No matter how hard you try to prevent it, you will eventually spill something on your favorite pair of denim jeans that leaves a stain. Whether it’s a splash a coffee during your morning commute, ketchup from a hotdog at lunch, or paint from an arts and crafts project, stains are bound to happen. It’s discouraging to say the least when you notice a discolored patch on your favorite pair of jeans, but the good news is that you can often spot-treat them by following some simple steps.
Blot The Stain
First and foremost, blot the stained area on your jeans using a clean washcloth or paper towel as soon as you notice it. The purpose of this is to remove as much of the liquid/material causing the stain as possible. This isn’t going to completely remove it, but it will lessen the impact, preserving the integrity and color of your jeans. The key thing to remember, however, is that you want to blot, not rub, the stain; otherwise, you could be doing more harm than good.
Cold Water
When spot cleaning stains on denim — or most fabrics for that matter — it’s recommended that you use cold water. Some people assume that hot water is more appropriate and effective at removing stains, but in reality it allows the liquid to settle deeper into the fabric. This is why it’s recommended that you only use cold water when spot treating denim.
Detergent
After blotting the stained area on your jeans, place a small amount of liquid laundry detergent on a cold, damp washcloth and rub the affected area. Depending on the type of stain and how long it’s been on your jeans, it should come out relatively easily. You may need to put a little bit of elbow grease into it, but continue rubbing the stained area on your jeans and will eventually come out. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that’s all it takes to spot treat stains on a pair of denim jeans!
Toothpaste
For more serious stains, you want to try cleaning them with toothpaste — yes, the same toothpaste that you use to brush your teeth with. Toothpaste is both abrasive and contains certain stain-removing compounds (hence, why it’s used for cleaning teeth). When you are finished, go back over it with a damp washcloth to remove any excess toothpaste.
