’s a possibility! To help you avoid that, I’ve put together a handy list of tips for cleaning a garment without affecting its colours or patterns.

Why You Need to Be Careful When Detaching a Coloured Garment

When you're trying to clean a garment, it's possible to accidentally 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-style garments, can often be quite fragile.

Some Tips for Removing Stains Without Damaging Your Clothes

In the following lines, you'll find techniques and tips that I use daily to care for my delicate clothing, and I even apply them to my non-delicate items since 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 affordable and has stain-removing properties. It respects the skin's balance, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin.

To remove a stain from clothing using Marseille soap, lightly dampen the area where the stain is. 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 well. Leave it to sit for five to ten minutes, then put it directly in the washing machine with a detergent for delicate fabrics, without rinsing out the soap.

If you're worried about the colours bleeding, you can also apply some white vinegar:

🔸 Directly onto the stain, before using Marseille soap, instead of water,

🔸 Next, pour half a glass of pure white vinegar along with the laundry into the designated compartment of your washing machine.

This vinegar, made from water and acetic acid derived from beet sugar, helps to set colours. You can also use it in the same quantities as mentioned above, when washing black clothes in the machine. This will help to maintain the black shade and prevent your clothes from turning grey over time.

Products to Avoid

When you're 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, such as upholstery fabrics, and could end up damaging your clothes.

Here’s a handy list of products you might want to steer clear of if you have any doubts:

• Baking soda, especially when scrubbed vigorously,
• Soda percarbonate, in the same way,
• Bleach, which can discolour and stain coloured clothing,
• Table salt, which dissolves cotton when left to soak.

I also recommend avoiding the use of too hard brushes, as they can damage the fibres of the fabric deeply. This makes the fabric more fragile in the areas that have been scrubbed, leading to a higher chance of tearing later on.

What to do for a specific stubborn stain?

No matter what kind of stain you've got on your clothes, if it's stubborn and just won't budge, there's definitely a suitable solution out there for it. In the following lines, I'll share all my tips for removing a stubborn stain from your garments!

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

Removing a Blood Stain

Blood stains are some of the toughest to clean, but if you act quickly, it can be done! As soon as you notice the stain, saturate the stained clothing with cold water. Use Marseille soap and a soft brush to scrub the area. Rinse the fabric several times with cold water and keep going until the stain is gone; this may take several minutes.

👉 If your stained garment or fabric isn't delicate, you might try adding a bit of baking soda with the soap if you're struggling to remove the stain.

Cleaning a Grease or Oil Stain

These stains are among the most common: who hasn’t accidentally marked their top whilst cooking or eating? To tackle them, use a clear degreasing dishwashing liquid, which you’ll apply to the stain after lightly moistening it. Rub it in with your fingers, making small circular motions.

Next, pop your garment straight into the washing machine for a standard wash cycle. This method can also be effective for a garment that has previously been washed and where a simple machine clean hasn't managed to lift the stain.

Rescuing Your Colour-Run Clothes

Have your clothes lost their colour, and are you looking to restore them to their original hues? This can sometimes be an irreversible situation, especially if the fading is quite severe. However, before throwing in the towel, I recommend trying a product you can find in any supermarket that can work wonders: Scarlet Water.

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

3 Tips for Caring for Your Bohemian Clothing Daily

Do you want to enjoy your favourite clothes for a long time and wear them for years to come? I've put together a list of handy tips that particularly apply to the clothing we sell at the Boho Via store.

Use the Right Cleaning Products

Just like your skin and hair, your laundry should be cared for with suitable products that won't damage it. There are specifically formulated delicate fabric detergents available, which work effectively even at 30°C, as well as special detergents designed to preserve colours.

Furthermore, if you stain your clothes, you might want to invest in a stain remover specifically designed for the type of stain you’re dealing with. These products care for the fabric and won’t damage the colours. You can find them at hardware stores or many large supermarkets.

Choose the Right Wash Programme

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

• cool water, at 30°,
• a wash cycle that isn't too short, to avoid damaging the clothes,
• a spin speed of less than 600 rpm for knitwear and woollens.

Opt for gentle drying and only iron when necessary

The air drying on a hanger is quite suitable for preserving your clothes. If they are dark or coloured, I recommend avoiding direct sunlight for drying as it may fade their colours. If you have a dryer, opt for short cycles with a few items and moderate heat.

When it comes to ironing, certain materials like polyester, acrylic, and polyamide should not be ironed. For other fabrics, it's best to only iron when necessary, and avoid overheating your garment, as excessive heat can damage its quality over time.

Buy a New Jacket if the Stains are Stubborn!

We've shared some techniques to help you remove a few stains. However, if your work clothing can't be cleaned, it might be a good idea to replace it. After all, your image and your position within the company could be at stake. For instance, you can buy a modern chef's jacket from a specialised online store.

You'll need to consider several factors, such as the shape, colour, and characteristics, as well as the style and maintenance. The maintenance should be straightforward, which makes it easy to clean any kitchen stains. Otherwise, you'll find yourself needing to buy a new model quite often, and that can get pricey. This will also apply if the company is expected to provide the uniforms.

When it comes to price, a quality chef's jacket can cost less than NZD 40. Consider the brand, the style, and all the criteria discussed in this article; this will make it easier for you to choose your clothing. Take your time to avoid mistakes that could end up costing you more in the long run.

You now know everything you need to care for your clothes and remove stubborn stains from your coloured garments.

If you're a fan of fashion, I invite you to check out our online store dedicated to the Bohème chic style. We offer a variety of dresses, skirts, tunics, and jackets, all of which can be delivered straight to your door!

Long Bohemian Dress