How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Chemical Stains → Fabric Softener

If you are armed with the knowledge of how to remove fabric softener stains then you won’t be left frustrated and at a loss as to what your next step is to try and salvage a badly stained garment. Fabric softener is meant to leave our clothing smelling sweet, fresh, and above all clean. However, because a lot of fabric softener products contain high levels of oils it can actually result in an unsightly stain on your favorite sweater or pair of pants.

Don’t let stains from fabric softeners put a damper on your laundry hamper. With just a few tips and tricks, you can soon learn how to remove fabric softener stains without much fuss or muss. A lot of people are now foregoing the use of fabric softeners in their laundry, and have found that a cup of white vinegar can actually do a good job at softening their clothing. The acrid smell of vinegar departs during the rinsing cycle and the result is soft and sweet smelling clothing.

How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Cotton

What You Will Need Before You Start

Liquid laundry detergent
Oxygen bleach powder

If your cotton garments or even your cotton jeans have become the victims of fabric softener stains then there are a few simple tricks you can use to get rid of these sticky and sweet smelling stains. Remember to work on the stain as soon as you are able to; this will increase the odds of completely getting rid of the stain.

Make a paste with liquid laundry detergent and oxygen bleach powder.
Rub the paste onto the garment, working it into the fabric with your fingertips.
Allow the garment to sit out for up to fifteen minutes while the cleaning solution works through the stain.

Rinse with cool water and observe the stain. The stain should have lifted out of the cotton garments. If it is still lingering then you may want to consider filling the kitchen or bathroom sink with cold water and adding a scoop of oxygen bleach powder. Allowing the stained cotton garment to soak for up to forty minutes should help you to get rid of the stain.

How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Silk

What You Will Need Before You Start

Rubbing alcohol
White absorbent towel
Clean sponge

Silk is a very delicate fabric so it is essential that you take great care with the methods you use to remove fabric softener stains. As a general rule you may find that the majority of your silk garments are dry clean only, which could mean that you’ve already damaged them a bit if you’ve run them through the laundry cycle. There are however a few ways you could learn how to remove fabric softener stains from silk.

Place the white towel on a flat surface like your kitchen counters or the top of your dryer and place the silk garment on top of it, laying it out flat.
Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol onto the clean sponge and blot carefully at the fabric softener stain.
The stain should start to lift out of the silk within just a few blots.

Once the stain has been completely removed, you can rinse the garment in cool water and launder as per the care instructions on the tag. If the silk item is in fact dry clean only then be sure to point it out to the cleaning professionals who will be tasked with caring for your silk.

How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Wool

What You Will Need Before You Start

Perfume and lotion free bar soap
White absorbent towel

The majority of wool garments are dry clean only, which means that you are often very limited in the type of stain removal that you can try. If you have accidentally spilled fabric softener on your wool skirt or blazer then there are still a few ways to get the stain out before you take it to your dry cleaning professionals.

Place the white towel on a flat surface and lay the wool garment on top of it.
Moisten the stain with a bit of water and then carefully rub the bar soap over the stain. It is important that the soap is a fragrance free soap that is also free of lotions.
Rinse clear in the sink and then launder as per the care instructions on the tag of the wool garment.

Dishwashing liquid can also be an effective tool in your fabric softener stain removal arsenal so be sure to consider using it if you do not have the right bar soaps on hand.

How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains From Upholstered Furniture

What You Will Need Before You Start

Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
White absorbent towel

A lot of people don’t think about fabric softener stains making their way onto the upholstered furniture, but you may be surprised at how easy it is to accidentally spill the sweet and sticky liquid on your furniture or find it rubbing off of a stain on your jeans. It is a lot harder to treat upholstery sometimes because it is typically a bad idea to use cleaning solutions that could create a lot of suds during the cleaning process. The products that will be incredibly affective at removing the stain from your favorite sofa are actually the same that can remove stains from your silk or wool garments.

Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a clean sponge and blot at the stain on your upholstered furniture.
Press the white towel firmly onto the now damp stain; this will lift the fabric softener oils out of the upholstery.
Repeat the steps until the stain has been completely lifted out of the furniture.
Rinse with water and blot dry with another white absorbent towel.

Be sure to clean the fabric softener dispenser at least once a month. You can also run through a hot wash cycle with nothing but a cup of white vinegar in the machine. This should help to get rid of a lot of the fabric softener residue that could be lingering in your washing machine.