We have all accidentally spilled something down ourselves, but did you know that if you do, and you’re wearing wool then it might not be as bad as you think? This is because wool is naturally resistant to stains. So, whilst at first sight your stain may not look so good, with a little bit of care and attention it could easily disappear.

So how do you get rid of stains from wool? We’re sure there are many age-old tricks out there that have been passed down through the generations – some work and some aren’t always that reliable. To sort the good from the bad, we recommend following these Woolmark-approved handy tips for removing stains from your favourite wool clothing.

Quick tips:

• Wherever possible, pre-test any treatment in an unseen area to check for any changes in the wool such as loss of colour.

• Always blot any excess spills quickly using a regular white tissue or an absorbent towel.

• Remove excess solid stains with a blunt knife or spoon first before tacking the stain.

• Do not rub stains with clean tissues or towels. Work carefully to release a stain from the edge to centre by dabbing and blotting.

• Oily or greasy stains are best treated with solvents first and allowed to fully evaporate before using any water-based treatments.

• If the stain removal solution is not properly removed before drying it could leave a coloured ring. To avoid this, water-based treatments must be thoroughly rinsed out of the fabric before following the care instructions to wash using a Woolmark-approved detergent.

• If your wool care label says it can be dry cleaned follow those instructions but clearly let the dry cleaner know what the stain is and what you have already tried to remove it.