7 stain removal mistakes you might be making

Stains are an inevitable part of life. And while there is a proper stain removal method for just about every surface, the panic will set in faster than the stain itself if you're not sure how to best treat it.

To help prepare, Wendy Saladyga, stain expert and senior manager of technical performance for Henkel with Persil, shared the stain-removal mistakes she sees most often in her line of work — and how to avoid them.

Letting stains sit

"Letting stains sit for too long can make them more difficult to remove, as the stain soaks into and dries in the fabric," Saladyga said. Immediately blot excess liquid and then, as she recommends, apply a small amount of clear hand or dish soap if you can't wash or clean the stain right away. This is vital if you spill something on yourself when you're out and don't have access to a washing machine right away.

Once you're able to run the garment through a load (or after using a cleaner on furniture or rugs), Saladyga said to check if the stain is gone before the item is dry. If it isn't yet, "repeat stain removal and washing steps prior to drying, as the heat from the dryer will further set in any remaining stain making it harder to remove," she said.

Skipping pretreatment

Pretreating stains, especially tough ones like turmeric, tomato, or chocolate, will help them break down better and make washing or cleaning easier.

While you most likely have a stain remover sitting in your laundry room, Saladyga said it's not necessary to use one.

"Many think you have to purchase a pretreatment solution separate from detergent, but you can use a heavy-duty detergent," she said. "Simply pour a small amount of the detergent on the stain, rub it in, and let sit for 5 minutes or so before washing with the same detergent."

Too much detergent

In general, regularly using more than the recommended amount per load can lead to more maintenance on your washing machine. Lingering soap residue creates a breeding ground for bacteria which means you'll have to clean the washer more often to eliminate mold, mildew and unpleasant odors.

"Using too much laundry detergent isn't good as it may actually result in dingy-looking clothes," Saladyga said. Instead, use pre-measured discs, laundry pods or stick to the cap measurements.

Ignoring care instructions

"It's important to check the instructions on the stained garment's care tag to determine the best approach to stain removal as different materials can tolerate different techniques," Saladyga said.

Most articles of clothing and linens list their materials and care instructions on their tags. But, if you remove them and forget, you could be out of luck.

Reaching for the bleach

It's fairly common knowledge that bleach should never be used on colored fabrics. However, proceed with caution when dealing with stains on stark white items. Depending on their material or care instructions, some aren't safe to bleach. Sstick to an oxygen-based bleach or optical brightening solution.

Using heat or hot water

As Saladyga pointed out, running something through the dryer (or using an iron on it) before a stain is fully removed will cause it to set in. Likewise, using hot water to rinse or wash protein-based stains (like blood and sweat) has the same effect, so always use cold water when tackling stains.