First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the stain with a clean white cloth or paper towel.
- Scrape off any solids gently with a dull knife.
- Start a cold-water soak right away.
Getting stains out of linen starts with knowing how old the mark is, because a fresh spill lifts far more easily than a set-in one. Old tannin marks from coffee, tea or fruit juice often need bleach, but only if the fabric can handle it. Keep heat away from linen at every stage, including the dryer and the iron.
If yellowed white linen still smells stale after washing, another full wash usually helps. An oxygen bleach powder suits yellowed white linen, while an enzyme laundry pretreater goes on first for protein marks. Check the label on linen clothing before you use any bleach.
Before you start
What this material can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloth or paper towelBlots the stain without transferring dye onto the linen. (opens Amazon)
- Dull knifeLifts off solids without spreading the stain.
- Liquid laundry detergentWorks into the stain and is used for the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme laundry presoakBreaks down protein stains such as blood and grass. (opens Amazon)
- Pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solventLifts stains that remain, applied from the wrong side. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric (oxygen) bleachThe gentler bleach choice, for linen that has passed a colorfastness test. (opens Amazon)
- Rust removerOnly if you suspect rust, used before any bleach. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleachA last resort, only for colorfast linen whose label allows it. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot and scrape the stain
Blot up excess liquid with a clean white cloth or paper towel, pressing gently rather than rubbing. Use a dull knife to scrape off any solids, working from the edge toward the center.
Tip. Lift solids off the surface so they aren't pushed deeper into the weave.
Careful. Colored cloths and sponges can bleed dye onto linen.
Step 2 of 7
Check the label and test first
Check the care label first. A dry-clean-only item goes to a dry cleaner promptly, not into a home treatment.
Whatever product you choose, try it on a hidden seam or hem. If the color shifts or the fabric is damaged, stop.
Tip. Let the test spot dry before you judge it, since color can look different when wet.
Step 3 of 730 minutes
Soak in cold water
Submerge the stained area in cold water and leave it for about 30 minutes. Cold water is the safe start for any stain you can't identify.
Tip. Make sure the water covers the stained area completely.
Careful. Hot water can set protein stains such as milk, egg or blood.
Step 4 of 730 minutes
Work in detergent, then wash
Rub a little liquid laundry detergent into the stain with your fingers. Give it about 30 minutes, then rinse.
The care label sets the water temperature for the wash, lukewarm or hot, and you use liquid detergent. Rinse it again and air-dry.
Tip. Work the detergent in gently from the back of the stain so it doesn't spread.
Step 5 of 7
Overnight enzyme presoak
If the stain is still there, soak the item overnight in an enzyme laundry presoak, then wash it again. Enzyme presoaks break down protein stains such as blood and grass.
Tip. Look at the stain in daylight after the wash, since the light shows what's left.
Step 6 of 7
Spot treat, then oxygen bleach
When the stain persists, use the spot technique: work a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent in from the wrong side. Suspect rust?
Start with a rust remover. Then follow with an all-fabric (oxygen) bleach that passed a colorfastness test.
Tip. Test the oxygen bleach on a hidden seam first, since colors can change.
Careful. Don't leave liquid or aerosol pretreatments on longer than recommended.
Step 7 of 7
Chlorine bleach as the last step
Use chlorine bleach only once everything else is rinsed out, and only if the linen is colorfast to chlorine and the label allows it. Mix a dilute solution following the package directions, and rinse the item thoroughly afterward.
Careful. Undiluted bleach can weaken linen so it tears or wears out sooner.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for linen
Choose an all-fabric (oxygen) bleach and a liquid laundry detergent, and skip bar soap entirely. Keep an enzyme laundry presoak on hand for blood and grass stains.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on linen, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A stain that looks lighter after a soak or wash means the treatment is working, so carry on with the next step. Check the spot once the item is damp or air-dried, and only move on if it is still clearly visible.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your linen
Linen with a lingering smell
A smell left after a treated stain means the item may still have some soil in it, so wash it again in liquid laundry detergent before you decide it's clean. Let it air-dry and check it again once it's dry.
A closet smell with no stain behind it falls outside these steps, so airing the linen out and keeping it dry is the right first move. Use the washing steps only if the item is washable.
Yellowed white linen
Whitening starts with the same stain steps, and bleach comes in only once the linen is clean and rinsed. Use the all-fabric (oxygen) bleach first, since it is the gentler choice and has passed a colorfastness test.
Chlorine bleach is the stronger option, and it only applies to linen that is colorfast to chlorine and where the label allows it. Keep the solution diluted and rinse it out fully.
Linen clothing
Clothes follow the same order as sheets and tablecloths, but collars, cuffs and hems get more wear and need a closer look. Test a hidden seam or hem before any whitening product, so you know how the dye will react.
Check the care label closely, because it is the quickest way to rule out chlorine. Once the whitening is done, let the item air-dry and check it before wearing.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Don't expect an old stain to give up in one round, since it's tougher than a fresh one. Brush or scrape off whatever is crusted on, then soak the area in cold water with a detergent or enzyme presoak.
Milk, egg and blood are dried protein stains. Scrape the crust off first, then do that same cold soak and enzyme presoak. Coffee, tea and fruit juice leave tannin stains that may need bleaching, so go with the all-fabric (oxygen) bleach if the linen is colorfast.
Heat from a dryer or an iron may have set the stain already, and then it might never come out fully. Dried paint, for one, often won't budge at home. Expect a partial result, and ask a cleaner for help with those.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on linen?
Plenty of home remedies float around for linen. Most home remedies for linen don't suit this fabric, so they're a poor choice.
Works1Skip5
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't dry or iron a stained item
Heat sets the stain, and it may become impossible to remove. Keep the item off the dryer and away from the iron until the stain is gone.
Don't rub a fresh stain with bar soap
Bar soap sets many stains, so it makes the mark harder to lift. Use liquid laundry detergent instead, worked in gently.
Don't mix stain removers
Ammonia and chlorine bleach make toxic fumes together. Rinse the item thoroughly between each remover you use.
Don't use chlorine bleach on rust
Chlorine makes rust stains more intense or permanent, so it can't be the fix for rust. Reach for a rust remover instead.
Don't try milk on an ink stain
Milk adds a protein stain on top of the ink or sets the existing one, leaving you with two problems. Stick with the cold soak and detergent steps instead.
When to call a professional
Washable linen that is bulky, stained across a large area, or fragile is better left to a cleaner. Tell them the fiber and what the stain is, so they can choose the right method.
Questions
Can I use dish soap on linen stains?
Yes, a mild liquid dish soap works as a spotting solution on linen. The liquid laundry detergent in the main treatment covers the same job, so you only need one of them.
Is oxygen bleach safe on linen?
Yes, if the linen is colorfast. Test it on a hidden seam first, since colors can change, and use it as the gentler bleach choice over chlorine.
Can I use chlorine bleach to whiten linen?
Only as the last step, and only if the linen is colorfast to chlorine and the label allows it. Dilute it as the package directs and never mix it with other removers.
What if I can't tell what the stain is?
Treat it as unknown: blot it, then start with a cold-water soak. Hot water stays off the table until you know what the stain is.
Can an old stain come out of white linen?
Sometimes, and it usually takes repeated treatment. Scrape off any crusted matter, then repeat the cold soak and enzyme presoak, since some stains will not come out at home.
Why does my linen still smell after washing?
If the smell lingers after a treated item has dried, it likely still has some soil, so wash it again in liquid detergent. A musty closet smell without a stain falls outside these steps, so air the linen out and keep it dry.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.