How to Remove a Stubborn Stain from Coloured Clothing?

Have you stained a garment that you really care about? Or have you caused it to run in the wash? Are you wondering how to care for your bohemian clothing?

I will help you.

As a lover of boho fashion, I believe that the clothes I purchase are meant to be worn every day, regardless of my activities. However, as bohemian garments are often light and colourful, it's not uncommon for them to get stained.

Today, I’m providing you with a guide on how to care for your clothing and how to clean them in the event of a stubborn stain.

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

Would you like to know more? Keep reading to discover:

• How to detach a garment without altering its colours,
• How to clean delicate fabrics,
• Which products to avoid, and which ones to favour,
• How to care for your boho clothing and others to make the most of them for as long as possible!

Spilled something on your clothing? Act quickly!

When you realise that you've stained a fabric, it's essential to try to clean it as quickly as possible. This will indeed give you the best chance of successfully removing the stain.

Some stains, such as blood or water-based paint stains, can actually be quite easy to remove if they are addressed quickly after they occur.

Furthermore, there are stains that must be treated carefully to avoid penetrating deeply into the fabric and causing irreversible damage. This is particularly true for lily pollen, which leaves a powder that should not be rubbed or dampened. A simple piece of adhesive tape applied to the lily stain and then pulled away repeatedly will be your best weapon for removing the pollen.

How to Remove a Stubborn Stain from Clothing While Preserving its Colours?

Have you stained a coloured garment, and are you worried that scrubbing the dirt will cause the fabric to lose its colour? That's a possibility! To prevent this, I've put together a handy selection of tips for cleaning a garment without affecting its colours or patterns.

Why is it important to be cautious when removing a coloured garment?

When you attempt to clean a garment, it is possible to 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 therefore be quite fragile.

Some Tips for Removing a Stain Without Damaging Your Garment

In the following lines, you will find techniques and tips that I apply daily to take care of my delicate clothing, and I even use them for items that aren't delicate, as they are 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 is gentle on the skin, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin.

To remove a stain from a garment using Marseille soap, lightly dampen the area around the stain. Then, apply a generous amount of soap. Next, gently rub the fabric against itself, or use a very soft brush. Personally, I use a soft-bristled toothbrush, which works very well. Leave it to sit for five to ten minutes, then place it directly in the washing machine with a detergent suitable for delicate fabrics, without rinsing off the soap first.

If you're worried about colours running, 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 alongside 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 preserve the rich black colour and prevent your garments from becoming grey over time.

Products to Avoid

When researching various stain removal methods, it is quite common for people to recommend 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 can damage garments.

Here is a short list of products you should probably avoid if you have any doubts:

• Bicarbonate of soda, especially when rubbed vigorously,
• Sodium percarbonate, in the same way,
• Bleach, which discolours and stains coloured clothing,
• Rock salt, which can dissolve cotton if left to soak.

I also advise against using too hard brushes, as they can deeply damage the fibres of the fabrics. This makes them more fragile in the areas where they have been scrubbed, making them more likely to tear in the future.

What to do in the case of a stubborn specific stain?

Whatever the task you have done to your clothes, if it is stubborn and refuses to budge, there is surely a suitable solution for it. In the following lines, I will share all my tips for removing an ingrained stain from your garments!

Before we begin, here is a short video that offers plenty of solutions tailored to different types of tasks:

Removing a Blood Stain

Blood stains are among the most difficult to remove; however, if you act quickly, it is possible! As soon as you notice the stain, thoroughly wet the stained fabric with cold water. Use Marseille soap and a soft brush to clean it. Rinse the fabric with cold water several times and continue until the stain disappears; this can take several minutes.

👉 If your stained garment or fabric is not delicate, you could try adding a bit of baking soda with the soap if you can't get rid of the stain.

Cleaning a Grease or Oil Stain

These stains are among the most common: who hasn't accidentally marked their top while cooking or eating? To tackle them, use a colourless degreasing dish soap (clear), applying it to the stain after lightly dampening it. Rub it with your fingers in small circular motions.

Next, place your garment directly in the washing machine for a standard wash cycle. This method can also work for a garment that has previously been washed, where a simple machine wash has not been able to remove the stain.

Saving Your Discoloured Clothes

Have you accidentally bleached your clothes and want to restore their original colours? This can sometimes be an irreversible situation, particularly if the discolouration is significant. However, before you give up, I recommend trying a product that is available in all supermarkets and can work wonders: Eau écarlate.

Add the faded clothes to your washing machine (at 30°) to help 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 Every Day

Do you want to enjoy your favourite clothes for a long time and be able to wear them for years? I've put together a list of handy tips that apply particularly 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 cared for with suitable products that won’t damage it. There are, in particular, detergents for delicate fabrics available in stores, which work from 30°C, as well as special detergents that help preserve colours.

Furthermore, if you happen to stain your clothes, you may want to invest in a stain remover specifically designed for the type of stain you're dealing with. These products are gentle on fabric fibres and won't damage the colours. You can find them in DIY shops or many large supermarkets.

Choose a suitable washing programme

To wash delicate garments, I recommend using a special delicate wash programme. This type of setting typically corresponds to:

• water at a low temperature of 30°,
• a cycle that isn’t too short and won’t agitate the laundry too much,
• a spin speed of no more than 600 revolutions per minute for knitted fabrics and woollens.

Opt for gentle drying and iron only if necessary

Air-drying on a hanger is quite suitable for preserving your clothes. If they are dark or coloured, I would recommend avoiding direct sunlight for drying, as this could fade their colours. If you have a tumble dryer, opt for short cycles with a small load of clothes and a moderate heat setting.

When it comes to ironing, certain materials such as polyester, acrylic, and polyamide should not be ironed. For others, I recommend only ironing when absolutely necessary, and without applying too much heat to your garment, as excessive heat can deteriorate its quality over time.

Buy a New Jacket if the Stains are Stubborn!

We have shared some techniques to help you remove a few stains. However, if your workwear cannot be cleaned, it would be wise to replace it. After all, your image could be at stake, as well as your position within the company. For instance, you can purchase a modern chef's jacket from a specialised online shop.

Several criteria need to be considered, including shape, colour, as well as characteristics, style, and maintenance. The maintenance should be straightforward, as this makes it easy to remove any stains that occur in the kitchen. Otherwise, you'll have to purchase a new model quite frequently, which can be costly. This will also apply if the company is responsible for supplying the outfits.

In terms of price, a quality chef's jacket can be found for under £40. Consider the brand, the style, and all the criteria mentioned in this article to make your purchasing decision easier. Take your time, as this will help you avoid costly mistakes in the long run.

You now know everything you need to know about caring for your garments and removing stubborn stains from your coloured clothes.

If you love fashion, I invite you to explore our online shop dedicated to the chic bohemian style, where you will find dresses, skirts, as well as tunics and jackets, all delivered directly to your door!

Bohemian Maxi Dress