The first 10 minutes decide whether a stain comes out. Here's the professional approach to the three that ruin the most clothes.

The golden rule: blot, never rub

Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and frays the weave. Always blot from the outside of the stain inward with a clean, dry cloth.

Oil & curry (turmeric)

Lift excess with a spoon, dust the spot with talcum powder or cornflour to absorb the oil, wait 10 minutes, then brush off. Turmeric is light-sensitive — a stubborn yellow mark often fades in indirect sunlight after washing.

Red wine

Blot immediately. Cover the area with salt to pull up the liquid, then flush from the back with cool water. Never apply hot water — heat sets the tannins.

Three things to never do

  • Don't pour hot water on protein or tannin stains.
  • Don't use coloured cloths to blot — dye can transfer.
  • Don't iron or machine-dry until the stain is fully gone.

For silk, wool, and "dry clean only" labels, skip the home chemistry. Bring it to LoomLift within a day — fresh stains are far easier than set ones.