Many of us face the common frustration of discovering a white garment has attracted a whether it be a , , or something else entirely. When you see a stain, you might want to put the clothing item in a hot wash straight away, but one expert exclusively told Express.co.uk why you shouldn't do that.

expert Katy Roberts at AO.com warned that high temperatures could set the stain, making it unmovable. Whether you're trying to from a white cotton T-shirt or sweat marks from gym wear, your washing strategy has an impact; and the real trick lies not in fancy stain removers or endless soaking, but in choosing the right washing machine setting to start with.

The laundry expert recommends putting stained white clothes in a cold wash, especially if the stain is from milk, sweat, or eggs.

Katy explained: "The choice between hot or cold water on your stains depends largely on what you've stained your clothes with.

"If it's a protein-based spill like milk, sweat or egg then you should use cold water to dab this away, as hot water can make removing the stain that much harder."

She adds: "Similarly, you should also use cold water to tackle mud or grass stains. Conversely, if your stain is perhaps made of grease, oil or food stains, then warm water will help to dissolve the oils and loosen any stubborn residue."

While a cold wash can work wonders in removing stains before they've set, powerful cleaning agents help too.

If you prefer a natural alternative, it's helpful to include laundry detergent, commercial stain removers, or baking soda.

Additional natural stain-removing ingredients can include lemons, white vinegar, and salt.

The sun also has natural bleaching qualities, so once the cool wash is over, if you could hang them to dry on a sunny day, that can also help to lift any stains.

As with any type of stain, the sooner you act, the better the chance that the stain will be removed. For severe stains, bleach-based products might be required to lift the stains.

According to laundry experts at OxiClean, you should soak the stained garment in stain remover for up to six hours before washing it as normal.

However, it is not guaranteed that a stain that has been left to set for a long time will come out.

"Dealing with set-in stains can be challenging," the experts affirmed, and if you've tried all sorts to get the stain out, one final option could be replacing the item.