10 Summer Stains & How to Remove Them – Stain Removal Tips for Londoners
London summers are all about BBQs on the balcony, lazy park picnics, weekend sports, and evening garden parties — but they also bring an unwelcome guest: stubborn summer stains 🧴🍷🌿.
From sunscreen smudges on your favourite white shirt to greasy BBQ splashes and bright berry spills, the warmer months put our wardrobes to the test.
📊 According to Good Housekeeping and the American Cleaning Institute, these 10 types of stains are among the most common — and most challenging — in summer.
💡 The good news? Many can be removed at home with the right technique. In this guide, you’ll discover:
✅ Home-friendly fixes that actually work
🛑 When to skip DIY and call in the pros
💸 Special offer: Book professional stain removal in London today and get 15% OFF with code STAINFREE15.
Hot weather doesn’t just create stains — it locks them in. Here’s why:
🛢 Oils – Sunscreen & food grease oxidise and bond with fibres faster in heat.
🎨 Pigments – Grass, berries, wine & tomato cling harder to fabric in sunlight.
🥛 Proteins – Ice cream, milk, and sweat coagulate in warm water, “cooking” into the fibres.
📚 Research from the University of Illinois Textile Lab confirms that heat changes a stain’s chemical structure, making early, correct treatment essential.
Pro Tip: The sooner you treat a summer stain, the higher your chances of a clean save. Wait too long and even professionals may struggle.
Why tricky: 🟡 Ingredients like titanium dioxide and avobenzone react with minerals in water, leaving yellow/orange marks — especially on light fabrics.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Blot excess lotion with paper towel (no rubbing).
2️⃣ Pre-treat with liquid detergent or mild dish soap. Work it in gently with fingers or soft brush.
3️⃣ Wash at the highest safe temp (check care label) using enzyme-based detergent.
💡 Pro Tip: 🚫 Avoid bleach on coloured fabrics — it can worsen the stain.
📍 When to call a pro: If white garments turn orange after washing or stains keep reappearing, professional dry cleaning can neutralise the reaction.
Why tricky: 🍅 + 🛢 = double trouble. Oil penetrates fibres while tomato’s natural dyes & acidity leave visible marks.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Scrape off excess sauce with a blunt knife.
2️⃣ Pre-treat with enzyme detergent to break down oil & proteins.
3️⃣ Rinse in cold water to prevent setting.
4️⃣ Follow with a white vinegar rinse to lift tomato pigments.
5️⃣ Wash warm (if careallows) to fully release grease.
📊 Did you know? According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, grease stains are the UK’s 2nd most reported summer laundry problem, just behind grass stains.
📍 When to call a pro: For silk, linen, or expensive fabrics — DIY can cause watermarks & fading. A pro uses safe, fabric-specific solvents.
Why tricky: Chlorophyll in grass is a natural green dye that binds strongly to fibres, especially in cotton and denim.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Pre-treat with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar to break down the green pigment.
2️⃣ Apply enzyme detergent directly to the stain and gently work it in with a soft brush.
3️⃣ Wash in cold water — heat will set the colour permanently.
💡 Pro Tip: For stubborn grass marks on sportswear, repeat the pre-treatment twice before washing.
📍 When to call a pro: If the stain is on delicate or bright-coloured fabrics, as alcohol/vinegar can cause fading.
Why tricky: Sweat contains salts and proteins, while deodorants often have aluminium compounds that leave chalky white or yellow marks.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Make a paste with 3 parts baking soda + 1 part water and gently apply to stain.
2️⃣ Let it sit for 30 minutes, then soak the garment in white vinegar for 30 minutes more.
3️⃣ Wash as normal in cold or warm water (per care label).
🚫 Tip: Never use bleach on protein-based stains like sweat — it can darken them instead of removing them.
📍 When to call a pro: For silk shirts or delicate dresses with set-in underarm marks.
Why tricky: Dairy products contain proteins, sugars, and fats that can sour and smell if not removed fully.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Rinse in cold water immediately — hot water will cook the proteins into the fabric.
2️⃣ Apply enzyme-based detergent directly to the spot and let it sit for 15 minutes.
3️⃣ Wash according to careand dry in the shade to avoid trapping odours.
💡 Pro Tip: For chocolate ice cream stains, treat as both a dairy and an oil-based stain (use dish soap before detergent).
📍 When to call a pro: If the stain is on wool, silk, or left untreated for more than 24 hours.
Why tricky: Mustard contains turmeric, a strong yellow dye that becomes almost permanent when heated.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Gently scrape off excess sauce — avoid rubbing.
2️⃣ Apply a small amount of glycerin to loosen the stain (available in pharmacies).
3️⃣ Rinse in cold water, then soak in an oxygen bleach solution (safe for colours) for 30–60 minutes.
💡 Pro Tip: Always check for stain removal before drying — heat locks in turmeric stains for good.
📍 When to call a pro: For white shirts or expensive linens where colour preservation is key.
Why tricky: These stains are full of natural tannins and pigments that deeply penetrate fibres.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Blot immediately with a paper towel — never rub, or the stain will spread.
2️⃣ Sprinkle salt or baking soda generously over the damp stain to absorb moisture and pigment.
3️⃣ Soak in a mix of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts cold water for 30 minutes before washing.
💡 Pro Tip: For red wine, club soda works as a quick emergency treatment.
📍 When to call a pro: If the garment is light-coloured silk, wool, or linen.
Why tricky: Mud is a mix of dirt, clay, and organic matter — some of which can dye fabrics.
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Let the mud dry completely — trying to clean it wet will smear it deeper into fibres.
2️⃣ Brush off loose dirt with a soft brush or old toothbrush.
3️⃣ Rinse in cold water, then work in an enzyme detergent.
4️⃣ Repeat wash if needed — some clay particles can be stubborn.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid hot water initially; it can set clay stains permanently.
Why tricky: Both makeup and fake tan are oil-based, which makes them resistant to water alone.
DIY Removal Steps:
💡 Pro Tip: Always test lemon juice on a hidden spot first — it can lighten some fabrics.
📍 When to call a pro: For silk pillowcases, luxury bedding, or dresses with fake tan transfer.
Why tricky: Chocolate is both a protein (milk) and an oil-based stain (cocoa butter).
DIY Removal Steps:
1️⃣ Scrape off excess chocolate carefully with a blunt knife.
2️⃣ Rinse in cold water — never hot, or the milk proteins will set.
3️⃣ Treat with enzyme detergent, then wash per care label.
4️⃣ If an oily shadow remains, re-treat with dish soap before a second wash.
💡 Pro Tip: For white fabrics, an oxygen bleach soak can restore brightness.
Let Hamlet Laundry’s experts handle it. We offer 24 hours pickup & delivery in London — and for 9th & 10th August only, get 15% OFF with code STAINFREE15.
📞 Book now → Hamlet Laundry Stain Removal Service
When DIY works:
When to go pro:
🔗 Learn more & book → Hamlet Laundry Stain Removal London
Q: What is the fastest way to remove sunscreen stains?
A: Blot excess, pre-treat with detergent, and wash warm if safe — avoid bleach on colours.
Q: Can dry cleaners remove set-in summer stains?
A: Yes — pros use fabric-specific solvents and spotting agents beyond home laundry methods.
Q: How do you get mustard out of white clothes?
A: Apply glycerin, rinse cold, soak in oxygen bleach — avoid heat until gone.
Q: Is oxygen bleach safe for coloured fabrics?
A: Usually, yes — but always do a colourfast test first.
✋ Always blot, never rub — rubbing spreads stains.
⏳ Treat ASAP — every hour matters.
🎒 Keep a mini stain removal kit in your bag (wipes, small vinegar spray, baking soda).
Summer fun doesn’t have to mean ruined clothes. Try these tips at home or trust Hamlet Laundry for expert stain removal in London.
📆 Offer valid 9th & 10th August ONLY — Get 15% OFF with code STAINFREE15.
📞 Book your pickup now → Hamlet Laundry
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