Nothing is worse than when you spill something on your clothes that will leave a stain, especially on white clothes. From mustard to spaghetti sauce, food stains are common culprits for ruined garments; here are some tips to help you save your favorite clothes from disastrous stains.
Gone are the days where you’ll have to throw out your kid’s grape juice stained t-shirt or your coffee stained blouse.
The key to getting stains out is to attack them as soon as they happen. Follow these tips to remove clothing stains as soon as they occur. Food Stains:
Spaghetti Sauce –
Immediately rinse the stain, starting from the backside of the stain, with cool water. Next, pre-treat with a liquid laundry detergent, work it into the stain, and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
If the clothing is white, apply a mild bleaching agent (these include hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and lemon juice) to the stain with a sponge. Rinse well and repeat detergent and bleaching agent (for whites) steps until the stain is gone. For white clothing, hold it up to a light to ensure the stain is completely gone.
Next, apply stain remover gel or spray and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Finally, wash the garment normally with detergent, double-checking that the stain is gone before drying.
If the stain is still there, rub detergent into the stain and allow it to soak in warm water for about 30 minutes, then rinse well.
Grape Juice –
Immediately sponge the stain with cool water, followed by lemon juice. Blot excess liquid and allow the stain to dry.
If the stain is still present, pre-treat by soaking in a tub with a solution of 4 cups warm water, ½ teaspoon liquid laundry detergent, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for about 15 minutes.
Rinse well and wash in washing machine.
Coffee –
Immediately rinse the stain, starting from the backside of the stain, with cool water. Sometimes this can be enough to remove the stain.
If the stain is still present, rub liquid laundry detergent and a little bit of cool water into the stain, allow this to sit for a few minutes. (If the stain is old, soak the garment in cold water after this step; allow it to soak for 30 minutes, rubbing the stained area every 5 minutes to help loosen the stain)
If the stain remains, soak for 5-15 minutes in warm water before thoroughly rinsing.
Use a stain stick, gel, or spray and allow this to sit for a few minutes before washing normally. Be sure the stain is completely gone before drying the clothing.
Mustard –
Immediately spray the stain with a spot cleaner and rinse with water.
Apply a liquid laundry detergent and rinse again.
If the stain is still present, pre-treat by soaking in warm water with some liquid laundry detergent for a few hours, or overnight.
Rinse the garment and wash normally. Make sure the stain is completely gone before drying.
Cooking Oil/Butter –
Rub a liquid laundry detergent into the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.
Check to see if the stain is gone, if it is still there, repeat the previous steps. Ensure that the stain is fully gone before drying.