How to Get Stains Out of White Pants

By Matt Oden | Comments | Fabric Stains → Clothing

Ever wonder how to get stains out of white pants? Many believe that you just need to add bleach to your laundry and your white pants will be as good as new. There are many more steps needed to remove stains from white pants.

How to Get Stains Out of White Pants: General Stains

What you will need:

Butter knife
Damp rag or sponge
Soft-bristled brush
White paper towel
Non-fading pre-wash stain remover

It seems to be Murphy's law that when you wear white pants you spill something. Before you reach for the bleach try a different stain removal process. Like most stains the quicker you can stain the better.

Try and blot up any excess liquid with a paper towel. Do not rub the stain! If the stain has dried use the back of a butter knife to gently remove the dried on stain.
Place a paper towel on the inside of the stain. This will prevent the stain from spreading to other parts of the white pants.
Blot the stain gently with a a damp towel or sponge. The paper towel should soak up the stain. Transferring the stain to the paper towel should save you from yellowing the white fabric with unnecessary cleaning steps or products.
Next, use a non-fading pre-wash stain remover. These products can be found at most grocery stores. Look for a gentle formula. Spray the stain remover directly on the stain. Work the stain remover in with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.
Immediately following the application of the spray on stain remover, wash the garment in cold water. The cold water will continue to lift the stain.
Air dry the white pants. Do not put the garment in the dryer. You will set the stain with the heat if the stain is still present.
Once the garment is dry inspect the area.
If the stain remains you can pre-treat and re-wash the garment until the stain has been removed.
If the pants are truly white you can add a small amount of bleach to the washer. Do not add too much or you could cause damage to the fabric.

A helpful tip: When it states to use cold water to rinse and wash your white pants make sure you follow this step carefully. Warm water can cause the stain to set further into the fabric.

How to Get Tomato Stains Out of White Pants

What you will need:

White vinegar
Clean sponge
window cleaner (colorless and ammonia based)

Many dread that, what seems to be inevitable, tomato stain on their favorite white pants, but you can feel a little happier knowing there are a few great tips to help remove the stain. The following method of removing tomato stains from your white pants is a little untraditional, but is a great way to save your pants.

Using a sponge or spray bottle apply pure white vinegar directly on the stain.
Allow the vinegar to sit on the fabric for about 10 minutes.
Launder the white pants at the hottest temperature the fabric will allow. Make sure to add 2 cups of white vinegar and your usual laundry detergent to the wash water. It might be a good idea to wash the soiled garment alone. This will save the cleaner laundry from becoming soiled as well.
Remove the pants from the washer. Inspect the stained area. If the stain remains you will need to move on to step 5.
Spray the colorless, ammonia-based window cleaner on the stained area. Allow the window cleaner to sit and penetrate the stain for about 15 minutes.
Rinse the window cleaner from the garment with cold water. Ensure you use cold water.
Wash the white pants as normal. If you need help you can always look on the tag for washing directions.
Inspect the area. If the stain remains repeat the steps above.
If you are dealing with a really stubborn stain add a small amount of bleach to the washing water.

Tips to Removing Stains From Your White Pants

Ever wonder why your white pants look grey or dingy. The answer could lie with the water that is used to wash your whites. The mineral content of your water can cause stains and an overall dingy look in your whites. There are a few helpful tips to making your whites whiter.

Oxyclean is a great product to use when washing your whites. It has a similar cleaning power as hydrogen peroxide, but you can just add it to a load of laundry. It is even safe to use on your colors.
If you don't have oxyclean you can always make your own stain fighting cleaning solution by combining 1 cup of powdered tide, 1 cup of powdered Biz, and 1 cup powdered cascade. Add this mixture to the hot washing water in the washing machine. Place the load of whites in the water and allow them to soak for a few hours. You can leave them overnight if you would prefer. Wash the load of whites and rinse the load of laundry twice with cold water.