Removing Unknown Clothing Stains: 6 Solutions

zWhite t-shirt with five mystery stains.

What's that spot on your child's new white T-shirt? The remains of a chocolate ice cream cone, perhaps? Or the muddy aftermath of a skateboard stunt gone awry?

These six solutions for removing unknown clothing stains can help the next time you're called upon to tackle them on wash day. If you don't know the origins of a stain, all is not lost.

Removing Unknown Clothing Stains With a Cold Water Rinse

If you don't know what the stain is, rinse or soak in cold water before applying a stain-removal treatment.

Get into the habit of checking all your wet clothes for stains before tossing them in the dryer, as this can permanently set a stain. Unfortunately, when a clothing disaster strikes, you're not always near a washing machine or stain stick.

Don't worry: Some remedies work even on set-in spots and stains. So treat the stain as soon as possible.

Pretreating works best on removing unknown clothing stains in small spots and fresh stains. But presoaking is essential for old stains and protein stains.

1. Removing Unknown Clothing Stains With Household Ammonia Mix

Mix one part of ammonia with eight portions of water. Apply directly to the stain and let it sit for eight hours. Then, wash the treated garment separately from the rest of your laundry.

2. Enzyme Laundry Detergent Stain Remover

Enzymes in laundry detergent help remove protein-based stains, such as blood and chocolate, and are often quite effective on unknown stains. Add one teaspoon of laundry detergent that contains enzymes to one cup of water.

Work the solution into the stained area until fully saturated, and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash as usual at the warmest wash water temperature that is safe for the garment. Check the care label tag for this information.

3. Dishwashing Liquid

Mix one teaspoon dishwashing liquid and one cup of water. Apply to the unknown stain. Allow to sit for 30 minutes, machine wash.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide Stain Remover

There is no mixing required here. Use just 3 percent undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Pour it directly on the unknown stain.

Use a toothbrush to work it into the fabric gently. Allow the peroxide to sit on the garment for 5-10 minutes—then machine wash.

5. Fels-Naptha Paste

Fels-Naptha laundry soap shavings mixed with water into a paste creates an effective unknown stain remover.

Shave off slices of Fels Naphtha laundry bar soap. Add one-part soap shavings to 10 parts of water.

Work the mixture into a paste. Apply to the stained area, wait 10 minutes, then launder as usual.

6. Zap Unknown Stains with WD-40

Yes, WD-40 - the stuff you use to get the squeaks out - can often get mystery stains out of clothes, too. Apply it full-strength to the stained area. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before washing.

If that mystery spot is still visible after all your efforts, defer to the expertise of your dry cleaner. Professional chemicals can often dissolve greases and oils that detergents available to consumers can't.