What actually gets stains out?

Two rules do most of the work. First, act fast, since a fresh stain sits on the fibers and an old one has bonded to them. Second, blot rather than rub, because rubbing drives the stain deeper and frays fibers into a permanent shadow. Rinse from the back of the fabric to push the stain out rather than through, and start with cold water, hot water cooks protein stains, blood, egg, dairy, sweat, and sets them for good.

After that it is chemistry matched to the stain. Protein stains want cold water and an enzyme detergent. Greasy and oily stains want dish soap or a solvent-based prewash, since detergent is designed to lift fat. Tannin stains like coffee, tea, wine, and fruit respond to cold water and oxygen bleach rather than soap alone. Ink often lifts with rubbing alcohol applied to a cloth underneath. The universal mistake is the dryer: heat bakes any remaining stain into permanence, so always check a treated garment while wet and re-treat before it ever sees the dryer. Test any treatment on a hidden seam first, and for delicate or expensive fabrics, wool, silk, structured tailoring, the honest answer is a professional cleaner who is told what the stain is.