I’m hoisting this from the archives because summer fruit stains are upon us. Literally.
It’s summer time and all the light colored fabrics we’re wearing are just magnets for watermelon, blueberries, cherries, and strawberries! So it’s important to know how to get rid of stains.
Here is my mother-in-law’s no-fail method to get rid of stains from fruit and fruit juices (some of the hardest to get out). Unfortunately it involves taking the shirt or piece of clothing off right away. That’s not always convenient! You must get the stain to a faucet as quickly as possible. Then turn on the water full force to its hottest temperature. As soon as the water is really hot put the stain directly under the flow of water. Let it flush through the fabric for as long as it takes. It usually doesn’t take too long, but the stain will completely go out. If you use cold or warm water it doesn’t work. I know this seems like the wrong thing to do, but do it because it works!
I always say to get yourself a good stain removal booklet to keep by your washing machine. It has saved my clothes many a time. If your items is 100% cotton and white you can use bleach. Just be careful to not use too strong a solution of bleach or you will get holes in your clothes. Read the directions on the bleach bottle and/or follow directions in your stain removal booklet.
The linked article says that red wine was really hard to get out. I’ve heard that if you spill red wine on a rug to cover it generously with table salt, wait until it soaks up the wine & dries, then vacuum it all up. You might want to try something similar for red wine on clothes. At least you will probably have some table salt ready to use!
Whatever you do, never put a stained item of clothing in the dryer (after the stain doesn’t come out in the wash). That will set the stain & make it nearly impossible to get out. If there is stain left after washing/treating, just keep it out to treat some more. This is where a stain removal booklet is great. It will tell you what to try first, then second, etc. Often it has you use simple items like vinegar or liquid dish soap.
Click here for the NewYorkTimes article on stain removers.
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