With some solids, however, such as mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Brush off the excess before the garment is washed. If you don’t have any detergent on hand, flush the stain from the back side of the fabric by holding the garment under a sink faucet with the water on full-blast. This helps push the stain out of the fabric fibers. Quite often, though, you can remove stains just by working a bit of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent like Tide or Persil into the stain with a soft-bristled brush or your fingers, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then tossing the garment into the washer as usual. These detergents have enough enzymes to break apart most stains and flush them away. The same principle applies to ironing. Never heat a stain, as this can set it permanently into the fabric.
