Tips and Tricks To Remove Tough Tablecloth Stains
A stunning tablecloth can add sophistication and appeal to any dining table, but inevitable spills and stains can be worrisome. Whether it's a dinner party mishap or an accidental spill during a casual meal, knowing how to effectively remove tablecloth stains can save you from unnecessary stress and extend the life of your cherished linens. But how do you get rid of those pesky stains once the damage has been done? Well, on this page, we'll walk you through some tried-and-true methods to remove common tablecloth stains. From coffee and tea stains to the dreaded red wine and grease stains, you’ll learn how to effectively remove anything from your linens. We’ll go through each section at a time – let’s get started!
Coffee and Tea Stains
Tea is definitely the most stubborn stain of the two. Use OxiClean™ or any other oxygen-based stain remover. Keep a spray bottle filled with equal parts white vinegar and water in your laundry room, spray the area, and then gently rub it before going into the washing machine. A very important rule that applies to any stain is to inspect the tablecloth when it comes out of the washing machine. If there are still any stains, do not put your tablecloth in the dryer. The heat will cause the stain to be permanent. Instead, continue treating the stain.
Dairy Stains
Milk stains are one of the easiest to remove. If milk has spilled, gently blot with a clean cloth or paper towel, removing the liquid. Rub the stain with laundry detergent and then rinse. Since milk, creamers, and ice cream contain protein, rinse the area in cold water (warm or hot water sets protein stains into the tablecloth even more).
Red Wine
Removing red wine stains can seem like a nearly impossible challenge. The good news is that a spill does not have to ruin your evening or your tablecloth. The quicker you act, the easier it will be to remove. The longer it is allowed to sit, the more stubborn it will be. Immediately blot as much as possible with paper towels. Blot do not scrub! Then generously apply table salt to the stained area. Salt will pull the red wine out of the cloth. Leave the salt until you have finished your meal. If you do not have salt, use baking soda, baby powder, or even cat litter. Allow the salt to settle for five minutes. If none of these dry materials are available, blot the stain with vinegar, WD-40, hydrogen peroxide, or even milk. Boiling the milk first works even better!
Grease or Oil Stains
Since grease and oil stains are not water soluble, simply washing is not going to remove butter, gravy, and oil stains. Apply either a dry powder (baking soda, cornstarch, or flour) or spray WD-40 to the soiled area and allow to sit for an hour. This allows for the grease or oil to be absorbed. Next, brush off the powder and soak the stained area in a bowl with hot water and dish liquid for an hour before rinsing. Allow the affected area to dry out and then inspect to see if the stain has come out. If not, repeat the process.
Lipstick
Lipstick is not a kiss of death to your napkins. On the contrary, removing lipstick stains is very easy. Take a white vinegar spray bottle, spray it on the lipstick, and then dab gently before putting it into the wash.
Water Stains
Water splashed onto your tablecloth or a liquid ring left from a cold beverage usually comes right out in the wash cycle. If it does not, spray the stain with vinegar.
How To Remove Stains From Your Holiday Tablecloth
Cranberry Sauce
Fist blot excess sauce and rinse with cold water. Next, pre-treat with a stain-removing solution, such as a mixture of dish soap and white vinegar, or an enzyme-based cleaner. Allow the treatment to sit at least 10 minutes. Rinse before washing.
Gravy Sauce
To remove a gravy stain from a tablecloth,scrape off excess gravy, then blot the stain with a paper towel. Next, apply an absorbent powder like cornstarch or baking soda to soak up grease, or use liquid dish soap or detergent directly on the stain. Rinse before washing.
Berry Stains
Blot the area with cold water. Treat the stain by applying a solution of dish soap and white vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse the area before washing.
Chocolate Stains
Fist blot excess sauce and rinse with cold water. Next, pre-treat with a stain-removing solution, such as a mixture of dish soap and white vinegar, or an enzyme-based cleaner. Allow the treatment to sit at least 10 minutes. Rinse before washing.
We all use of nicest tablecloths during the holiday. To maintain your holiday tablecloth prestine for many celebrations to come, it is critical to treat stains right away. Before drying the tablecloth, be certain the stain completely washed out. If it did not, treat, wash again before drying the tablecloth.
Common Stain Removers
WD-40 is our favorite for removing any stains from grease to wine, even candle wax. Made to dissolve rust, this solvent breaks up the particles of red wine and is safe to use on tablecloths. Spray the stained area and allow it to soak for a few minutes. Dab gently with a clean wash rag or paper towel. When the stain begins to transfer to the cleaning cloth, use a clean area to continue to remove the stain from the tablecloth.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are also great for removing stains from tablecloths. If using one of these, mix with a smaller amount of liquid detergent. Soak the stained area in your sink or bowl for at least 30 minutes before rinsing and then placing the cloth in the washer. Vinegar or hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the red and purple pigments while the detergent helps clean the fabric.
Remove Any Stain With These Simple Instructions
We hope this page has provided you with the answers you need on removing tablecloth stains. If you have specific questions about how to wash polyester tablecloths, we have another resource page dedicated to just that. Feel free to check it out for additional instructions!
Right after we finished this blog, a lifetime customer of our called us to give us her secret.
We have decided to begin this section where we will share with you tablecloth washing tips that works great for our customers.
Please share with us any tips that you have!
11/17/2025 Nora G. - Some great suggestions in this post. My tip for tablecloth stains is OxiClean spray. I always have a spray bottle of OxiClean spray under my kitchen sink. Any tablecloth stains I spray directly onto the stain and rub it in. If it is a stain that I did not notice, I will soak the stained tablecloth area in a pot with a mixture of OxiClean and vinegar.
11/16/2025 Lilian M. - Numerous times I have had sauces spill. As soon as possible, I sprinkle baby powder over the grease stain to absorb the grease.
11/12/2025 Patricia A. - After a stain occurs, once guests leave, I spray the stain with Dawn Platinum Powerwash Liquid Dish Soap Spray.
I spray it on the stain on both sides of the tablecloth and use a tooth brush for this purpose on the stained area. I lot it sit in for an hour, rinse the dishsoap and the stain before putting the tablecloth in the wash. All types of hard stains come out completely using this method.
Mia Rodriguez's response - Thank you for sharing this tip Patricia, especially right before Thanksgiving. After the Thanksgiving feast at the table, the last thing anyone wants to do is launder their table linens at this time. Just treat the stains at least to keep your tablecloth and napkins brand new for may holidays and years to come.