What materials can I use to clean medicine stains?

You can purchase a pre-treatment spray from your local grocery store, or mix white vinegar and water together in a spray bottle.

What temperature should I wash activewear?

The temperature of the cycle will depend on the type of fabric. For natural fibers such as cotton or wool, try a cool to warm cycle. For synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon, a warm temperature should do the trick.

What should I do if the stain remains after washing?

If the medicine stain is still present after washing, you may need to repeat the pre-treatment and washing process. However, check the care instructions on your garment before treating and washing more than twice.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Medicine > Activewear

Removing Tough Medicine Stains from Activewear: Get Your Gear Ready For the Gym!

Nothing can spoil a workout faster than putting on your best activewear and noticing a big, red medicine stain from last night’s cough syrup. If you’re keen to get the stains out of your sports gear and back into gym, this article is for you.

Updated 05 Mar 2023

By Luke Smith

Step 1. Identify the Stained Material

Medicine stains don’t all behave the same way on different fabrics. Therefore, it’s important to correctly identify type of material that has been stained in order to choose best cleaning solution. Is it synthetic fabric like polyester or nylon? Natural fibers such as cotton or wool? Or a blend of both?

Step 2. Pre-Treat the Stain

Once you know the type of fabric you’re dealing with, you can use a pre-treating solution to tackle the medicine stains. You can purchase a pre-treatment spray from your local grocery store. Alternatively, try mixing white vinegar and water together in a spray bottle. Spray stained area and gently rub the material together before letting it sit for 10 minutes to allow the solution to work its magic.

Step 3. Wash the Garment

Next, it’s time to pop the garment in the washing machine. Before you do this, make sure to separate any whites from colored clothing and adjust the machine to a cool or warm setting depending on the material.

Add a quality detergent or laundry soap to the machine, and add a half cup of baking soda to help eliminate odors in the fabric. Finally, run the cycle and remember to air dry your activewear afterwards. Don’t be tempted to put your garment in the dryer as this could cause the medicine stain to set for good.

Step 4. Inspect and Repeat

Once your garment is done in washing machine, take a look at the medicine stains. If they’re still there, you may need to repeat the pre-treatment and washing process. Be sure to check the care instructions on your item of clothing before treating and washing more than twice.

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