For best results, act quickly to treat the stain.

Blot or lift; don’t rub the stain deeper into the fibers.

Always work from outside the stain toward the center to prevent it from spreading.

Overhead view of a stained white shirt surrounded by stain removal supplies

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Submerge the entire shirt, let it soak for four to eight hours, and then wash as usual.

Additional Tips for Removing Stains From White Shirts

Supplies needed to get stains out of a white shirt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Using cornstarch for oil-based stains

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Applying baking soda paste to a red wine stain on a white shirt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Blotting a blood stain on a white shirt with a dry paper towel

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Spraying stain remover onto a makeup stain on a white shirt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Removing a tomato sauce stain from a white shirt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Closeup of an underarm stain on a white shirt

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida