Identifying a Stain

Before you start removing a stain you need to take an educated guess at what your stain might be, it will help in the long run.

Identification takes a little bit of detective work. The colour and texture (feel) of the stain gives you a good idea of what it might be but also consider the position of the stain on the garment, which gives a huge clue. We're therefore giving hints on both types of detective work and you can use these to narrow down the likely origination of your unknown stains.

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Description

What it Might Be

Red Spots

lipstick
ink
ball point pen

berries
felt pen
red wine

rouge
candle wax
crayon

Green Spots

grass
mustard

mould
spinach

ink
liquer

Blue Spots

ink
ball point pen

paint
marking ink

crayon
red wine

Yellow and Brown Spots

fruit
coffee
tea
cola
mustard

leather dye
rust
urine
tobacco
excrement

singeing
perfume
medicines
wine
beer

Grey and Black Spots

graphite
grease
metal scourings
silver nitrate

carbon paper
shoe polish
damp (mildew)
printers ink

dirt
photo-developer
mineral oil
marking ink
iodine

Soft Spots with a Distinct Edge

protein
milk-food
cream
beer
ice cream

blood
cod-liver oil
chocolate
vomit
meat & gravies

sweat
skin cream
liqueur
sperm
deodorant

Hard Spots with a Distinct Edge

oil-paint
lacquers
tar

retexturing
adhesives
nail polish
wax

varnish
sugar
natural & synthetic resins

Where You Might Find Particular Stains On Clothes

where stains may be on a jacket
What stains you may find on trousers