Top Hacks for Removing Any Stains from Your Bedsheets

You’ve probably had your fair share of stains on your lovely bedsheets from food spills, oils, makeup, and more. While it can be annoying to have stained sheets, don’t worry – with some handy tips and homemade solutions, you can get them looking fresh again in no time. In this detailed blog, I’ll share my best tips on how to easily remove all kinds of stubborn stains from your bedsheets using ingredients you already have at home. Let’s get started!

How to remove Stubborn Stains from your bedsheets?

🍽 Dealing with Tricky Food and Drink Stains

We’ve all been there – you’re enjoying a late-night snack in bed and dropping some chai, curry, or paneer pasanda on your sheets. Food and drink stains can be some of the toughest to remove. Here are my tried and true methods:

Act quickly! As soon as you notice a food or drink stain, get to work on removing it. The quicker you act, the less time it has to set into the fabric. Each minute counts!
Blot the excess. Use a clean, absorbent cloth or paper towel to gently blot up any extra liquid from the stain. Don’t rub vigorously as this can spread the stain further into the fabric.
Use cold water. For fresh stains less than an hour old, rinse the spot under cold running water on the backside. Hot water can set the stain.
Make a DIY baking soda paste. For dried or older stains, mix some baking soda and just enough cold water to make a spreadable paste. Gently rub this paste into the stain using a cloth or old toothbrush and let sit for up to 30 minutes before washing. The baking soda will help lift and absorb the staining compounds.
Try lemon juice or diluted vinegar. For tougher food dye stains or grease, try squeezing fresh lemon juice onto the spot or mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before washing. The acidity helps break down staining compounds.
Use enzyme cleaner for proteins. For stubborn protein-based stains like egg, blood, or curry, use an enzymatic cleaner like Shout or Mixa. These specially formulated cleaners contain enzymes that break down proteins. Spray or rub into the stain and let sit for 1 hour before washing.
Finish with borax for traces. For any traces left after washing, make a paste of borax powder and water. Gently rub it into the stain and let sit for 30 minutes before washing it again. Borax is a magical cleaner!

💄 Zapping Makeup and Cosmetic Stains

Makeup and beauty products like foundation, lipstick, kajal, and lotions can also do a number on your bedsheets if spilt or transferred. These stains need a special approach:

Use a dull knife. Very carefully scrape off any thick, excess makeup or cosmetics with a dull knife, spoon, or fingernail. Try not to spread the stain by rubbing.
Apply stain remover. Use a laundry stain remover stick, spray, or homemade paste directly on the makeup stain. Gently rub it in, wait 15-20 minutes, then launder.
Try hairspray. My trick for heavy eye makeup or lipstick stains is spraying them generously with hairspray! Let the hairspray sit for 5 minutes before washing – the alcohol helps dissolve the oils and pigments.
Use talcum powder. For oily or greasy makeup stains, sprinkle talcum or baby powder onto the spot to absorb the grease, let sit for 10 mins, then brush off gently before washing.
Make a borax paste. If traces remain, rub a paste of borax powder and water onto the stain and let sit before washing again. It’s amazing to remove those last signs of makeup!

🧴 Tackling Lotion, Oil, and Ointment Stains

Oily lotions, moisturizers, and medicated ointments can leave the worst greasy, yellow stains behind. Don’t fret – these solutions do the trick:

Scrape off excess. Use an old spoon, knife, or credit card to scrape off any thick, excess ointment or lotion on the surface before washing. This removes the worst of it.
Sprinkle baking soda. Generously sprinkle baking soda directly onto the oily stain. Let sit for up to an hour before washing. Baking soda will absorb the greasy oils.
Use dish soap. For light-stained areas, rub a few drops of dish soap like Ariel into the spot. Let sit briefly, then rinse with warm water before washing as usual. Detergent cuts through grease.
Try hydrogen peroxide. For tough oil stains, mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda into a thin paste. Apply it to the stain, let bubble for 10 minutes, then rinse – the peroxide reacts with the oils to oxidize and lift them.
Make a bleach paste. For severe yellowing or grease stains, very carefully make a paste using a tiny bit of bleach, washing soda, and water. Rub it gently onto the stain and rinse extremely thoroughly before washing. Bleach can lighten and remove oils.

🧺 Handy General Stain Removal Tips

Here are some of my best general tips for removing all sorts of stubborn stains from your bedsheets and linens:

Always check the fabric care label and avoid using very hot water, as it can set stains. Lukewarm or cold water is best for stain removal.
Pretreat stains by rubbing a stain remover stick, dish soap, or a DIY paste into the stain before washing to maximize stain lifting power.
For tough, dried or unknown stains, try letting sheets soak for 30 minutes to an hour in a bath of warm water mixed with some laundry detergent or stain remover before washing. This helps loosen the stain’s grip.
Launder stained sheets using a gentle cycle, then air dry in direct sunlight. The sun’s UV rays help bleach and remove light stains naturally.
Use OxiClean or washing soda along with detergent to boost stain-fighting power in the wash. These work wonders!
Wash and change sheets frequently to avoid the buildup of oils, sweat, and dirt that leads to yellowing and dinginess over time.

🧺 How to Wash Bedsheets

Along with pretreating stains, it’s important to know how to properly wash your bedsheets to keep them in top condition. Here are my tips:

Check the care label and wash sheets in cold or warm water, avoiding hot water that can set stains.
Use a gentle, low agitation cycle to clean sheets and limit wear and tear.
Add an oxygen-based detergent booster like OxiClean to help remove stains and whiten.
For dingy or yellowed sheets, wash with borax, lemon juice or baking soda to brighten and disinfect.
Shake and rotate sheets in the machine to evenly distribute detergent and cleaning.
Avoid overstuffing the washer – give sheets room to move around.
Always air dry sheets in the sunlight which naturally bleaches and deodorizes.

Properly washing sheets along with pretreatment makes stains disappear more effectively so you can enjoy fresh, clean bedding.

I hope these detailed tips help you deal with any type of stain on your sheets and keep them looking pearly white for longer! Don’t be afraid to try using local ingredients like neem, besan, lemon, and Fuller’s earth to make inexpensive, natural DIY stain cleaners too. With the right techniques, you can outsmart those pesky stains. Feel free to share any of your magical stain-removal secrets with me!