How to treat stains on clothes before dry cleaning

Most stains set because of what happens right after the spill. Lift off anything solid with a spoon or the edge of a card, then blot the mark with a clean white cloth. Work from the outside of the stain towards the centre so it does not spread into a ring.

• Blot, never rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and roughens the fabric.
• Use cold water first. Hot water can set protein stains such as blood, sweat, milk and egg.
• Keep heat away. Do not iron, tumble dry or use a hair dryer on a stained area.
• Check the care label before you add anything. Silk, wool, leather and dry clean only items are best left untreated.
• Test any product on a hidden seam first, and never mix bleach with other cleaners.

Water based stains such as coffee, tea and juice usually respond to cold water blotted through from the back of the fabric. Oil, grease and makeup are not water soluble, so water alone tends to spread them; a little washing up liquid worked in gently is the usual home step for washable fabrics. Ink and nail polish need solvents that can damage dyes and finishes, so they are safer left to a dry cleaner. Yellow sweat marks build up over time and often need more than one treatment.

Stop home treatment if the colour starts to lift, the fabric changes texture, or the item is silk, wool, a suit, an abaya or a wedding dress. Each attempt at home can make professional treatment harder. When you book, tell the team what caused the stain, roughly when it happened and anything you have already tried, and send a clear photo with the care label on WhatsApp.

We treat stains carefully, but cannot guarantee every stain will come out. Pickup and delivery are free across Dubai, dry cleaning starts from AED 15 per item and is returned the next day, and you pay on delivery.