Fabric softener keeps fabrics soft and fresh, but can also leave greasy-looking stains on them. Fortunately, in most of these cases, stains are easy to remove with soap and water, so they almost never last forever. The next time you do your laundry, take a few precautions to prevent these stains from occurring.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Removing light stains
Step 1. Wet the stain on your clothing with warm or hot water
Check the label and use the maximum hot water available for the item you are washing. If this item can only be washed in cold water, then use cold water so as not to ruin the clothes.
Step 2. Take a bar of soap or laundry soap
Choose a white bar free of dyes, fragrances, lotions, or other impurities. You need a simple, good old bar of soap. If you don't have regular soap on hand, try this:
- A few drops of dish soap
- A few drops of shampoo
- A few drops of shower gel
Step 3. Rub the stain with soap
Press the soap firmly against the stain and rub back and forth to get the soap into the fibers of the fabric. If you're using dish soap, shampoo, or shower gel, use your fingers to rub the soap into the stain.
Step 4. Wash your clothes in the washing machine
Choose a wash cycle that is suitable for the garment. Do not add fabric softener this time!
Step 5. Dry your clothes as usual
Once the clothes are dry, there should be nothing left of the stain. If you still see a fabric conditioner stain, repeat the same process.
Method 2 of 3: Removing stubborn stains
Step 1. Wet the stain on your clothing with warm or hot water
Check the label and use the maximum hot water available for the item you are washing. If this item can only be washed in cold water, then use cold water so as not to ruin the clothes.
Step 2. Rub liquid detergent or stain remover into the stain
Concentrated liquid detergent is pretty strong, and the stain should come out right away. Only use this method on particularly large or stubborn fabric conditioner stains.
Step 3. Soak a little
Leave the garment for a few minutes to soak into the pretreatment stain.
Step 4. Wash your clothes in the hottest water possible for the garment
Use hot water whenever possible, but if your garment says “cold water only”, follow this precaution to avoid ruining the garment. Add the same detergent you used to pretreat the stain to the washing machine.
Step 5. Dry your clothes as usual
Once the clothes are dry, there should be nothing left of the stain. If you still see a fabric conditioner stain, repeat the same process.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Conditioner Stains
Step 1. Follow the directions on the back of the fabric softener bottle
Many stains are caused by incorrectly following instructions. For example, if you use too much fabric softener, residues can turn into stains as a result.
Step 2. Consider thinning fabric softener
A concentrated fabric softener is more likely to stain than a thinner version. To dilute the fabric softener, pour a small amount into the compartment of the washing machine, and then add the same amount of water (for example, one cap). Diluted conditioner will not stain your clothes.
Step 3. Don't pour it directly on your clothes
If your washing machine does not have a fabric softener compartment, wait for the washing machine to fill with water before adding fabric softener. If you pour it on dry clothes, the chance of staining increases.
Step 4. Use white vinegar as a natural conditioner
It does the same without leaving stains. Just pour a cup of white vinegar into the softener compartment as you wash. The smell will disappear after the clothes are washed and dry.
Advice
- Dish soap can replace a bar of soap or laundry soap.
- To avoid pouring conditioner directly onto your clothes, pour it into the machine while it fills with water. Let the machine stir the water and conditioner before filling it with clothes to wash.
- Some people put alcohol on a sponge and use it to wipe away fabric softener stains. For some fabrics, this will help solve the problem, but others can be damaged. Always check the labels on your clothing to see if the alcohol will damage your item before trying this method of removing stains.
Warnings
- Do not use fabric softener with items of clothing that are not designed to be washed with it. Check the labels and follow the specified washing instructions to make sure the fabric softener is safe for use with certain garments. In general, fabric softener should not be used on sportswear because it can affect the functionality of such items.
- Do not overfill the machine with clothes while washing. This is a common cause of air conditioner stains.
- Some liquid detergents can also stain clothes. Be careful and choose ones that help fight conditioner stains.
- Overloading the washer and dryer can cause stains on your clothes.
- Do not pour fabric softener directly onto damp clothing. The product can be absorbed into the fabric, causing unwanted stains.