The Secret To Removing Stains From Cotton Sheets
Got a stubborn spot or streak on your cotton bedding? Here’s everything you need to know about removing stains from cotton.
As much as you try to stay neat, life can get messy.
One moment you’re enjoying some juicy drama on Netflix or catching up on your favourite classic Rom-Coms, and the next, a splotch of shiraz appears on your duvet cover or pillowcase to ruin your evening.
But before you fall into a pit of despair at your once-perfect bedding, now seemingly ruined, take heart! There are plenty of tricks for banishing stains from cotton bedding and making it look good as new.
Read on for more info on the most common stains that affect cotton bedding, along with some useful advice on how to get rid of them.
Different types of common stains
If you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, you’ll likely be spending a lot of time in your bed. That means that, one way or another, your bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets are going to get stained.
Here are some common types of stains that can blemish cotton bedding
- Blood
- Sweat
- Body oils
- Makeup
- Food stains
- Coffee/wine
Thankfully, most of these common types of stains are fairly easy to deal with, as long as you act quickly when you notice them.
And while stain removal should be considered an important part of caring for cotton bedding, it’s a little different to your regular washing and drying routine.
Removing stains from white cotton
White cotton bedding is an excellent choice for a minimalist bedding look and brings a simple sophistication to just about any bedroom.
At the same time, white bed sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers tend to show stains much more starkly than their patterned or coloured counterparts. As a result, it takes a delicate touch to completely remove common stains from white bedding without damaging the cotton fabric.
Here’s how you deal with stains on white cotton bedding:
- Identify the stain: The first step to dealing with a stain effectively is to figure out what it is. Different kinds of stains respond to different products, and you’ll increase your chances of clearing it up entirely if you use the right techniques for the job.
- Address stains as quickly as possible: Although it’s not always possible to drop everything and fix a stain the moment it occurs, the sooner you get to it, the more easily you can fully clear it up. Start by blotting the stained area with a wet cloth. Be careful not to rub the stain, as this can cause it to spread more deeply into the cotton fibres.
- Wash the stained area with cold water: After removing the stained bedding item from the bed, run cold water over the affected area to remove excess material. Using cold water helps to prevent some stains from setting in.
- Apply appropriate stain removal products: Apply a gentle, no-bleach stain remover to the affected area and let it sit for around thirty minutes before washing. Oily stains can be addressed with bicarb soda paste, vinegar or dish soap, while enzyme stain removers work well on blood and body fluids.
- Wash as normal: Once the stain remover has had time to work, wash the bedding as normal. When washing cotton bedding, use cold water, gentle washing detergent and a delicate cycle to avoid damaging the fabric. Always wash the stained item on its own to prevent the stain from transferring to another item.
- Dry bedding outdoors in sunlight: Sunlight isn’t just a great way to dry your bedding quickly. It’s also an all-natural stain remover! Sunlight can help break down residual stains and brighten white bedding in the process.
Removing stains from coloured cotton
Removing stains from coloured bedding might seem a little easier than with white bedding at first blush. However, bold colours don’t mean bold stain-removal techniques.
Treating stains delicately is the best way to clean your colourful bedding items without damaging the tones that brighten up your bedroom.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Blot the stain with a wet cloth: Blot the affected area with a wet cloth as soon as you can. This helps to remove excess liquid or material from the stain and prevents it from spreading. Be careful not to rub the stain, otherwise, it may be more difficult to fully remove it.
- Wash the stained area with cold water: Once blotted, wash the stained area with plenty of cold water to remove any remaining loose material.
- Use colour-safe stain removers: Before you apply any stain-removing product, natural or otherwise, double-check to ensure it is colour-safe. Colour-safe products are specially formulated to attack stains without fading colours or damaging fabric. Look out for oxygen-based stain removers, and always avoid bleach.
- Test stain remover on a small part of the fabric: Before applying stain remover, you can also test it out on a small, inconspicuous spot on the bedding item, leave it for a few minutes and observe. If there’s no change in colour, it’s likely safe to use on the stain.
- Wash as normal: After letting the stain remover sit for about fifteen minutes, wash the bedding as normal. Avoid washing stained bedding with other items.
- Dry bedding out of direct sunlight: While sunlight can help freshen up bedding and lighten stains, it can also fade colours on fabric. Instead, hang up coloured bedding in the shade outdoors or on a drying rack inside.
How to get stains out of bedding or sheets that have already been washed
There’s nothing worse than opening the washing machine to hang up your now-fresh bedding, only to find a persistent stain mockingly staring you in the face. You might even think that if a stain survives the wash, it’s too late for action.
Not so! With some persistence of your own, even stubborn, set-in stains can be taken care of.
- Identify the stain: If general stain removal techniques haven’t worked, something a little more targeted may have a better chance at success. Try to determine what kind of stain you’re dealing with (e.g. blood, sweat, food, wine, etc) to help you find the appropriate treatment.
- Test and apply a targeted stain remover: Once you’ve picked an appropriate stain remover, test it on a discreet area of the bedding to see if it’s safe for the fabric and colour. As a general rule, dish soap, bicarb soda or vinegar work for oily stains, while oxygen-based or enzyme stain removers can help blood and other bodily fluids. Leave for fifteen to thirty minutes.
- Soak the affected area in warm water: Some set-in stains can be loosened by soaking in warm water. Make sure the water is not hot, as this can damage and shrink the fabric.
- Gently scrub the stain and rinse: After soaking, very gently scrub the now-loosened stain with a wet washcloth or soft-bristled brush. Rinse with cold water again to wash away excess material.
- Wash as normal: Wash the bedding as normal and re-examine the area that was stained. If the stain still persists, try this process again with a different stain remover.
Chemical-free stain removal remedies
While there is an endless suite of stain-removal products and fast-acting spot cleaners out there, you may be looking for a chemical-free alternative.
There are plenty of great reasons to go for all-natural stain-removing products. Not only are they gentler on cotton fabric, but they’re also great for keeping your cotton bedding friendly for sensitive skin.
Here are a few chemical-free stain-removal remedies and their best uses:
- Salt and cold water soak: Most effective on fresh blood or wine stains. Blot the stain with a wet cloth before soaking the affected area in salty, cold water. Let it sit for around thirty minutes. Rinse the affected area with cold water and wash as normal.
- Lemon juice: Most effective on white bedding for sweat stains and non-greasy food stains. Blot stain with a wet cloth and apply lemon juice directly to the affected area. If possible, set the stained item in the sun for around an hour before washing as normal. Do not apply lemon juice to dark or brightly-coloured fabric, as this can cause colours to fade.
- Cornstarch: Most effective on fresh oil stains or greasy streaks. Sprinkle directly on the stain and leave for around fifteen minutes. Brush or vacuum away the cornstarch and repeat if the stain persists, before washing the bedding as normal.
- White vinegar: Effective for makeup stains, like lipstick and foundation. Gently apply white vinegar directly to the stain using a soft cloth and let it sit for around fifteen minutes. Rinse with cold water and wash as normal.
Even though natural remedies are usually gentler than chemical cleaners, always test the remedy on a discreet patch of the bedding fabric before use. This way you can avoid damage or discolouration to your bedding.
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