First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot, don't rub: press a clean white cloth into the stain.
- Keep it cold until you know what the stain is.
- Keep the sheet out of the dryer until the stain is gone.
- Check the care label before any product touches the sheet.
Sheets pick up everything from sweat to a spilled drink, and most marks lift if you act while they're still fresh. Protein stains respond to cold water with a detergent or enzyme presoak, while tannin stains from coffee, tea or fruit juice may need bleaching. Check the care label before you use hot water, since it decides how warm the wash can be.
Get the mark into cold water fast, since heat is what locks protein stains in. On white sheets, an oxygen bleach powder soak is a good next step, but check the care label first. If the stain survives one wash, let the sheet air-dry and look again before the dryer touches it.
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
9 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloth or paper towelsLifts the stain without leaving dye behind. (opens Amazon)
- Dull knifeScrapes off solids without cutting the fabric.
- Liquid laundry detergentFor the work-in step and the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme laundry presoakBreaks down protein stains such as blood and grass. (opens Amazon)
- Pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solventFor spot treatment from the wrong side. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric (oxygen) bleachThe gentler bleach, for colorfast sheets only. (opens Amazon)
- Rust removerOnly if you suspect rust, and always before any bleach. (opens Amazon)
- Dilute chlorine bleachA last resort for colorfast sheets whose label allows it. (opens Amazon)
- Cellulose sponge (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot and scrape the fresh stain
Press a clean white cloth or paper towel into the stain to lift the liquid, moving to a clean spot as the cloth fills. If there are solids on the surface, scrape them off gently with a dull knife.
Careful. Colored cloths and sponges can bleed dye into the sheet, so use only a clean white cloth or paper towel.
Step 2 of 7
Check the label and test
Look at the care label first. A dry-clean-only sheet should go to a dry cleaner promptly, not get treated at home.
Careful. Test any product on a hidden seam or hem first, and don't use it if the color changes or the fabric is damaged.
Step 3 of 730 minutes
Soak the stain in cold water
Put the stained area in cold water and let the sheet soak about 30 minutes. If you can't tell what the stain is, cold water is the right way to begin, and it stops the stain from setting while you work.
Careful. Keep to cold water on a stain of unknown origin, since 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. Leave it about 30 minutes, then rinse. Wash the sheet with liquid detergent in the warmest water the care label allows, rinse it, and air-dry it.
Tip. Work from the back of the stain so you push it out rather than further into the fabric.
Careful. Never put a stained sheet in the dryer or iron it, since heat sets the stain and can make it impossible to remove.
Step 5 of 7
Overnight enzyme presoak if it remains
If the stain is still there once the sheet is dry, soak it overnight in an enzyme laundry presoak. Wash it again with the detergent, then check the spot before the sheet goes anywhere near heat.
Tip. Enzyme presoaks break down protein stains such as blood and grass, so this step is especially useful for those.
Step 6 of 7
Spot-treat, then try oxygen bleach
Still there? Spot-treat from the wrong side using a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent.
Then wash the sheet with an all-fabric (oxygen) bleach that has passed a colorfastness test. Rinse the spot thoroughly before moving on.
Careful. Suspect rust? Use a rust remover before any bleach. Never put chlorine bleach on rust, because it can make the stain more intense or permanent.
Step 7 of 7
Try chlorine bleach last, if allowed
Only if the sheet is colorfast to chlorine and the label allows it, sponge a dilute solution onto the remaining stain and follow the package directions. Rinse well, then wash as usual.
Tip. Dilute it as the package says, because full strength can weaken the fabric so it tears sooner.
Careful. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or any other remover, since the fumes are toxic; rinse thoroughly between removers.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for sheets, towels & table linens
Choose a liquid laundry detergent for the work-in step and an all-fabric oxygen bleach for stubborn spots. Keep pretreatment sprays and dry-cleaning solvents for spot use from the wrong side.
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 sheets, towels & table linens, 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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on sheets, towels & table linens
Body fluids8
Wax, gum & sticky4
Discoloration & marks8
Oil & grease2
Food & drink13
Mold & outdoor3
Makeup & personal care6
Water, rust & minerals3
Ink, marker & crayon3
Paint, glue & adhesives3
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A stain that lightens after each soak or wash is coming out, so keep going with the same step. If it hasn't changed after a full round, move on to the next step rather than rubbing harder.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
White sheet
White sheets can take the whole method, including the chlorine step, if the label allows it and the sheet is colorfast. A white sheet with colored trim or print may not be colorfast in those areas, so keep chlorine away from them.
White fabric shows every mark, so be patient and repeat the soak and detergent steps before you reach for bleach. Stop as soon as the stain is gone, and rinse well before you dry it.
Body fluid and intimate stains
Body stains are protein stains, so the cold soak and the enzyme presoak do most of the work here. Work the detergent in gently, because rubbing a fresh stain can spread it across more of the fabric.
Sheets that have been slept on often carry more than one kind of mark, so treat each spot on its own. Once a spot is dry, check it in good light before you decide whether it needs another round.
Everyday and unusual marks
When a mark doesn't match anything you recognize, treat it as an unidentified stain and start with the cold soak and detergent. Ring-shaped marks from a dried drink usually respond to the same steps once they've soaked long enough.
If a mark is still there after the full method and you're unsure what caused it, don't keep stacking products on it. Ask a dry cleaner to look at it, and tell them what you think it came from.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Fresh stains are easier. With an old one, plan on treating it more than once. First, brush or scrape off anything crusted on before the sheet goes into the soak.
For dried protein stains, try a cold soak with detergent or an enzyme presoak. Old coffee, tea or fruit juice stains (tannin) can need bleach, but pick one that's safe for the fabric.
If the sheet has been through the dryer already, the stain is even tougher. Treat it again instead of scrubbing harder. Dried paint or antiperspirant build-up may not come out completely, so ask a dry cleaner about those.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sheets, towels & table linens?
You can spot clean a sheet without a full wash, starting with the pretreatment and detergent steps on just the stained area. Most household remedies don't belong in a sheet wash, and the reasons for skipping each are spelled out.
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 rub bar soap into a fresh stain
Bar soap sets many stains, so rubbing it into a fresh spot can make the mark much harder to remove. Stick with liquid detergent for the work-in step.
Don't leave pretreatments on too long
Rinse liquid and aerosol pretreatments off when the package says to. Gels on bright or fluorescent sheets need to come off within a few minutes. Leave them longer and unstable dyes can change or fade.
Don't reach for nail polish remover
Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate, triacetate and modacrylic fibers. If you don't know the fiber content, skip them and ask a dry cleaner.
Don't try milk on ink
Milk adds a protein stain on top of the ink or sets the one that is already there. Use the cold soak and detergent steps for ink instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The stain is still there after washing.
Don't dry it. Repeat the detergent pretreatment or move to an overnight enzyme presoak, then wash again.
Rusty or orange marks appear on a pillowcase.
These are often benzoyl peroxide from acne products, which removes dye permanently. If it is true rust, use a rust remover and keep chlorine bleach away.
The bleach test changed the color.
The sheet is not safe for chlorine bleach. Stick to oxygen bleach only if that also passes a test, or stop at enzyme presoaks.
An old stain has dried and crusted.
Brush off the crusted matter first, then soak in cold water with detergent or an enzyme presoak before washing.
When to call a professional
If a sheet is dry-clean only, get it to a professional cleaner promptly. Say what the fiber is and what the stain is. Even washable sheets can go there when the stain is large, the sheet is bulky or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
Which sheet color hides stains better?
Nothing here shows that one sheet color hides stains better, so treat every color the same way. Check that a colored sheet is colorfast before using any bleach, since colored sheets are the ones that can fade.
Do products, treatments or tanning formulas stain sheets?
Some products can mark sheets, especially colored ones that aren't colorfast, and tanning formulas can leave marks on linens, so keep them off the fabric until the stain is out. Yes, some products and tanning formulas can leave marks, so don't use hydrogen peroxide, aloe or similar treatments as a stain remover. Check the product label for how long it can stay on fabric.
Which remover or bleach should I use on sheets?
Use a pretreatment spray or dry-cleaning solvent for spots, then an all-fabric oxygen bleach if the stain stays. Chlorine bleach comes last and only on colorfast sheets whose label allows it.
Can I spot clean a sheet without washing the whole thing?
Yes, you can spot clean a sheet without washing the whole thing. Work from the wrong side with a pretreatment spray or solvent, blot instead of rubbing, and rinse the spot before you decide whether it needs more.
Can I dry the sheet once the stain is gone?
Yes, once the stain is completely gone, the sheet can be dried as its label allows. Check it in good light first, since any mark left behind will be harder to lift after it dries.
Are body stains harder to remove from sheets?
Usually not, if you treat them while they're fresh. Cold water and an enzyme presoak handle most protein stains, and a stain that has dried may need a second round. If it keeps coming back, a dry cleaner can look at it.
Is a stain on a fitted sheet harder to clean?
The method is the same, but lay the sheet flat so you can reach the stain from the wrong side. Work on one section at a time so the rest of the sheet stays clean.
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.