Stain Removal Guide

Ultimate Stain Removal Guide: How to safely treat common bed stains

Mark Twain once famously quipped that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. But if you asked his wife, she might have chimed in with a third certainty: bed stains. They happen to the best of us: our favorite beverage resting on the nightstand, nightly face cream or hair products, and even body moisture all result in discolored splotches on our bedding. 

The most common bed stains include blood, sweat, food, and urine. But the list goes on. Nowadays, our bedrooms serve multiple purposes beyond just sleeping – working, relaxing, eating, and family time all happen within those four walls, which increases the chances of spills and stains. Prevention is the key, primarily through mattress protectors and pillow protectors. But since bed stains are inevitable, we’ve compiled a list of the top bed stains and how to treat them with ingredients you likely already have at home.

ABCs of Treating Bed Stains 

A – Act Fast

B – Blot Gently

C – Check Before Washing and Drying

D – Don’t Reach for Bleach

Act Fast

Treat stains as soon as you spot them for best results. Acting promptly gives you a better chance of completely removing the stain. Waiting allows it to set into the fabric more firmly.

Blot Gently

Do not scrub a stain! While this may be your first instinct, scrubbing forces stains further into fabric fibers and causes them to spread and get stuck. Instead, gently blot the stain with an absorbent cloth and a cleaning solution, pressing firmly to soak up the moisture.

Check Before Washing and Drying

Ensure that stains have been treated and lifted before tossing them into the washer and dryer. If stains persist, try a few more rounds of treatment before washing. Heat can set stains permanently. Once your bedding comes out of the dryer, any remaining stain is likely there for the long haul.

Don’t Reach for Bleach

Avoid using bleach on your bed stains at all costs. Bleach is harsh on fabrics and may cause irreversible damage, especially to natural fiber products such as down and feathers. Instead, try our recommended solutions for every type of bedding stain below.

How to Treat Bed Stains of All Kinds

Blood Stains

Blood is one of the most common bedding stains. Nose bleeds, sensitive gums, open wounds, and Mother Nature make bloodstains practically unavoidable. Below are two proven home remedies that can remove blood from bedding before you toss it in the wash. 

  • Hydrogen Peroxide Paste
  1. Mix 4 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tsp of salt, and 2 tbsp of cornstarch to form a paste.
  2. Gently apply to stain and let sit for 15-60 minutes.
  3. Once dry, brush the stained area with an old toothbrush.
  4. Continue to wash per instructions.
  • Baking Soda Paste 
  1. Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part cold water.
  2. Apply to stain. Let sit for 30-60 minutes.
  3. Rinse with cold water.
  4. Continue to wash bedding as directed.

Urine Stains

Let’s face it – accidents happen. Whether pets or kids are to blame, urine tops the list as a universal bed stain. In addition to unsightly blotches and excess moisture, urine also carries a distinct smell that can be difficult to remove if left for too long. Act fast, and you can preserve your bedding with these pre-treatment methods:

  • Baking Soda
  1. Blot the area with a clean towel to absorb excess moisture (avoid rubbing).
  2. Sprinkle the affected area with baking soda and let sit until partially absorbed.
  3. Continue to clean as directed.
  • White Vinegar & Water
  1. Blot the area with a clean towel to absorb excess moisture (avoid rubbing).
  2. Mix a solution of 1 part white vinegar/2 parts cold water in a spray bottle.
  3. Spray the stain liberally.
  4. Let the solution sit for 5-10 hours.
  5. Continue to clean as directed.

Sweat Stains

Everyone releases sweat and body oils while they sleep. While these may not appear immediately, your bedding may start to show yellow stains over time. Below are two simple pre-treatments to remove sweat stains from bedding.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide, Dish Soap, and Salt
  1. Mix ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp liquid dish soap, and 1 tbsp salt.
  2. Rub the paste onto the stain.
  3. For older stains only, scrub with a stiff-bristled brush or toothbrush.
  4. Let dry completely.
  5. Scrape away and dab with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
  6. Continue to clean as directed.
  • Vinegar, Dish Soap, and Water
  1. Mix ½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tsp liquid dish soap, and ½ cup of warm water.
  2. Add to spray bottle and spray directly onto stain.
  3. Blot with a clean cloth.
  4. Let dry completely.
  5. Continue to clean as directed.

Red Wine 

There’s nothing better than enjoying a glass of wine with a good book or favorite show…until that glass spills and leaves a dark stain on your bed.  But you can remain relaxed knowing that the following pre-treatments can effectively remove these stubborn stains.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap
  1. Blot stain to absorb moisture.
  2. Mix 3 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dish soap.
  3. Let sit for 30 – 60 minutes.
  4. Continue to clean and directed.
  • Baking Soda & Water
  1. Blot stain to absorb moisture.
  2. Mix baking soda with a few drops of water.
  3. Cover the stain liberally with baking soda paste.
  4. Let dry completely.
  5. Continue to clean as directed.

Chocolate

Can we all agree that chocolate is the best? That is until it ends up in stained pillows, comforters, and bedding. Chocolate contains two elements that make it difficult to remove: tannins and oils. The darker the chocolate, the richer the stain. But don’t worry. Several home remedies will help erase traces of this sweet treat from your bedding in just a few steps.

  • White Vinegar & Baking Soda Paste
  1. Wet the stain with white vinegar.
  2. Blot with a clean cloth or paper towels.
  3. Mix baking soda with a few drops of water.
  4. Apply baking soda paste onto the stain.
  5. Let sit for 30-60 minutes.
  6. Continue to wash as directed.
  • Dish Soap + Water
  1. Mix 1 tbsp dish soap with 2 cups of warm water.
  2. Gently apply to the stain with a clean cloth or toothbrush.
  3. Avoid rubbing (this can work the stain further into the fibers).
  4. Soak up the solution with a dry cloth or paper towel.
  5. Repeat 3-4 times or until the stain has disappeared.
  6. Continue to wash as directed.

Pro Tip: For extra dark and gooey stains, soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes before moving on to the solutions above.  

Spaghetti Sauce

A big bowl of marinara? Deep dish pizza? Eating in bed has its perks. But overturned tomato sauce is “non bene.” Similar to chocolate, tomatoes contain tannins and oils that stick to fibers in fabrics. But if you act fast, you can easily eliminate red sauce stains from bedding. 

  • Dish Soap
  1. Wet the stain with cold water.
  2. Rub dish soap into the stain.
  3. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Apply cold water and blot with a clean cloth.
  5. Repeat until the stain has lifted.
  6. Continue to wash as directed.

Beauty Products, Oil, and Lotion Stains

Sunscreen, face moisturizer, body lotion, hair product, massage oil – the list of substances that may end up in our beds is endless. Most body products contain oils and chemicals that can leave a greasy patch behind. But these stains are usually easy to remove with a treatment from products you already have around the house.

  • Dish Soap and Water
  1. Mix1 tbsp of gentle dish soap with 2 cups of warm water.
  2. Use a clean cloth to apply.
  3. Blot until the stain disappears.
  4. Continue to wash as directed.

Makeup Stains

Most makeup should come out in the wash using a gentle soap or detergent. Before tossing it in the washing machine, you can even pretreat foundation and powder stains with a 2:1 mix of mild dish soap and water. But for darker stains and lipstick, you may want to use the following pre-treatment to ensure that any discoloration is lifted rather than set in.

  • Witch hazel or isopropyl rubbing alcohol
  1. Gently scrape any excess makeup off with a spoon or butter knife.
  2. Soak a cotton ball with witch hazel of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
  3. Gently dab at the stain.
  4. Resoak the cotton ball and continue working until the stain is lifted.
  5. Continue to wash as directed.

Ink Stains

Whether journaling, working in bed, or finding a surprise drawing from a child, ink and marker stains find their way into our beds. A simple solution and a little elbow grease should remove these spots and have your bed looking as good as new.

  • Rubbing Alcohol, Dish Soap, and Water
  1. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and dish soap.
  2. Blot solution into stain with a clean cloth.
  3. Let sit 10-15 minutes.
  4. If stain is still present, blot with solution again until lifted.
  5. Continue to wash as directed.

Additional Tips to Prevent Bed Stains

Bed stains are inevitable. But there are additional steps you can take to protect your bedding without giving up your favorite beverage on the nightstand or using your nightly face cream. Invest in quality bedding protectors to preserve your pillows and mattress. Pillow protectors slide over the pillow and under a pillowcase, giving an extra layer of protection from moisture, beauty products, and liquids of all kinds. Mattress protectors wrap around a mattress and mattress pad and underneath a fitted sheet to safeguard mattresses and toppers from liquids, stains, bacteria, and allergens. Pillow and mattress protectors are easy to clean and a simple way to prolong the life of your bed and accessories.