Closet Care is a part of our series to help you to wear your wardrobe better. For more on how to care for your closet and make the most of your clothes, visit Stories on Zalando.

Viennese cake artist Sophia Stolz is no stranger to intense food stains. The self-titled Cake Wizard is as good at crafting phenomenal baked goods as she is at pulling big looks, but the two don’t always go hand in hand, as she’s often found out the hard way.

A woman in a black dress sits at a blue table with various desserts, glasses, and decorative items, surrounded by hanging clothing and shelves.

“I was in New York on a project,” she tells us, recalling one particularly traumatic stain experience. “I was wearing a runway look, and a big slice of cake just fell on my dress. It made a terrible, intense blue stain. I cried because I was so upset that my dress was ruined. I didn’t know what to do — no professional cleaner wanted to deal with such an extraordinary dress. So, I called my best friend and he saved it. He used razor foam to get the food colouring stains out. My hero.”

“My job looks glam and sounds glam, but it’s not,” Sophia laughs when we ask whether she usually has a team on hand to help with cakey disasters. “No. I have to deal with them myself or ask my mom to do it for me.” And it’s for that hands-on, get-it-handled attitude that we linked up with Sophia for this episode — so she can show us all her stain-banishing tips and tricks and then we can live our DIY dreams, too.

A hand with long, dark nails cleans a pink fabric on a silver tray, surrounded by elegant metal dishware on a blue surface.

DAMN, I GOT MY DELICIOUS GREASY SNACK ON…

…LEATHER

Act fast: Immediately blot, don’t rub, the stain with a soft, clean cloth to absorb as much grease as possible. Rubbing can spread it or push it deeper into the fabric.
Be gentle: Mix a small amount of gentle soap (like baby shampoo or dish soap) with warm water. Dampen a soft cloth with the mixture, wring it out well, and gently wipe the stained area.
Condition: Once dry, apply a leather conditioner to keep the area moisturised and prevent cracking or discolouration.

…SILK

Gently blot: Dab the stain with a clean white cloth to absorb any liquid. The sooner you act, the better.
Use vinegar: Use lukewarm water and white vinegar for stubborn stains if needed. Dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and gently dab the stained area. Always test on an inconspicuous spot first.
Air dry: Do not dry with direct heat, as it can damage the silk.

…COTTON

1. Blot the stain: Absorb any excess and then apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or stain remover directly to the stain. Gently rub it in with your fingers or a soft brush. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

2. Rinse from the back: Rinse the area with cold water from the back of the stain to push it out, not further in.

3. Machine wash: Wash the item in the warmest water safe for the fabric, according to the care label.

WHOOPS, I DROPPED MY DRINK ON MY WHITE PANTS AGAIN

COFFEE STAINS

1. Act quickly: Blot (don’t rub) with a clean cloth to absorb as much as possible.

2. Flush with cold water: Rinse the back of the fabric under cold water to push the coffee out of the fibres.

3. Apply detergent or vinegar: Dab with liquid laundry detergent or a mix of white vinegar and water (1:1). Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then rinse and launder.

RED WINE STAINS

1. Blot and salt: Blot the stain, then pour a teaspoon of salt on it to absorb the wine. Let sit a few minutes before brushing off.

2. Use club soda or white wine: Pour club soda or white wine onto the stain to dilute the pigment, then blot.

3. Apply a stain remover: Use a fabric-safe stain remover (like you can buy in a spray bottle at a drug store) or a paste of ½ cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water. Let it sit, then wash in cold water.

COKE OR DIET COKE STAINS

1. Blot Immediately: Soak up excess liquid with a cloth—again, for the millionth (but probably not the last) time, don’t rub.

2. Rinse with cold water: Flush the stain from the back with cold water.

3. Treat with dish soap or detergent: Apply a small amount of dish soap or liquid detergent, gently scrub with a soft brush, let it sit, then rinse and launder.

URGH, IT’S ANNOYING BEING HUMAN SOMETIMES

FOUNDATION STAINS

1. Blot: Blot first to remove excess.

2. Soap: Apply dish soap or makeup remover (especially one that breaks down the oils found in most foundations) directly to the stain. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

3. Rub: Gently rub with your fingers or a soft brush.

4. Rinse: Rinse with cold water and launder as usual.

SWEAT STAINS (AND SMELLS)

1. Find cheap vodka: Fill a spray bottle with cheap, clear vodka.

2. Spray the area: Spray the underarm area lightly, let it air-dry. Vodka kills bacteria and removes odor, but won’t always lift set-in yellow stains (for the tough ones, try baking soda or vinegar). It’s great on the go or between wears like a dry shampoo for shirts.