🚨 Cotton Fabric Stain Emergency Guide

Quick-reference flowchart for immediate stain treatment decisions. Get step-by-step guidance to save your cotton fabrics from permanent damage.

⚡ Emergency Rules – Act Fast!

  • Blot, don’t rub – rubbing pushes stains deeper
  • Work from outside of stain toward center
  • Use cold water first – hot water can set stains
  • Test treatments on hidden areas first
  • Never mix cleaning chemicals

🎯 Ready to Save Your Fabric?

Answer a few quick questions to get personalized stain removal steps

Step 1: What type of stain are you dealing with?

Identifying the stain type is crucial for proper treatment

🍽️ Food/Drink
🩸 Body Fluids
🫒 Grease/Oil
🪨 Dirt/Mud
✒️ Ink/Paint
❓ Unknown/Mixed

Step 2: What specific food or drink caused the stain?

Different foods require different treatment approaches

🍷 Red Wine/Juice
☕ Coffee/Tea
🍫 Chocolate
🍅 Tomato/Sauce
🍓 Fruit/Berries
🍽️ Other Food

Step 2: What type of body fluid stain?

Protein-based stains need special handling

🩸 Blood
💧 Sweat
🤢 Vomit
🧬 Other Protein

Step 2: What caused the grease or oil stain?

Oil-based stains require different treatment than water-based stains

🫒 Cooking Oil
🧈 Butter/Margarine
💄 Makeup
⚙️ Motor Oil
🫒 Other Grease

Step 2: Is the mud/dirt stain dry or wet?

Treatment method depends on the current state of the stain

🪨 Dry/Crusty
💧 Wet/Fresh

Step 2: What type of ink or paint?

Different inks require completely different approaches

✒️ Ballpoint Pen
🖊️ Marker/Sharpie
🎨 Water-based Paint
🖌️ Oil-based Paint

Step 2: How old is the stain?

Age affects treatment success and method choice

⚡ Fresh (under 1 hour)
🕐 Recent (1-24 hours)
⏰ Old (over 24 hours)
Important: For valuable or delicate items, consider professional cleaning. This guide provides general recommendations that may not be suitable for all fabrics or stains. Always test treatments on inconspicuous areas first.
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