How To Remove Fabric Softener Stains: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

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• Home and Garden
• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Cleaning Clothes
• Clothing Stains

How to Remove Fabric Softener Stains Download Article Co-authored by Sergey Paramonov

Last Updated: May 1, 2025 Approved

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• Removing Light Stains
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• Removing Stubborn Stains
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• Preventing Fabric Softener Stains
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• Video
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• Q&A
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• Tips
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• Warnings

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This article was co-authored by Sergey Paramonov. Sergey Paramonov is a Laundry Expert and the Co-Founder of FreshRobe laundry and dry-cleaning delivery service based in San Francisco, California. Sergey has over 10 years of experience in the industry and specializes in laundry, dry cleaning services, and delivery services. His facilities use energy and water-efficient technology to prioritize a sustainable, professional cleaning service for all types of garments. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 438,521 times.

Fabric softener makes clothing soft and fresh, but it can also leave greasy-looking stains in its wake. Fortunately, in most cases the stains are simple to remove with soap and water, so they're almost never permanent. Next time you do your laundry, take a few extra measures to prevent future fabric softener stains from occurring.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Removing Light Stains

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1. 1 Wet the stain on your clothing with warm or hot water. Check the tag and use the hottest water safe for the item of clothing you're treating. If you're supposed to wash the garment using cool water only, use cold water instead so you won't warp your clothing.[1]
2. 2 Grab a plain bar of soap. Choose a white bar that doesn't contain dyes, scents, lotions or other additives. You want plain, old-fashioned bar soap.[2] If you don't have a plain bar of soap on hand, try the following:
   • A few drops of dish soap
   • A few drops of shampoo
   • A few drops of body wash
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3. 3 Rub the stain with the soap. Press the soap firmly onto the stain and rub it back and forth so that the soap gets embedded in the clothing fibers. If you're using dish soap, shampoo or body wash, use your finger to rub the soap into the stain.
4. 4 Wash the garment in your washing machine. Use the type of cycle appropriate for the garment you're using. Don't add fabric softener this time!
5. 5 Dry the garment as normal. Once the drying cycle is finished, the stain should be completely gone. If you still see a fabric softener stain, repeat the process.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Removing Stubborn Stains

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1. 1 Wet the stain on your clothing with warm or hot water. Check the tag and use the hottest water safe for the item of clothing you're treating. If you're supposed to wash the garment using cool water only, use cold water instead so you won't warp your clothing.[3]
2. 2 Rub liquid detergent into the stain. Concentrated liquid detergent is powerful stuff, and it should take the stain right out. Use it only for fabric softener stains that are especially large or stubborn.[4]
3. 3 Let it soak. Leave the garment for a few minutes to let the detergent soak into the stain as a type of pretreatment.
4. 4 Wash the garment in the hottest water that is safe. Use hot water if possible, but if the garment says "cold water only," you'll have to go with that to prevent damage from occurring. Add the same detergent into the washing machine that you used for pretreatment of the stain.
5. 5 Dry the garment as normal. Once the drying cycle is finished, the stain should be completely gone. If you still see a fabric softener stain, repeat the process.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Preventing Fabric Softener Stains

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1. 1 Follow the instructions on the back of your fabric softener. Many stains occur as a result of improperly following instructions. If you use too much fabric softener, for example, the residue could end up leaving stains.[5]
2. 2 Consider diluting your fabric softener. Concentrated fabric softener is more likely to stain than a diluted version. To dilute, pour your fabric softener into the dispenser, then pour in the same amount of water (such as one capful). The diluted softener won't leave a residue on your clothes.
3. 3 Don't pour it directly onto your clothes. If your washing machine doesn't have a dispenser, wait until the machine has filled with water before adding the fabric softener. Pouring it over dry clothes will be more likely to leave a stain.
4. 4 Use white vinegar as a natural fabric softener. It does the same job without leaving stains. Just pour a cup of white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser when you do your laundry. The smell will go away after your wash and dry cycles are finished.[6]
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Community Q&A

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• Question How do I get rid of fabric softener on wet clothing? Community Answer Wet the stain on your clothing with warm or hot water. Check the tag and use the hottest water safe for the item of clothing you're treating. Rub liquid detergent into the stain. Let it soak. Wash the garment in the hottest water that is safe. Dry the garment as normal. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 11
• Question My white clothes are stained from fabric softener. How do I remove the stains? Community Answer Hand wash it again, this time using baking soda to remove the stain. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 19 Helpful 34
• Question Fabric softener dripped on the outside of my washing machine and left a blue drip stain on the outside. How can it be removed? Community Answer Try Lysol. Its really great at removing stains other chemicals cannot. And the smell isn't as harsh as many other chemicals out there. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 18

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Tips

• Liquid dish soaps might be able to be substituted for a pure, bar soap. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• To avoid pouring fabric softener directly onto clothing, pour fabric softener into your machine while it is filling up with water. Let the machine agitate the water and fabric softener before you fill it with clothing for a wash. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Some people apply alcohol to a sponge and rub the sponge onto fabric softener stains. While this might work on some garments, it can be harmful to others. Always be sure to check your garments' tags to see if alcohol will damage your clothing before trying this method of fabric softener stain removal. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Warnings

• Do not overfill your washing machine when washing clothes. Stuffing too many clothes into washing machines is a common reason why fabric softener stains appear. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 7
• Avoid using fabric softener on clothing items that are not designed to be washed with it. Check clothing tags for washing instructions and to verify that fabric softener is safe to use with particular garments. Generally, fabric softener should not be used to wash athletic clothes, as it can compromise the clothing's function. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 7
• Avoid pouring fabric softener directly onto wet clothes. This can result in an absorption of the fabric softener into the clothes, resulting in unwanted stains. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 7
• Using high-heat settings on your washing and drying machines might contribute to the appearance of fabric softener stains on your clothing. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Some liquid detergents might actually set stains. Be sure to pick one that is specially formulated to help combat fabric softener stains. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 12

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References

1. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
2. ↑ https://www.stain-removal-101.com/fabric-softener-stain.html
3. ↑ https://site.extension.uga.edu/textiles/care/stain-removal/remove-stains-from-fabric-softener-bluing/
4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/q-and-a/a19666/fabric-softener-stain-jul05/
5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/laundry-mistakes/
6. ↑ https://www.realskeptic.com/2009/07/26/vinegar-as-a-fabric-softener/

About This Article

Co-authored by: Sergey Paramonov Laundry Expert This article was co-authored by Sergey Paramonov. Sergey Paramonov is a Laundry Expert and the Co-Founder of FreshRobe laundry and dry-cleaning delivery service based in San Francisco, California. Sergey has over 10 years of experience in the industry and specializes in laundry, dry cleaning services, and delivery services. His facilities use energy and water-efficient technology to prioritize a sustainable, professional cleaning service for all types of garments. This article has been viewed 438,521 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 12 Updated: May 1, 2025 Views: 438,521 Categories: Clothing Stains Article SummaryX

To remove fabric softener stains, start by dampening the stain with hot or warm water. Next, rub a bar or white soap or a few drops of dish soap back and forth on the stain so that it become embedded in the fibers. Once the stain is covered with soap, wash the item in your washing machine as usual. If the stain is particularly stubborn and won’t come out with soap and water, try wetting the stain and rubbing some liquid laundry detergent onto it. Then, let the garment soak for a few minutes before washing it in the washing machine. For advice on how to prevent fabric softener from staining your clothes in the future, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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  N. Khan

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  "Great article. Solved my husband's uniform problem after he took care of the laundry. Thank you!" Rated this article:

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Sergey Paramonov Laundry Expert Click a star to vote Co-authors: 12 Updated: May 1, 2025 Views: 438,521

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Jun 21, 2018

"Description and pictures of each step helps tremendously. Thanks!"

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"I will try the methods and see if they work."

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