Article: published on 24 August 2026
Cleaning expert Nancy Birtwhistle
Nancy's stain fixes: What to try at home
- Published
Clothes can pick up all kinds of stains, from whiteboard marker and pen to lipstick, tomato sauce, grass and grease.
Cleaning expert Nancy Birtwhistle joined BBC Morning Live to answer viewers' stain-removal questions using products many people already have at home.
Ruth asks: How do you remove whiteboard marker stains from white tops?
Whiteboard marker can be difficult to shift, but the same method can also help lift pen marks and lipstick stains.
It can also work on stains including lily pollen, glue, tree sap and some paints.
You will need:
An upside-down bowl
An old clean towel
Cotton wool pads
Surgical spirit
Place a bowl upside down and cover it with an old clean towel.
Put the stained fabric on top, with the stain facing down towards the towel.
Dip a cotton wool pad in surgical spirit, then dab the stain. Do not rub.
The stain should begin to transfer from the fabric onto the towel. Move the towel to a clean section every so often, then repeat until the stain has lifted.
If you do not have surgical spirit, vodka can also be used.
If a faint mark remains, soak the item in a bowl with half a teaspoon of green bleach, then pour over boiling water.
After soaking, wash the item as normal.
How do you remove tomato sauce and grass stains?
Tomato and grass stains can be tackled in a similar way.
The same method can also be used on other acidic stains, such as fruit juice and red wine.
Do not put the stained item straight into the washing machine. Detergent can make the stain harder to remove.
You will need:
A bowl of cold water
White vinegar
A knife or spoon
Add white vinegar to a bowl of cold water, using one part vinegar to two parts water.
Scrape away any leftover tomato sauce or residue with a knife or spoon, taking care not to spread the stain.
Put the garment into the water and leave it to soak for several hours, or overnight.
After soaking, hang it outside on the washing line. The stain can fade in the sunshine, but it can still improve outside in dull or rainy weather.
Then wash the item as normal.
If the stained clothing has already been through the wash, spray the mark with vinegar and hang it outside on the line. This can help fade the stain before you wash it again.
Liz asks: How do you remove greasy and oily stains without using a hot wash?
Greasy stains can come from oils, curries, make-up, sun cream and chocolate.
They will not dissolve in water, so they need a different approach.
You will need:
An old towel
Water spray
Eco-friendly washing up liquid
Bicarbonate of soda
A plastic bag
Lay the garment on an old towel.
Spray the stain with water.
Drizzle eco-friendly washing up liquid over the mark, then sprinkle on one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda.
Work the mixture into a paste and massage it into the stain.
Place the garment into a plastic bag to stop the paste drying out, then leave it for 24 hours.
After that, hand wash the item in tepid water if it is delicate, or put it in the washing machine as normal.
What if there is still a mark?
If there is still a faint mark after treatment, rub it with a little eco-friendly washing up liquid and wash again.
For tougher stains, repeat the method before drying the item.
Stain-removal tips to remember
Treat stains as soon as you can.
Dab rather than rub, especially with ink, marker or lipstick.
Use cold water for tomato, grass and acidic stains.
Keep an old towel underneath the fabric so the stain has somewhere to transfer.
Do not tumble dry stained clothing until the mark has gone, as heat can make stains harder to remove.
Check the care label before using any stain treatment, especially on delicate or dry-clean-only items.
Test any method on a hidden area of fabric first if you are unsure.
