Cleaning Ketchup Stains

A very common stain on fabrics and upholstery is the ketchup stain. If you have children, chances are you often struggle to remove such stains from their clothes. The ultimate rule for cleaning ketchup stains is no surprise – you should act as quickly as you can after you notice the stain so that you have a better chance at removing it entirely. The longer it stays on the surface of the fabric, the more it will set in and penetrate the fibers.

The first thing to do when treating ketchup stains is to take a spoon or a knife and carefully scrape any excess ketchup off the garment or upholstery. Since this is a combination stain, the treatment is harder than usual. Try not to smear the area as the stain will easily spread further.

After that run cold water from the back of the stain to make it travel through the fabric. Turn it around and run the water again until the stain starts fading. Apply some liquid laundry detergent on the garment and let it soak for at least 30 minutes in cold water. After half an hour, rinse the fabric again.

If the stain is persistent, sponge it using white vinegar, which is one of the most powerful natural products for cleaning. Rinse the garment in cold water again and if necessary pretreat the area with a laundry stain remover. Wash the fabric on the hottest cycle using chlorine bleach, if you are sure that it won’t ruin the fabric. After washing, check if the ketchup stain is completely gone and then dry.

Many people use alternative methods for removing ketchup stains, such as ammonia, dishwashing liquid or even unseasoned meat tenderizer. If the ketchup is on the upholstery, carefully scrape off the residue and try not to spread the stain. Make sure that you only use damp cloth, not soaking wet. Mix two cups of cold water with some dishwashing liquid and sponge the stain with a clean cloth.

Blotting will help you remove as much ketchup as possible and you will see that the bright red stain starts fading away. You may have to repeat the first three or four steps if the stain is persistent. Don’t dry the upholstery until you are completely sure that the stain is gone, or you will set it in even further onto the fibers.

If you have a commercial stain remover that you want to use, try it on a hidden area first, before treating the entire stained area. There are different types of upholstery and all fabrics vary, so if you are not sure what will work best for yours, try a homemade mixture which can’t ruin it.

When there is ketchup on your carpet you can follow the same tips as for the upholstery, or mix two cups of warm water with a tablespoon of ammonia and sponge and blot the area. Whichever solution you choose, you need to clean the spot as quickly as possible – this is the golden rule of cleaning just about anything.

One of the most common methods is mixing vinegar and baking soda, but you need to be careful when rubbing the stained area. You could also try mixing lemon juice and salt. These are products that you already have in your kitchen, they are affordable, natural and environmentally friendly.

Author Bio:

Angela Harpert is a stay at home mom and a devoted wife who happily shares her efficient cleaning ideas.