How to get an unknown stain out of a vintage handmade pillow
Unknown stains on delicate vintage items cannot be treated with harsh spot removers like peroxide without risking permanent damage to fragile fabrics and stitching. Because these sentimental pieces are often stitched completely closed or made from old craft kits, aggressive cleaning attempts easily ruin the heirloom before the stain can be lifted.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Soaking in an OxyClean and water solution
- 2Dabbing with hydrogen peroxide
- 3Consulting local dry cleaners for advice
- 4Using mesh laundry bags for delicate washing
- 5leaving the bag outside on the balcony to air out
- 6Dawn power wash spray
- 7Isopropyl alcohol
- 8washing on a delicate program inside a protective washing bag
- 9Using pink stuff spray and a scourer
- 10Trying a rust remover
- 11Applying peel and stick wallpaper to cover it up
- 12Trusting professionals for sentimental items
- 13Comparing the dots to similar posts on Reddit
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Pillow my recently deceased Mama made for me when I was young got damaged, stain source unknown. Possibly blood, coffee, soda, or who knows.”source ↗
“I have been reading all your suggestions, and so far, I've tried dabbing with peroxide, to no avail.”source ↗
“The pillow is stitched closed all the way around. It's from a kit The Creative Circle used to sell back in the 80s.”source ↗
“Looks like mould but don't know how it could be? They're fine inside. I've gone at them with pink stuff spray and a scourer but to no avail.”source ↗
“Does anybody have any tips?”source ↗
“So I bought this bag secondhand, it had a stain inside which I don’t mind, no one else is gonna be looking inside the bag/judging the inside, but I’d still like to try to get some of the stain away.”source ↗
“I don’t know what the stain is or what the seller did to try to remove it.”source ↗
“the bag has a very strong perfume smell, I’ve had it out on the balcony for a day now but the scent is still strong.”source ↗
“I've been thinking about taking a wet cloth to it, but I want to see what the community had to say on the matter, first.”source ↗
“Hey guys just wondering if you have any tips for this oxidated tie… any solutions to remove ir or simply make it look better??”source ↗
“i compared it to similar posts on reddit but still don’t know if the dots are mold or not. if someone can help identify i’d really appreciate it!”source ↗
“do the dots seem similar in appearance to them?”source ↗
“How can I remove the stains. It’s embroidery and screen printing”source ↗
Where this came up
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