Luniva
Shop

Got a stain while you're out? What to do until you get home

Stains love bad timing: a glass of red at a wedding, curry at a work lunch, coffee on the train. You can't treat it properly until you're home, but what you do in the next few minutes decides how easily it comes out later. The goal is simple: stop it soaking in and keep it away from heat.

Updated 29 October 2026 · 2 min read · By the Luniva team

On the spot

There's no need for salt, white wine or soda water. Blotting and cold water do the important part, which is stopping the stain soaking further in.

  1. 1Scrape and blotLift off food with the edge of a spoon or a card, then press a napkin onto the stain. Don't rub: it spreads the stain and pushes it deeper.
  2. 2Cold water for drinks and foodDab drinks, sauce and blood with a little cold water and blot again. Never hot water, and skip the hand dryer.
  3. 3Leave oily stains aloneFor grease, butter or makeup, just blot off what you can. Water doesn't help oil.

When you get home

Treat it the same day if you can. Don't put the garment on a radiator, under an iron or in the dryer until the stain has gone.

  • Food, drink, blood or sweat

    Spray Enzyme Powered, wait 1–3 minutes, wash.

    See Enzyme Powered

  • Grease, oil, makeup or suncream

    Spray Pro Formula, wait 1–3 minutes, wash.

    See Pro Formula

Top tips

  • Ask for a glass of cold water and a clean napkin: that's all you need.
  • A dried stain is harder, not hopeless. Treat it and wash it when you can.
  • If the garment is dry clean only, blot and take it to a cleaner, and tell them what the stain is.

Questions

No. Rubbing spreads the stain and pushes it deeper. Blot instead.

You don't need it. Blot, dab with cold water, then treat it with Enzyme Powered and wash when you get home.

Blot and rinse with cold water, let it dry away from heat, then treat it with the matching spray just before you wash it.

Stain guides for this

More stain advice