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

Mark Twain is commonly credited with the quote 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 moisture from our bodies all result in discolored splotches in our beds. 

 

The most common bed stains include blood, sweat, food, and urine. But the list goes on. Today we use bedrooms for much more than sleeping: working, relaxing, eating, and spending time with the family may all take place from the comfort of our bedrooms. And this ups the ante for spills and stains of all kinds. Prevention via mattress protectors and pillow protectors is key. Because bed stains are inevitable, we’ve compiled a list of the top bed stains and how to treat them with ingredients you likely have at home.

 

ABCs of Treating Bed Stains 

Act Fast

Blot Gently

Check Before Washing and Drying

Don’t Reach for Bleach

 

Act Fast

Treat stains as soon as you notice them for best results. Immediate action gives you a much better chance of fully removing the stain; more time allows the stain to adhere to the fabric more securely.

 

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. Gentle blotting is ideally done with an absorbent cloth and cleaning solution, pressing down firmly to release and soak up moisture.

 

Check Before Washing and Drying

Confirm that stains have been lifted from a recommended pre-treatment 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 on 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 | Urine | Sweat | Red Wine | Chocolate | Spaghetti Sauce | Beauty Products, Oils & Lotions | Makeup | Ink

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. 

 

1. Hydrogen Peroxide Paste

Mix 4 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tsp of salt and 2 tbsp of cornstarch to form a paste.

Gently apply to stain and let sit for 15-60 minutes

Once dry, brush the stained area with an old toothbrush

Continue to wash per instructions

 

2. Baking Soda Paste 

Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part cold water 

Apply to stain. Let sit for 30-60 minutes.

Rinse with cold water.

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:

 

1. Baking Soda

Blot the area with a clean towel to absorb excess moisture (avoid rubbing)

Sprinkle affected area with baking soda and let sit until partially absorbed

Continue to clean as directed

 

2. White Vinegar & Water

Blot the area with a clean towel to absorb excess moisture (avoid rubbing)

Mix a solution of 1-part white vinegar/2 parts cold water in a spray bottle

Spray the stain liberally

Let solution sit for 5-10 hours

Continue to clean as directed

Sweat Stains

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

 

1. Hydrogen Peroxide, Dish Soap, and Salt

Mix ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp liquid dish soap, and 1 tbsp salt 

Rub paste onto stain

For older stains only, scrub with a stiff bristled brush or toothbrush

Let dry completely

Scrape away and dab with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide

Continue to clean as directed

 

2. Vinegar, Dish Soap, and Water

Mix ½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 tsp liquid dish soap, and ½ cup of warm water

Add to spray bottle and spray directly onto stain

Blot with a clean cloth

Let dry completely

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.

 

1. Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap

Blot stain to absorb moisture

Mix 3 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dish soap

Let sit 30 – 60 minutes

Continue to clean and directed

 

2. Baking Soda & Water

Blot stain to absorb moisture

Mix baking soda with a few drops of water 

Cover stain liberally with baking soda paste

Let dry completely

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. There are several home remedies that will help erase traces of this sweet treat from your bedding in just a few steps.

 

1. White Vinegar & Baking Soda Paste

Wet the stain with white vinegar

Blot with a clean cloth or paper towels

Mix baking soda with a few drops of water

Apply baking soda paste onto stain

Let sit for 30-60 minutes

Continue to wash as directed

 

2. Dish Soap + Water

Mix 1 tbsp dish soap with 2 cups of warm water

Gently apply to stain with clean cloth or toothbrush

Avoid rubbing (this can work the stain further into the fibers)

Soak up the solution with a dry cloth or paper towel

Repeat 3-4 times or until stain has disappeared

Continue to wash as directed

 

Pro Tip: For extra dark and gooey stains, soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes before moving onto 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 eliminate red sauce stains from bedding with ease. 

 

1. Dish Soap

Wet the stain with cold water

Rub dish soap into the stain

Let sit for 10 minutes

Apply cold water and blot with a clean cloth

Repeat until stain has lifted

Continue to wash as directed

Beauty Product, 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 made from products you already have around the house.

 

1. Dish Soap and Water

Mix1 tbsp of gentle dish soap with 2 cups of warm water

Use a clean cloth to apply

Blot until the stain disappears

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 gentle 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.

 

1. Witch hazel or isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Gently scrape any excess makeup off with a spoon or butter knife

Soak a cotton ball with witch hazel of isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Gently dab at the stain

Resoak cotton ball and continue working until stain is lifted

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.

 

1. Rubbing Alcohol, Dish Soap, and Water

Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and dish soap

Blot solution into stain with a clean cloth

Let sit 10-15 minutes

If stain is still present, blot with solution again until lifted

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 directly around a mattress and underneath a mattress pad and fitted sheet to safeguard mattresses from liquids, stains, bacteria, and allergens. Any type of mattress topper, feather bed, or fiber bed should have waterproof protection. Pillow and mattress protectors are easy to clean and a simple way to prolong the life of your bed and accessories.