How to Remove the Top 10 Cookout Stains
Barbecue sauce: Working from the inside of the shirt or pants, flush with cold water. (One way to flush: Put a clean pad or layer of paper towels under the spot, then spray with water - the idea is that this will "transfer" the stain. Or hold the fabric under the faucet and let tap water rush through it.) Pretreat with a liquid laundry detergent, then "tamp" the spot to break up the stain. (To tamp, tap the splotch with a soft-bristle brush. Don't scrub.) Let stand for several minutes; rinse well. Sponge the stain with white vinegar; rinse again. Pretreat again and launder. If that doesn't do the trick, rub with a liquid laundry detergent and soak in warm water for up to 30 minutes. Wash again with bleach, if doing so won't damage the fabric.
Beer: Sponge the spot with cool water or soak for about 30 minutes in a basin of cool water. Treat with a prewash stain remover; launder with bleach, if fabric-appropriate.
Blueberries: Flush with cool water. Then mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid laundry detergent with 1 quart cool water. Soak the stain in the solution for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. If the stain survives, sponge with rubbing alcohol and rinse thoroughly. Finally, launder using chlorine bleach, if that's safe for the fabric.
Related: Outdoor Party Essentials
Catsup: Working from the inside of the shirt or pants, flush with cold water. (One way to flush: Put a clean pad or layer of paper towels under the spot, then spray with water - the idea is that this will "transfer" the stain. Or hold the fabric under the faucet and let tap water rush through it.) Pretreat with a liquid laundry detergent, then "tamp" the spot to break up the stain. (To tamp, tap the splotch with a soft-bristle brush. Don't scrub.) Let stand for several minutes; rinse well. Sponge the stain with white vinegar; rinse again. Pretreat again and launder. If that doesn't do the trick, rub with a liquid laundry detergent and soak in warm water for up to 30 minutes. Wash again with bleach, if doing so won't damage the fabric.
Ice cream: Treat with a prewash stain remover, or soak for at least 30 minutes in solution made with an enzyme-based detergent. For older, set-in stains, let soak for several hours. Launder.
Mayonnaise: Scrape off any excess mayo, then treat with a prewash stain remover. Wash in the hottest water possible, per the care label's instructions.
Mustard: Scrape away any globs, then flush under cold running water and treat with a prewash stain remover. Or rub glycerine (available in drugstores) into the spot, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse. Launder with the hottest water that's safe for the fabric and add bleach, if the care label says it's safe to do so.
Soft drinks: Sponge with cool water or soak for about 30 minutes. Treat with a prewash stain remover and launder with bleach (check the care label first).
Related: Organize Your Outdoor Party
Strawberries: Rinse with cool water. Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon liquid laundry detergent with 1 quart warm water. Soak fabric in this solution for 15 minutes, then rinse. If the stain remains, sponge with alcohol and rinse again. Launder with chlorine bleach, if the fabric will tolerate it.
Suntan lotion: Scrape off any excess lotion, then treat with a prewash stain remover. Wash in the hottest water possible, per the care label's instructions.
More from Good Housekeeping:
