Best Tips for Stain Removal and Laundering:
When you invest in luxury bamboo linens for your best sleeping and bathing experience, BedVoyage want you to enjoy them for years to come! To keep your linens as fresh and clean as possible, we offer many tips for removing everything from makeup to body oils to blood. This Bamboo Bed Sheet Stain Removal Guide is packed with easy DIY tips with items you likely have around your household. Download our free pdf and post it in your laundry room for quick access!
Household Items that Help Remove Stains from Bedding:
These common household items are your go-to’s for effectively removing most stains. Use baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and dishwashing liquid. Also great are laundry stain-removal bars, lemon juice, and table salt. TIP: treat all stains as soon as possible as once they set; they’re harder to remove. And never put the linens in the dryer until the stain has been completely removed. The heat of the dryer will set the stain, and it will become much more difficult to remove!
How to Remove Body Oil stains:
Option 1: pre-soak the linens for 15-30 minutes in the washer with hot water and a liquid detergent or stain remover solution. This helps to loosen any oils or stains before the laundering cycle begins.
Option 2: spot treat the oil stains with Dawn dishwashing detergent (to cut the grease just like you do with your dishes) and water. Wet the stain, then put 5-10 drops of soap onto the soiled area. Gently rub in and around the stain, or scrub the fabric together under running water, to loosen the stains. Then launder, but confirm the stains are removed before drying. If not, repeat the stain removal process and launder again. Never put fabrics in the dryer until the stain has been removed as the heat will ‘set’ the stain and make it much harder to remove.
Option 3: wet the area well, then gently rub a laundry stain bar generously onto the stain. You may rub the fabric together to start the removal process, then launder.
How to Remove Mascara and Make-Up Stains:
It happens, right?! Us ladies try to remove our make-up before bed, but sometimes you’re just too tired or not feeling well and that bed is calling! I find that a fabric-sponge works wonders to remove the stains before laundering. A quick internet search for ‘fabric sponge’ will find you many options. Wet the sponge very well, then apply 10 drops of liquid dish soap to the sponge. Spot and gently scrub the make-up stains to remove them prior to laundering. That extra soap will also concentrate in that area, giving it some extra-cleaning of any facial oils. For facial cleaning, check out our Bamboo Facial Washcloth 6-pack.
How To Remove Blood Stains from Sheets and Towels:
It’s important to get to the stain before its completely dried, as it will come out much easier if still wet. First, wet the area of the stain with cold water. Then the person who bled will rub their own saliva into the spot. This is crucial as the enzymes in the saliva of the person who bled is what specifically helps break down the blood stain. Let the saliva sit for 10-15 minutes, you should literally start seeing the stain dissolving. Then rinse with cold water and launder. Don’t put the item in the dryer until you confirm the stain has been fully removed. If not, repeat the steps again, and launder a 2nd time before drying. The bamboo bed sheet stain removal guide and tips will help you keep your linens looking new.
How to Remove Sweat Stains from Bed Sheets:
Sweat and urine can leave unsightly stains, but lemon juice is just the remedy! Pour a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice on the stain, then sprinkle enough table salt to cover the stained area. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Then gently rub with a cotton cloth until the stain is removed. Rinse the affected area to confirm the stain has been removed, then launder with a liquid detergent.
Option 2: fill a 6 oz. spray bottle with 3 oz water, 2 TB Hydrogen Peroxide and 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap. Shake hard, then spray and soak the spot very well. Do not rub or rinse. Just let it sit, for hours or overnight, until the stains are dissolved. Hydrogen Peroxide does have a bleaching-effect but will not bleach or discolor any colored-linens. Peroxide is color-safe and an added bonus, it also disinfects.
How to Remove Coffee or Red Wine Stains from Linens:
These are some of the toughest stains due to their dark colors, but they can be removed, especially if you get to them quickly. Fill a 6 oz. spray bottle with 3 oz water, 2 TB Hydrogen Peroxide and 2-3 drops of liquid dish soap. Shake hard, then spray and soak the spot very well. Do not rub or rinse. Just let it sit, for hours or overnight, until the stains are dissolved. Hydrogen Peroxide, as noted above, will not discolor your linens.
Option 2: pour club soda over the affected area, generously sprinkle table salt or baking soda over the stain, and let it sit overnight. The salt or baking soda will absorb the stain. Then rinse with cold water, and launder.
Option 3: stretch the affected area over a bowl, secure with a rubber band or string. Apply liquid soap, rub it gently in, and then carefully pour boiling water over the stain to rinse the stain. Then launder. Again, do not dry until you’ve confirmed the stain has been removed. Repeat if necessary.
Option 4: dab as much of the stain as possible with a dry cotton cloth. Cover the affected area with foam shaving cream, leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse. If stain is removed, then launder as normal. If not, repeat the process.
How To Remove Food Stains from Bed Sheets:
You’ll want to get as much of the food off the fabric as possible first. Then, working from the back of the fabric: rinse with cold water to remove any more food residue. Apply 3-10 drops of liquid dish (depending on the size of the stain) or laundry soap to the wet area, and gently rub the liquid into the affected area. Rinse, then sponge with white vinegar to remove any last stain if needed, rinse again. Continue this process until all food stains are removed, then launder. Again, do not put any fabrics into the dryer until the stains are completely removed. Once they are set with the heat, they are much harder to remove.
How to Remove Tanning Lotion Stains from Bedding:
Yep, it happens! You get all lotioned-up for an event or a party, and then forget to shower it off before bed. Thankfully baking soda comes to the rescue to remove those orange stains. But do act quickly as the longer it sets the harder it will be to remove. Make a thick paste of ½ cup baking soda and water. Apply it directly to the stain, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse to confirm the stain is removed, repeat if needed, the launder as usual.
How to Remove Ink Stains from Bedding:
Imagine you’re working in bed and the dog jumps on the bed and your pen goes crazy and writes on your sheets, darn! But rubbing alcohol is an effective option, and likely in your medicine cabinet. Just wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and gently rub the stain until its mostly gone. Then pre-treat with a few drops of liquid detergent, and launder. Again, do not dry until you’ve confirmed the stain has been removed. Repeat if necessary.
How to Get Body Odors out of Your Bed Sheets:
Body odors are due to bacteria that is multiplying on your sheets, sounds awful, right? Thankfully another handy household item is vinegar. It’s also a natural disinfectant and can be added to the laundry as often as needed. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to either the soak or the rinse cycle, and it will quickly get rid of any odors from bacteria. This is wonderful for towels too! It will freshen up any mildew scent you may have accumulated on your towels.
How Often Should I Wash My Sheets?
Great question and it depends on many factors! Do you shower before bed, do you have oily skin, do your pets sleep with you at night? If you’re a hot sleeper and tend to sweat while sleeping, you will likely need to launder your sheets once a week. Likewise, if you’re not taking the time to remove your make-up before bed, you’ll need to get those stains out more frequently. TIP: removing your makeup before going to sleep lets your face breath during the night and will reduce blemishes. And a good quality moisturizer and eye cream will keep your skin looking younger!
Oily skin can cause stains on the sheets where your body touches. To keep your linens fresh and clean, weekly laundering is recommended. This will help keep the oils or odors from building up and getting embedded into the linens. But if you happen to be someone who showers before bed, and don’t have oil skin; you can go up to 2 weeks before laundering.
If your fur-babies get to sleep with you at night, those loveable creatures do bring with them some shedding and possibly some outdoor-dirt onto your bed. You’ll probably need to wash your bed sheets more often, weekly or as often as needed. TIP: buy an extra Flat Sheet and lay it on top of your bed. This will make laundering so much easier. You could almost swap out that flat sheet nightly, and save yourself from stripping the entire bed.
How Can I Naturally Scent My Bed Sheets?
Most store-bought scented fabric options are chemically-based. We have a great natural alternative for you! Simply blot a cotton ball with a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender is a great go-to). Put the cotton ball in a lingerie bag and toss into the dryer with your linens. It will delicately scent the fabrics as they dry, and with no oil stains. If you keep a few bottles of favorite essentials oils by the dryer, you can mix up your scent anytime! I hope you have learned some new tips from our bamboo bed sheet stain removal guide, and will keep your luxury linens fresh for years to come.
Sweet Dreams~
