Kids will be kids, food spills and all, but removing food stains from their clothing shouldn’t be a daunting task. Here are some tricks to keep up your sleeve for the next time you are faced with a tough food spill.
Ketchup: Gently rub liquid detergent into the stain and soak the garment in cool water for at least ten minutes. Wash the shirt on a regular wash cycle and then air-dry. Do not place the shirt in the dyer, as the heat from the dryer can set the stain, making it difficult to remove. If the stain still persists, apply a stain remover and launder as normal.
Peanut Butter: Scrape as much peanut butter off the fabric as possible using a spoon. Mix 1 tbsp. of liquid dish detergent, 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and two cups of warm water into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the stain, and blot the stain using a clean white microfibre cloth. Rinse the fabric in hot water.
Mustard: The yellow dye in mustard, from turmeric, is what causes the fabric to stain, so its important to act fast with this spill. Start by blotting the stain to prevent it from spreading. Once you’ve soaked up most of the liquid, apply a spot cleaner to the stain. Next, flush the stain with water and use a dab of liquid dish soap to scrub the stain. Flush the stain again and launder as normal.
Tomato sauce: Never use hot water to treat a tomato sauce stain because the heat will cause the stain to set permanently. Instead, fill a bowl with cold water and add 2 tbsp. of white vinegar and 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap. Soak the garment for half an hour. Scrub the spot to help release any lingering discoloration, then rinse. You may have to repeat the process a couple of times to fully remove the stain. If the stain persists and is very noticeable, treat it with a commercial stain remover, then launder as normal.
Chocolate milk: Rinse the chocolate milk stain with cold water first. Do not use warm water, as this will make it harder to remove the stain. Soak the clothing in a mixture of lukewarm water and salt for one to two hours, then rinse with cold water. Wash the garment in a regular laundry cycle.
