Perfume contains alcohol and oils that can leave marks or cause discoloration on clothes. This is incredibly frustrating when it happens to your favorite piece in your wardrobe. I speak from experience when I tell you that treating these stains on the stop is essential to prevent further damage.
No matter what your clothes are made of, there is a way to eliminate perfume stains for every fabric. In this guide, I’ll explain all the techniques for ensuring your clothes stay in top condition.
We use perfumes almost daily, and their causing a stain on our clothes is unavoidable. If you’re looking to learn how to get perfume smell out of clothes, we have a separate guide for that.
General Tips For Treating Perfume Stains
Before we go into fabric-specific solutions, here are a few tips that work with most types of clothing:
- Act Quickly: The sooner you treat a perfume stain, the easier it will be to remove.
- Blot, Don’t Rub: Blot the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel. Rubbing can cause the stain to spread or push deeper into the fabric.
- Test First: Before using any cleaning solution, test it on a small, hidden area of the fabric to ensure it will not damage or discolor it.
- Avoid Heat: Don’t use hot water or a dryer until the stain is entirely removed, as heat can set the stain.
- Avoid Bleach: Bleach can cause discoloration, especially on delicate or colored fabrics.
- Professional Cleaning: If home remedies don’t work for stubborn stains on delicate fabrics like silk or wool, consider professional dry cleaning.
Below is a list of different types of fabrics and ways to remove perfume stains from each one.
Removing Perfume Stains From Cotton
Cotton is a durable fabric and the easiest to remove stains from.
What You’ll Need: Mild laundry detergent, baking soda, white vinegar, and cold water.
Steps:
- Blot the Stain: Use a paper towel to gently blot the excess perfume from the fabric.
- Apply Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to form a paste. Apply it to the stained area and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse with Cold Water: Rinse the fabric with cold water to remove the baking soda paste.
- Launder Normally: Wash the cotton garment in cold water with a mild detergent. If the stain persists, repeat the process.
Removing Perfume Stains from Silk
Silk is delicate, so perfume stains need to be handled with extra care to avoid damaging the fabric.
What You’ll Need: Mild soap or detergent, cold water, white vinegar.
Steps:
- Blot Immediately: Gently blot the stain with a soft cloth to remove excess perfume.
- Dilute the Stain: Mix a solution of cold water and a few drops of mild detergent. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and gently dab the stain. Don’t rub, as it may damage the fibers.
- Rinse with Cold Water: Carefully rinse the affected area with cold water to remove the detergent.
- Vinegar Rinse: If the stain persists, mix equal parts white vinegar and water and dab it on the affected area. This helps neutralize the oils from the perfume.
- Air Dry: Lay the silk garment flat to dry, avoiding direct sunlight or heat sources.
Removing Perfume Stains from Wool
Wool is more sensitive to liquids than cotton, but with the right approach, you can still remove perfume stains.
What You’ll Need: White vinegar, mild detergent, and cold water.
Steps:
- Blot the Stain: Use a clean, dry cloth to blot the stain gently.
- Vinegar Solution: Mix one part white vinegar with two parts cold water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and dab it on the stain.
- Rinse with Cold Water: Use a clean, damp cloth to remove the vinegar solution.
- Launder: Wash the wool garment by hand or use the wool setting on your washing machine with a mild detergent.
- Air Dry: Never use a dryer for wool—always lay it flat to dry.
Removing Perfume Stains from Polyester
Polyester is durable and can handle more aggressive stain-removal methods.
What You’ll Need: Rubbing alcohol, mild detergent, and cold water.
Steps:
- Blot Excess Perfume: Use a clean cloth to blot the stain.
- Apply Rubbing Alcohol: Dab a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the stain using a cloth. Rubbing alcohol helps break down the oils in the perfume.
- Rinse with Cold Water: After applying the alcohol, rinse the fabric thoroughly with cold water.
- Launder Normally: Wash the garment in cold water with your regular detergent.
Removing Perfume Stains from Denim
Denim is a tough fabric, but perfume stains can still leave marks.
What You’ll Need: Mild laundry detergent, baking soda, cold water.
Steps:
- Blot the Stain: Use a paper towel to blot away any excess perfume.
- Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda and water to create a paste, and apply it to the stain.
- Let It Sit: Leave the paste on the stain for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse and Launder: Rinse with cold water and wash the denim garment as usual.
Removing Perfume Stains From Synthetic Fabrics
For synthetic fabrics like nylon or rayon, avoid using harsh chemicals.
What You’ll Need: Mild detergent, cold water, rubbing alcohol (if necessary).
Steps:
- Blot the Stain: Gently blot the excess perfume with a clean cloth.
- Mild Detergent Solution: Mix mild detergent with cold water and dab the stain.
- Rinse: Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cold water.
- Rubbing Alcohol: If the stain persists, apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol, then rinse again.
- Launder: Wash the garment in cold water.
Perfume stains can be tricky, but you can save your favorite clothes from damage by cleaning them using a suitable approach. Always act quickly, use the appropriate method for each fabric, and remember to be gentle with delicate materials. By following these tips, you’ll keep your wardrobe clean and perfume-stain-free.
To actually use this guide, you’ll need a perfume to spray on the daily. Check out V Perfumes for fragrances by all your favorite brands including local, niche, and international brands.
