Whether it’s a splash of salad dressing from a rushed lunch, a toddler’s grass stains or a drip of blood you didn’t notice until it dried, stains happen. And while your instinct might be to act fast — scrub, rinse, repeat — not every quick fix is actually helpful. In fact, some of the most common stain-removal habits can spread the stain or even set it, making it harder to treat later.
Below are the most avoidable mistakes, according to Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab pros, plus how to handle stubborn spots in a way that actually works.
1. Waiting too long to treat it.
Life is busy, and sometimes you don’t notice a stain until a few days (and maybe even a couple of washes) later, but timing matters. The longer a stain sits, the deeper it sets — and the harder it becomes to remove. Your best bet is to tackle spots as soon as possible, ideally before they’ve had a chance to dry, even if it means pausing your day for a quick rescue mission.
2. Always using hot water.
Hot water isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. It can set certain stains — especially protein-based ones like blood. On the flip side, grease stains often respond better to hot water. So don’t just default to high heat; check what kind of stain you’re dealing with before turning on the tap.
3. Using the harshest treatment first.
When it comes to stain removal, the most aggressive method isn’t always the most effective. It’s smarter to start with a gentler approach — like pre-soaking or pre-treating — before jumping to bleach or other harsh stain removers. This not only protects your fabric from wear and tear, but also leaves room to try something stronger if the first round doesn’t work.
4. Rubbing instead of blotting.
It’s tempting to scrub at a stain. The harder you work, the better the results, right? Not quite. All of that friction can push the stain deeper into the fabric’s fibers and even wear down the item prematurely. Blotting gently is usually more effective — and far less damaging.
5. Blotting with a colored napkin.
Don’t just grab the closest cloth and go, either. A brightly colored or patterned napkin can bleed dye onto your fabric, leaving you with two stains instead of one. Stick with a plain white cloth or paper towel when possible.
6. Starting from the center of the stain.
It may seem intuitive to target the middle of the stain first, but doing so can cause it to spread. Instead, work from the outside in, using dabbing motions, to help contain the mess.
7. Forgetting to put something absorbent underneath.
When treating a stain, always place a clean cloth or paper towel underneath the fabric. This helps draw the spot out from below and prevents it from seeping into other areas — or even staining the surface beneath your item.
8. Tossing your item in the dryer before the stain is gone.
Heat locks in stains, making them much harder (and sometimes impossible) to remove later. If you dry something before the stain is fully out, you risk sealing it in — for good. Always check the spot after washing. If it’s still there, pretreat and rewash before adding heat to the mix.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
