How to Remove Stains from Jeans Without Damaging the Fabric

You have stains on your jeans and want to remove them. Maybe you spilled food on your favorite jeans, you got grease on them, or you found an old stain. Jeans are made of denim, a sturdy cotton twill that can handle most stain removal methods. Here’s how to remove stains from jeans without damaging the fabric.

Stains on jeans are caused by food, grease, dirt, ink, or other substances bonding with the denim fibers. Denim is a sturdy fabric that can handle scrubbing and most stain removal products. The key to removing stains from jeans is identifying the stain type, using the right product, and washing inside out in cold water to prevent fading.

To remove stains from jeans, identify the stain type, pre-treat with the right product (OxiClean, Dawn, Shout, or Amodex), let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water, add vinegar to the rinse, and check before drying. Don’t use hot water, don’t use chlorine bleach, and don’t put stained jeans in the dryer.

Stain Removal by Type on Jeans

Food Stains

Products: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam, OxiClean Max Force Spray

How to remove: Scrape off excess, apply Shout foam, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, apply OxiClean, wash inside out in cold water.

Grease and Oil Stains

Products: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap

How to remove: Apply Dawn dish soap to the stain, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out in cold water. Dawn is a surfactant that breaks down oil and grease.

Blood Stains

Products: Dawn, hydrogen peroxide (for light jeans only)

How to remove: Rinse with cold water from the back, apply Dawn dish soap, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out in cold water. For light jeans, use hydrogen peroxide. Don’t use hot water.

Ink Stains

Products: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

How to remove: Apply Amodex to the stain, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out in cold water.

Grass Stains

Products: OxiClean, Dawn

How to remove: Apply OxiClean, let sit for 15 minutes, apply Dawn dish soap, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out in cold water.

Paint Stains

Products: Dawn, rubbing alcohol (for water-based paint), paint thinner (for oil-based paint)

How to remove: Scrape off excess, apply rubbing alcohol (water-based) or paint thinner (oil-based), let sit for 15 minutes, apply Dawn, scrub, wash inside out in cold water.

Mud and Dirt Stains

Products: OxiClean, Dawn

How to remove: Let mud dry, brush off loose dirt, apply OxiClean, let sit for 15 minutes, apply Dawn, scrub, wash inside out in cold water.

Coffee and Tea Stains

Products: OxiClean, vinegar

How to remove: Rinse with cold water from the back, apply OxiClean, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out in cold water, add vinegar to the rinse.

Wine Stains

Products: OxiClean, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide (for light jeans only)

How to remove: Rinse with cold water from the back, apply OxiClean, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub, wash inside out in cold water, add vinegar to the rinse.

Step-by-Step: Removing Stains from Jeans

Step 1: Identify the Stain Type

Look at the stain and determine what caused it. This determines the treatment.

Step 2: Scrape Off Excess

Use a dull edge to scrape off any excess substance. Don’t rub.

Step 3: Choose the Right Product

Choose the right pre-treatment product based on the stain type (OxiClean, Dawn, Shout, or Amodex).

Step 4: Apply the Product

Apply the product to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Scrub with a Toothbrush

Scrub the stain with an old toothbrush. Work from the outside in. Denim is sturdy and can handle scrubbing.

Step 6: Apply Baking Soda Paste

Make a paste of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and water. Apply to the stain. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush.

Step 7: Wash Inside Out in Cold Water

Turn jeans inside out and wash with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water. Cold water prevents fading.

Step 8: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse. Vinegar helps set the dye and prevents fading.

Step 9: Add Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.

Step 10: Check Before Drying

Check that the stain is gone before putting jeans in the dryer. If it remains, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put stained jeans in the dryer.

Step 11: Air Dry or Dry on Low

Air dry jeans or use the dryer on a low heat setting. Don’t use high heat, which can fade and shrink jeans.

Step 12: Clean the Machine Monthly

Clean the washer monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner.

Stain Removal on Jeans by Stain Type

Stain Type	Best Product	Water Temp	Notes
Food	Shout, OxiClean	Cold	Wash inside out
Grease, oil	Dawn	Cold	Surfactant breaks down oil
Blood	Dawn, peroxide (light)	Cold	Don’t use hot water
Ink	Amodex	Cold	Use Amodex specifically
Grass	OxiClean, Dawn	Cold	Tannin stain
Paint	Dawn, rubbing alcohol	Cold	Depends on paint type
Mud, dirt	OxiClean, Dawn	Cold	Let mud dry first
Coffee, tea	OxiClean, vinegar	Cold	Tannin stain
Wine	OxiClean, vinegar	Cold	Tannin stain

How to Prevent Stains on Jeans

Wear an Apron When Cooking

Wear an apron when cooking to prevent food and grease stains on jeans.

Treat Stains Immediately

Fresh stains are easier to remove than dried stains. Treat stains as soon as they happen.

Wash Inside Out

Wash jeans inside out to protect the surface and prevent fading.

Use Cold Water

Use cold water for jeans to prevent fading and shrinking.

Don’t Overload the Washer

Don’t overload the washer. Overloading reduces cleaning performance and increases friction.

Check Pockets Before Washing

Check pockets for pens, lip balm, and other items that can stain jeans in the wash.

What Not to Do

Don’t use hot water. Hot water fades and shrinks jeans. Use cold water.

Don’t use chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach removes the color from jeans. Use oxygen bleach (OxiClean) instead.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on dark jeans. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach dark denim. Use on light jeans only.

Don’t put stained jeans in the dryer. Dryer heat sets stains permanently. Air dry and check first.

Don’t wash jeans with light colors. Dark jeans can bleed dye. Wash with dark colors only.

Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue on jeans. Use white vinegar instead.

Don’t scrub too hard on distressed denim. Distressed denim is already weakened. Scrub gently.

FAQ

How do you remove stains from jeans? Identify the stain type, pre-treat with the right product (OxiClean, Dawn, Shout, or Amodex), let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, wash inside out with Tide Free and Gentle in cold water, add vinegar to the rinse, and check before drying.

What is the best stain remover for jeans? OxiClean Max Force Spray is the best stain remover for most stains on jeans. Dawn dish soap is best for grease. Shout foam is best for food stains. Amodex is best for ink.

Can you use bleach on jeans? No. Chlorine bleach removes the color from jeans. Use oxygen bleach (OxiClean) instead, which is safe for colored clothes.

What water temperature should you use for stained jeans? Use cold water for stained jeans. Cold water prevents fading and shrinking. Don’t use hot water.

Can you put stained jeans in the dryer? No. Dryer heat sets stains permanently. Air dry and check first. If the stain remains, treat again and re-wash.

References

1. Tide. “Jeans Stain Removal Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Remove Stains from Jeans.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Jeans Care Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. OxiClean. “Stain Removal Guide.” oxiclean.com.