Removing Fruit Stains

by The Housemanager
(South Carolina)

The Housemanager gives a great method that works for her for removing fresh or frozen fruit stains from certain fabrics. (Just be sure to read her caveat about what not to try it on too! Remember -- no one method works for every type of stain!)

To remove stains from fresh or frozen fruit, such as strawberries and blueberries, from fabrics use the following process:

Be sure the fabric you are treating can "stand up" to boiling water!!! Some fabrics are sensitive to heat or hot water and boiling water will actually damage the fabric itself. Check the laundry instructions tag first!!

Boil water in a large kettle or sauce pan

Place fabric in sink or bath tub so stain area is easy to access, such as stretched over a vegetable strainer, and remaining fabric is not subjected to getting wet -if a small area you can put the strainer over a pot as long as the water will remain below the level of the fabric being treated- you DO NOT want the fabric to "soak"!

Carefully pour the boiling water directly on/over the stain, allowing it to penetrate the fabric,using as much boiling water as needed until the stain is gone- this is usually almost instant!

I have never tried this on fruit juice or kool-aide stains because they tend to have artificial colors added and the boiling water will set the stain due to the "added color", in this situation a color safe bleach, tested in an inconspicuous spot for color fastness of the fabric first, works well and shout type stain treatments are also effective.

I am a Certified Household Manager by trade, and work in private service for Estate Level homeowners. Using fine {read very expensive ;) } table linens is a daily occurrence, and I use this removal method on a regular basis.

Do you have a stain fighting tip? Feel free to share them with everyone! Just click below.

Photo by lepiaf.geo