When you run the garment through the machine again, wash it by itself or with only a few other items. If the stain remains after the wash cycle, repeat this process until it disappears. Don’t run the item through the dryer until the stain is totally gone (the heat will set the stain into the fabric and make it harder to remove).

Afterward, rinse the garment and run it through the washer again without any detergent. Repeat this process if the stain remains. Once the stain is gone, dry your garment like normal.

Alternatively, rub the stain with a paste of equal parts water and baking soda and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, run it through the washer like normal. [4] X Research source

Repeat until the stain is 100% gone.

Rinse the garment with clean water. If the stain is still there, soak and rinse the garment again. Too much grease remover can make your clothes go slack, so err on the side of using too little than too much.

Alternatively, soak the garment in plain warm water for 30 minutes and then wash like normal.

The acetic acid in lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent, similar to vinegar.

If you have a front-loading washer, fully or partially dissolve your powder detergent in a bucket of water, then pour it into your machine.

To prevent residue buildup over time, try alternating between powder and liquid detergents if you don’t want to give up powder completely.

Excess detergent forms a thick paste inside your washing machine that’s difficult to rinse away. This leaves stains or a stiff residue on your clothes.

When in doubt, err on the side of using hot water over cold water. Hot water helps most detergents, powders, and dirt dissolve and rinse away more easily.

Try softening your laundry water with water conditioner and scrubbing away hard water deposits in your washer that might leave stains. In addition to stains, undissolved detergent and dirt can lead to quicker wear and tear on your clothes, towels, sheets, and more.

Hard water Too much detergent Incorrect water temperature for the detergent (usually too cool) Too many clothes in the washing machine

Too many clothes also limits the washer’s ability to tumble the clothes and agitate the water, meaning the detergent is less likely to dissolve properly.