How to remove resin from clothes: Win the battle with this definitive guide

Resin, along with chocolate, wine or tomato, is one of the most stubborn stains you can encounter, and getting it dissolved can end in disaster for your clothes and your mental health.

If you don’t want this sticky situation to become embedded in your life and kill your patience? Read on! Let’s go over the best tips for removing resin from clothes.

What is resin

Resin is an organic substance that solidifies on contact with air; it is characterised by its pasty, transparent or translucent consistency and for being extremely sticky. It is of plant origin and is extracted from trees (pines or conifers), but can also be obtained artificially by polymerisation reactions.

It is a compound widely used in the production of varnishes, furniture and adhesives because of its adhesive properties; which, unfortunately for our garments, makes it a very difficult substance to remove.

So, if we don’t want to ruin our jeans or favourite blouse, it’s time to learn how to remove resin stains from clothes.

9 ways and tips to remove resin from clothes

Smile Vintage to the rescue! The most useful equipment comes to your rescue! To dispel any doubts, we’ve turned to the advice of the wisest mothers and grandmothers, soaked up the necessary science and experienced it first hand to win the ultimate battle to remove resin from clothes.

Before you begin, keep in mind that time is a key factor. The longer you take to remove the stain, the harder it will be to remove and vice versa; the sooner the better, that’s just the way it is. Then you can try these “tricks”:

1. Apply hot air or hot iron. Use the heat of a hairdryer directly on the resin at a safe distance until it gets hot; then, when you notice that the stain melts, use cotton wool with acetone to remove it. You can also use the iron indirectly by placing a cloth between the garment and the appliance.
2. Cold. Perhaps the simplest technique. Put ice directly on the resin, wait for it to freeze and then scrape it off completely.
3. Heat. Put the garment in a pot to boil for a while; when the stain starts to dissolve, remove it and start rubbing with a sponge until the resin disappears.
4. Acetone nail polish remover. Be careful not to soak more than the area where the resin stain is, soak it directly with the liquid and wait, then put the garment in the washing machine.
5. Glue solvent. As with the previous one, extreme care must be taken to avoid damaging or discolouring the rest of the garment, so apply the solvent only on the resin.
6. Alcohol (for the stain 🙄). Don’t get frustrated yet, we know it’s hard, but we have faith that you’ll get it right. Using the alcohol in the same way as the nail polish remover, soak just the area of the stain and now rub until it dissolves; then rinse and you’re done.
7. Clearly, egg white. Although we seem to have gone to extremes with concoctions, give it a try! Egg white can actually remove resin stains from delicate garments, a more than ideal solution for your wool or silk garments. Apply the egg white directly to the stain and leave it on for a while before rinsing it out – you’ll need to be patient!
8. Olive oil. Finally, as always, olive oil cures everything! Soak the resin stain well in the oil and wait for it to soak in and start to come out. Then put it in the washing machine.
9. Sunscreen. And finally, another mixture that is as strange as it is effective. As well as protecting your skin from the sun, sunscreen is very useful for removing residue. Apply some directly to the resin stain and rub it in to remove it, then rinse.

How to remove resin stains from white clothes

If the resin stain is on your white garmets use bleach, but be careful, although it is a very widespread product in domestic use, bleach can be harmful in contact with the skin and even damage some fabrics.

Soak a swab or gauze in bleach and apply it directly to the stain. If the resin stain continues to resist, dissolve a little bleach in water and soak the garment in the mixture for a few hours, but do not overdo it. After this time, remove the garment and rinse it with soap and water and you’re done!

How to remove resin stains from coloured clothes

Surprise, surprise… Baking soda! Wow, you didn’t expect that, did you? Baking soda is one of the most versatile home remedies around and thanks to its bubbling properties it can remove even the toughest stains from your coloured clothes.

The trick is to turn the garment inside out and apply cotton wool. Apply some of the paste directly onto the stain and leave it on for about an hour.

But be careful! Use it only on light-coloured garments, as it may leave some residue on dark-coloured garments.

Now that you have all the ancient power and wisdom, use it responsibly and make sure to dilute any stains in your wardrobe file. Follow the yellow daisy for more tricks!